• The start-up, which is based at in5, aims to further enable the globalisation of higher education
  • A unique matchmaking algorithm pairs students with relevant degrees, universities, and countries that best suit their career ambitions

Dubai, UAE: Educatly, a Dubai-based start-up that connects students to global higher education opportunities, has witnessed a significant growth in platform users between January and September of 2022. Based out of in5 Tech, a business incubator by TECOM Group PJSC, Educatly’s community of students has increased by five times, from 100,000 to 500,000 in the past nine months and represents more than 150 countries and territories.

Inspired by LinkedIn’s platform, Educatly’s aim is to simplify the process for students to study abroad, this will help attract more international students to Dubai while connecting students from the region to global universities.

In addition to the substantial growth in users, 2022 has been marked by several milestones for the tech start-up, which was founded by former LinkedIn employees in 2020. Educatly has cast a wider net across the higher education industry to feature more than 3,000 universities on its platform and secured active recruitment agreements with 500. It also welcomed Head of LinkedIn's MENA and EMEA growth markets, Ali Matar, to its Board of Advisors just last month.

Educatly Founder & CEO Mohmmed El Sonbaty said: “We are thrilled that the global appetite for transnational student education has bounced back since the pandemic. Our unique platform is providing students with the opportunities to study abroad and enrol at leading international universities around the world. We have seen a spike in interest in students joining our platform from the UAE and we are witnessing further growth in Dubai emerging as the next international higher education destination.”

On behalf of in5, Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Media City, said: “At in5, we seek to foster a thriving community for smart individuals; a space where they can obtain valuable advice from mentors and advisors and transform their aspirations into businesses with sustainable growth. Expanding the reach and influence of start-ups is a top priority – that’s why one of our key goals is to facilitate access to potential investment. We are proud to have Educatly as one of in5 tech's start-ups as they have demonstrated impressive growth despite launching their business amid a global pandemic. Educatly's new software-as-a-service (SaaS) demonstrates their strategic alignment with UAE's Digital Transformation, Sustainability, and other initiatives. Their presence at in5 gives us the opportunity to showcase the diversity of promising start-ups in our city and region, while providing the most extraordinary with a global platform for their unique ideas.”

Unique Features

Educatly’s new software-as-a-service (SAAS) had a helping hand in its growth by increasing the monthly recurring revenue for more than 28% month over month. Its built-in coding and design implements a smart recommendation feature using a special matchmaking algorithm that links students to relevant degrees, universities, and countries according to their requirements.

The system automatically informs the university partners of new leads and profiles to facilitate student recruitment. This unique feature is vital to the networking effect of building Educatly’s social media platform.

The start-up is currently developing the usage of blockchain for data verification, which is essential for them to provide legitimate students records to relevant universities. This is also crucial for foreign students who want to further their education overseas because it might be challenging to obtain original copies of their degrees elsewhere.

Secure foundations

Educatly was founded by former LinkedIn employees with the aim of providing students with convenient access to relevant educational opportunities that would empower future careers.

Launched in 2020, amid the global pandemic, Educatly witnessed significant growth in just two years as part of in5’s comprehensive incubation ecosystem. The platform offers start-ups like Educatly access to expert-led advisory and mentorship and facilitates access to potential investment opportunities, helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses sustainably.

Educatly represents a growing community of ambitious entrepreneurs who are driving innovation in key sectors and contributing to the UAE’s knowledge- and innovation-based economy.

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About in5

in5 is an enabling platform for entrepreneurs and start-ups, offering five key benefits through its robust start-up framework, creative spaces and specialised industry centres, training and mentorship programmes, community-wide networking events and access to investors. in5 nurtures ideas and businesses to their next phase of growth.

Launched by TECOM Group PJSC in 2013 to support Dubai’s start-up ecosystem and help enterprises grow into commercially viable ventures, in5’s three specialised centres for innovators in the tech, media and design industries, provide aspiring students, entrepreneurs and start-ups with access to a diverse community of creative minds, facilitating the constant exchange of knowledge and passionate debate conducive to ideation.

About TECOM Group PJSC

TECOM Group has been developing strategic, sector-focused business districts across the emirate of Dubai since 1999. TECOM Group is well-positioned to continue playing an integral role in cementing Dubai’s status as a global business and talent hub.

The TECOM Group portfolio consists of 10 business districts catering to 6 vital knowledge-based economic sectors, including design, education, manufacturing, media, science, and technology. The Group provides a varied and tailor-made leasing portfolio – which includes offices, co-working spaces, warehouses and land – to over 7,800 customers and more than 100,000 professionals.

TECOM Group offers additional value-added services to deliver a competitive and attractive environment for businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive in and to facilitate engagement between the districts’ community members. Government and corporate services are made available through an integrated smart services platform, “axs”, which enhances ease of doing business and provides community members with a seamless experience.

TECOM Group also provides industry specialised facilities, including media production studios, laboratories and higher education campuses. in5, its enabling platform for entrepreneurs and start-ups, offers innovation centres supporting tech, media, and design start-ups and SMEs. Its future-focused co-working spaces D/Quarters deliver stimulating work environments for tenants, and the “GoFreelance” package serves approximately 2,400 freelance talents.

About Educatly

Founded in 2020, Educatly is an innovative software platform that helps higher education students study abroad at international universities and provides universities with access to a global student market, to recruit students more efficiently.

Educatly is the worlds’ premier higher education network, providing more than 100,000 students with opportunities to study abroad in over 3,000 universities offering more than 130,000 degrees, from 90 countries.

www.educatly.com
support@educatly.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Mutaz Albadri
TECOM Group PJSC
Email: mutaz.albadri@tecomgroup.ae
Oguzhan Kirdok
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Email: oguzhan.kirdok@hkstrategies.com