Edtech Startup Pivot Raises $1.4 Million to Support Student and Teacher Wellbeing

Melbourne-based education tech startup Pivot has recently raised $1.4 million. The funding round was led by the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and technology firm DiUS, with support from LaunchVic’s women-led investment program, the Alice Anderson Fund.

Pivot’s survey-based technology collects students’ feedback and helps teachers improve their practice. Over 50,000 teachers have used their data insights and resources, and over 1500 schools across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia use its survey technology. Pivot’s students and teacher wellbeing tools equip school leaders with an evidence-based, actionable performance trajectory that can improve student engagement, quality of teaching and overall school performance.

The company plans to use the funds for its schools’ feedback platform to improve teaching. They plan to re-platform their survey-based technology and launch a new suite of student and teacher well-being tools. Pivot CEO Tim Watts says, “with 3 out of 4 teachers making a change to their practice after doing their ‘Pivot’, while 9 out of 10 leaders use Pivot data and insights in school planning and reporting.”

We’ve had a terrific start to the year with hundreds of schools across Australia and internationally using Pivot’s leading data-driven approach to improve teaching practice and student and teacher wellbeing. Our mission is to transform teaching practice, and that starts with teachers who have the tools, resources and support to perform at their best. We know this leads to real impact, with improvements in student learning engagement and learning outcomes, as well as teacher workplace satisfaction and retention.

On the new fundraise, founding member Harries said they’re pleased to have the financial support of three key investors. “Their expertise and resources will help us to bring our groundbreaking approach to even more schools and support more teachers to improve their effectiveness in the classroom,” she said.

Pivot was founded in 2014 by Caitlin Macleod, Cleo Westhorpe and Belinda Harries. Intending to transform teaching practice, they have changed the teaching dynamics by including and translating student feedback to classrooms. Student feedback helps teachers and school leaders to be better educators.