Cognassist, the UK’s leading digital cognitive assessment EdTech platform, has raised £4 million investment from London-based Gresham House Ventures. With the funds, the company plans to continue its growth within the education market and penetrate the enterprise market, where demand for neuro-inclusive solutions to support employees is rapidly emerging.
Founded in 2019 by serial entrepreneur Chris Quickfall, Cognassist offers a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform focused on identifying and supporting individuals with hidden learning needs, underpinned by extensive scientific research and a vast cognitive dataset. The startup has already scaled its underlying business within the education market, providing greater social mobility to learners and helping diverse minds to thrive. The company aims to challenge misconceptions and stereotypes about cognitive differences and educate employers and education providers on identifying and supporting neurodiverse individuals.
Cognassist’s solution also provides individuals with personalized support and cognitive learning strategies to help them understand their strengths and learn ways to develop. Its 30-minute digital assessment helps identify and support different types of cognition using an evidence-based approach, bringing its cognitive differences to life and offering actionable ways to improve learning and employment experiences.
Speaking about the capital raised, Founder & CEO of Cognassist, Chris Quickfall, said:
This investment will facilitate a significant expansion for Cognassist into the enterprise market, where our science-backed technology will enable businesses to support neurodiverse employees and ensure they can reach their full potential. Gresham House Ventures has an outstanding track record of scaling technology-driven companies like ours, so we are excited to work with the team over the coming years as we look ahead to the next phase of our growth.
As part of the transaction, Gresham House Ventures’ talent function supported Cognassist in appointing seasoned entrepreneur Nerissa Naidu to its board. She will advise Cognassist on its ESG, technology, and revenue generation strategies.
Headquartered in Newcastle, the firm’s growing community includes over 100 of the UK’s best employers, universities, colleges, and learning providers. Cognassist wants to create a world where different thinking is embraced daily through cutting-edge technology founded on scientific theory and research into cognition.
Investment Director, Gresham House Ventures, Joe Krancki, added:
Having established a market-leading education product, Cognassist is at the forefront of this rapidly developing sector and is well positioned to expand into the enterprise market. The Cognassist team is passionate about transforming how neurodiverse individuals are perceived and supported in the workplace. We look forward to working with them to increase understanding and productivity across the UK.
Seasoned Entrepreneur, Nerissa Naidu, commented:
We are finally witnessing increasing recognition of the barriers that neurodiverse employees can face in the workplace, and a growing number of businesses are looking for effective diversity, equity, and inclusion solutions that support these individuals. Cognassist aims to do just that, and I look forward to working with Chris and the team to deliver on their goals.
Cognassist had previously secured £1 million in funding from BOOST&CO to help sustain the EdTech company’s impressive growth.