Centa secures $233K to expand teacher-focused edtech platform

India-based edtech startup Centa has raised approximately $233,000 in a fresh funding round led by Colossa Ventures to support its global operations.

Centa expands global reach with Colossa Ventures investment

Centa, an edtech company founded in Bengaluru in 2014, has raised Rs 20 crore (approximately $233,000) in a recent funding round led by Mumbai-based Colossa Ventures. The round also saw participation from existing investor Discovery Assets and several angel investors. The funding is intended to support Centa's scale-up efforts in India and key international markets, as well as to enhance its technology infrastructure.

Operating as a full-stack platform dedicated to teachers, Centa offers a range of services including certification, upskilling programs, and teacher-as-a-service solutions. The platform currently supports a network of 1.7 million teachers from over 100,000 schools, making it one of the most extensive networks in the teacher professional development space.

Widening its international footprint

While India remains Centa’s primary market, the platform has been expanding its global footprint. Educators from over 100 countries are currently active on the platform, with notable user bases in the UAE, Nigeria, Philippines, Bangladesh, and Ghana. The company has also developed partnerships in the United Kingdom and the United States, reflecting its ambition to support teacher quality across borders.

Leadership and vision

The startup is led by founder and CEO Ramya Venkataraman, an alumna of IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta, who previously led the education practice at McKinsey & Company. Reflecting on the recent investment, she stated, "This raise has not only given us the fuel needed for growth but also brought on board an investor like Colossa, which combines a sharp sense of business growth with a great understanding of the practicalities of building a company."

Centa has previously received support from well-known venture capital firms such as Omidyar Network, Pi Ventures, and 3i Partners.

Investor perspective

Vandana Rajadhyaksha, co-founder of Colossa Ventures, emphasized the strategic potential of the company, highlighting Centa’s low teacher acquisition costs and strong tech backbone. In her words, "We see Centa playing a major role in bridging the teacher-student gap, addressing a global teacher shortage of 44 million. We strongly believe that learning outcomes can improve through addressing teacher quality and availability."

Colossa Ventures, which focuses on investing in women-led businesses, has positioned this investment as part of its broader commitment to supporting scalable, impact-driven education solutions.