Chandran Nair’s edtech, GIFT.ed raises US$1 mil pre-seed round

• Dedicated to disrupting the narrative and inspiring millions of minds
• Underpinned by content ecosystem, including GIFT’s global curriculum

GIFT.ed, a Singapore edtech venture from the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), has raised US$1 million in pre-seed funding from IMC Pan Asia Alliance. The startup has hired Malaysian Janet Teo, who brings a track record of two previous exits, as its CEO. Teo's compensation package comes with equity interest.

Teo’s recent venture was as co-founder of Hyperlab, a regional leader in Conversational Artificial Intelligence that was acquired by global experience company Everise in 2018.

She is leading GIFT.ed’s operations out of Kuala Lumpur, where GIFT’s regional office was established in 2016. The target is to deliver a beta launch in Q2 2023.

“The need to radically rethink global economic systems has been apparent for decades. The pandemic has brought existential threats and societal challenges to the fore and generated a fresh impetus for change. GIFT.ed is committed to solving these challenges through disruptive e-learning that empowers users with insights and understanding to redesign society,” declared Chandran Nair, GIFT founder and GIFT.ed chairman.

GIFT is an independent pan Asian think tank committed to purposeful leadership learning, and partnering with clients to help them unlearn conventional wisdom and unleash organisational potential to redesign society.

GIFT.ed builds on GIFT’s decade plus experience designing and delivering purposeful leadership learning for Fortune 500s, government agencies and large Asia-based conglomerates. The platform will be underpinned by a rich content ecosystem, including GIFT’s international curriculum, publications, and frontline insights from field projects in key sectors such as agribusiness, healthcare, fintech and water.

The platform will combine an intuitive interface and rich multimedia with high-impact blended learning to increase user engagement and promote offline application of online learning. Proprietary technology will match organisational goals and individual interests with relevant content to create personalised pathways for learners.

 “We are at an inflection point in business, policy, and education. With the world hungry for solutions to sustainability challenges and the corporate e-learning market predicted to reach US$40 billion by 2025, the time is ripe for GIFT.ed. It will be a cutting-edge platform dedicated to disrupting the narrative and inspiring millions of minds to affect positive change,” enthused Teo.

“AITIA Institute’s mission is built on three pillars: research and education, consultancy and enablement of organisation transformation. Hence, we see a clear synergy with GIFT.ed to re-write the narrative for leadership development in the quantum paradigm. We are tremendously excited about the potential of this platform to amplify the scale and impact in developing future ready leaders in this new era of well-being,” said Chris Yap, Executive Director, AITIA Institute. AITIA Institute, part of IMC Pan Asia Alliance Group, shifts leaders’ consciousness to transform organisations for the era of Well-Being.

GIFT’s existing client pool presents a sizeable market for prototyping and early adoption. Several anchor clients are already engaged in platform design and course development.

GIFT.ed’s founding team has expertise in curriculum design, sustainability and environmental science, behavioural psychology, UI/UX design and product management.