StudentFinance raises £34.6m in Series A funding to expand European operations
The equity portion of the round was led by Iberis Capital, with debt financing from SmartLenders Asset Management.
StudentFinance operates a career mobility platform that provides flexible financing and AI-driven skills mapping to help individuals access vocational training. The company connects learners with education providers across Europe to bridge critical employment gaps.
Career mobility platform StudentFinance has secured £34.6m in Series A funding to expand its operations across Europe. The investment was led by Iberis Capital on the equity side and SmartLenders Asset Management on the debt side, with participation from Armilar Venture Partners, Mustard Seed Maze, Giant Ventures, and Seedcamp. Additional backing came from angel investors including Tom Blomfield, Ed Vaizey, and Martin Villig.
The fresh capital will support the company as it launches into the UK and German markets following regulatory approvals, alongside further expansion in Spain. The funds will also be used to double the headcount of the team.
StudentFinance combines AI models to identify skills shortages with flexible financing options, such as income-share agreements, allowing learners to pay only after securing employment above a certain threshold.
From the founder
"The demand for workforce upskilling has never been greater. We’re on a mission to plug this gap across Europe while empowering individuals to level-up their careers. Our platform is currently over-subscribed so, with the new funds, we’re looking forward to helping as many people as possible embark on training courses to upskill. We aim to expand our coverage to build the workforce for the future, in particular in areas such as technology, AI and climate change."
Mariano Kostelec
cofounder and CEO at StudentFinance
Investor perspective
"StudentFinance has pioneered a new model to address one of the most pressing societal challenges, the digital skills gap. By removing the hurdle of financing courses up-front, they are democratising access to the skills that are in highest demand. We’re excited to support the team in their next chapter as they scale to make a bigger impact in this space."
Diogo Chalbert Santos
partner, Iberis Capital
Use of funds
- 01Expand into international markets
- 02Grow the team
Investors
Diogo Chalbert Santos
Iberis Capital
Erich Bonnet
SmartLenders Asset Management
Armilar Venture Partners
Mustard Seed Maze
Giant Ventures
Seedcamp
Categories
About the company
StudentFinance
StudentFinance provides education financing and career mobility solutions for professional upskilling.