Since its inception in 2021, Gizmo, an AI-driven learning platform that converts students’ notes into engaging study resources, has garnered over 13 million users worldwide across more than 120 nations. This marks a substantial increase from the 300,000 users reported when TechCrunch last featured it in 2023. 

As user engagement rises, so does interest from investors. The company announced on Tuesday that it has successfully obtained $22 million in Series A financing.

The investment will be allocated towards enhancing Gizmo’s engineering and AI teams, along with expanding its footprint in the U.S. college sector. The firm, which had merely seven staff members before the funding round, intends to increase its workforce to approximately 30, as stated by CEO Petros Christodoulou to TechCrunch.

The company’s progress aligns with a time of changing student behaviors. Academic results in the U.S. have reached an all-time low, as indicated by the 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Prior studies have identified excessive screen time and shorter attention spans as contributing issues.

Moreover, as many youthful learners gravitate towards platforms like TikTok and YouTube, the primary challenge for edtech startups is maintaining user engagement. Gizmo is wagering that incorporating game elements into learning could be the answer. 

Targeting teenagers and young adults, Gizmo believes its allure comes from the integration of game mechanics to boost user interaction. Elements like leaderboards, streaks, limited daily attempts for incorrect answers, and the option to challenge peers are designed to promote repeat visits. 

Other micro-learning platforms have also risen in prominence recently, such as Anki, Quizlet, and Nibble, along with newer competitors like Yuno and Knowt, which have all sought to channel screen-time habits into constructive learning. Nonetheless, for a young educational app like Gizmo to attract such significant interest in just a few years is remarkable. For perspective, Yuno claims 1 million app downloads, while Knowt boasts over 7 million users. 

The Series A funding round was spearheaded by Shine Capital, with involvement from Ada Ventures, Seek Investments, GSV, and NFX, which had previously led Gizmo’s $3.5 million seed funding round.