Pearson
About Pearson
Pearson Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Pearson plc, headquartered in London. PitchBook lists the arm as founded in 2012, while Pearson's own announcements date the Pearson Ventures fund to 2019, when it was set up with a $50 million commitment over three years. Pedro Vasconcellos was named head of investments when the first two deals were announced in December 2019, and Owen Henkel was an investment director at launch. Pearson's portfolio page says a director who joined in 2021 now leads investments in education companies. The firm's LinkedIn showcase lists 2 to 10 employees.
The firm says it prioritises companies offering new technological capabilities such as artificial intelligence, mobile-first delivery, remote proctoring, and augmented or virtual reality. Its portfolio includes TeachFX, which provides AI-based coaching and feedback for instructors and was invested in from August 2022. It also includes Obrizum, a B2B AI-enabled adaptive learning platform backed from May 2024, and Emergence, an AI R&D company working on autonomous agents for enterprises, backed from January 2024. Coverage of the 2019 launch says the firm co-invests alongside experienced institutional investors and does not lead rounds.
Pearson Ventures has said it focuses mainly on Series A and Series B rounds, typically alongside venture firms and accelerators. PitchBook's profile of its 2019 fund gives a preferred range of USD 2 to 5 million per company, with four to five companies a year. A separate database lists a range of $1.5 million to $5 million. Its portfolio also includes seed-stage deals, such as a seed round in Mindstone in November 2022.
- TeachFX: AI-based coaching and feedback for instructors, invested from August 2022 (Series A per Tracxn)
- Obrizum: B2B AI-enabled adaptive learning platform, invested from May 2024
- Emergence: AI R&D company advancing autonomous agents in the enterprise, invested from January 2024
- Plum: digital psychometric assessment and talent platform that Tracxn describes as AI-based, invested from February 2023 (Series A)
- Talespin: immersive VR training with AI-enabled characters, exited March 2024
- Cashmere: seed round of $5M, January 2026 (Lounge deals desk; business description not confirmed)
- plc.pearson.com/en-GB/company/pearson-ventures
- techcrunch.com/2019/04/10/pearson-is-committing-50m-to-fund-next-gen-e
- marketbrief.edweek.org/financing-investment/pearson-launches-new-inves
- prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearson-ventures-announces-investments-in
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/60685-66
- pitchbook.com/profiles/fund/19224-28F
- tracxn.com/d/venture-capital/pearson-ventures/**4NB5KHVjMCrUisqDtj74Oz
- vc-mapping.gilion.com/vc-firms/pearson-ventures
Investing activity
Pearson appears in 1 AI deal tracked by the AI Lounge deals desk. The rounds are mostly Seed, with a median round size of $5M. The most recent is Cashmere (Seed, $5M, Jan 2026).
Pearson most often invests alongside Reach Capital, NAVER D2SF, LightShed Ventures and Ingram Content Group, and the companies it backs on AI Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Pearson
Does Pearson Ventures invest in AI startups?
Yes. Its portfolio includes AI-enabled companies such as TeachFX, Obrizum and Emergence. The firm says it looks for artificial intelligence among other future technologies in education.
What is the Pearson Ventures fund size?
The fund launched in 2019 with an initial commitment of $50 million over three years. Public sources do not disclose a later fund size.
What check size does Pearson Ventures write?
PitchBook lists a preferred range of USD 2 to 5 million per company. The firm co-invests with other institutional investors and does not lead rounds, according to 2019 coverage.
Which funding stages does Pearson Ventures invest in?
The firm says it focuses mainly on Series A and Series B rounds. Its portfolio also includes at least one seed-stage deal.
Who leads investments at Pearson Ventures?
Pedro Vasconcellos was named head of investments in 2019, and Pearson's portfolio page says a director who joined in 2021 leads investments in education companies. Confirm current names on the firm's LinkedIn page.
What AI companies has Pearson invested in?
Pearson's AI investments include Cashmere. The 1 round on AI Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
Where is Pearson based?
Pearson is based in London.
What stage does Pearson invest at?
In the rounds tracked on AI Lounge, Pearson has invested at Seed, with a median round of $5M.
Who does Pearson co-invest with?
Pearson's most frequent co-investors on AI Lounge are Reach Capital (1 deal), NAVER D2SF (1 deal), LightShed Ventures (1 deal), Ingram Content Group (1 deal) and Fortitude Ventures (1 deal).
How can founders reach Pearson?
Founders on AI Lounge can see Pearson's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add Pearson to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.