Funding Announcement
In March, Chalkie proudly revealed it has successfully closed a $4 million funding round, with support from TriplePoint Ventures.
Chalkie is an innovative platform that has gained the trust of over 500,000 teachers and serves more than 10 million students worldwide. It enables educators to input a specific topic, choose their curriculum, and utilize AI to create engaging lesson plans quickly. Each plan comes with professionally designed materials and activity sheets that cater to students with different learning abilities.
The founder, Daneshyar, has a notable background, having built several ventures supported by Y Combinator and even appearing on the popular TV show Dragon’s Den. His previous company, Kanda, facilitated over $100 million in loans for home improvement projects in the UK.
Alongside him is Mark Hughes, the Co-founder and CTO, who formerly started Tutorful, a successful tutoring marketplace in the UK that, at its peak, employed over 80 people and raised more than $10 million.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
Chalkie has been shortlisted for the prestigious ETIH Innovation Awards 2026.
The awards received a range of entries from across the UK, USA, Canada, and beyond, highlighting the increasing importance of technology in education, skills development, and workforce transformation. Submissions covered areas like artificial intelligence, digital learning platforms, tools for student engagement, and solutions that promote career readiness and lifelong learning.
This year’s shortlist emphasizes organizations that have made significant impacts in real-world settings. From AI-driven personalization tools to platforms that enhance workforce capabilities and encourage industry collaboration, the entries showcase the promising advancements in EdTech.
Judges evaluated the submissions based on innovation, adoption, and evidence of their impact, focusing on their practical application in schools, higher education, and professional learning environments.
In the coming days, ETIH will share a series of articles that delve deeper into each shortlisted organization and their inspiring work.
The winners of the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 will be announced on Monday, May 11, 2026.
