Nearshore Americas
Grupo Vi-da

Grupo Vi-da Raises Funds to Bolster Digital Literacy in Latin America

Argentinean technology startup Grupo Vi-da has raised funds from three international venture capital funds, as it attempts to close Latin America’s digital literacy gap.

The funds will be used to launch a new educational platform aimed at offering soft skills development and project-based learning.

The Argentinean company — along with one of the investors, Omidyar Network, owned by Pierre Omidyar, founder of American online retailing giant eBay — says it will also arm teachers with technology tools in a bid to simplify learning for students.

With access to over 600,000 titles and partnership with over 600 publishers, Grupo Vi-da houses one of the largest and most diverse collections of Spanish-language digital content.

The company says 90% of Latin Americans have access to mobile broadband, yet only a 50% of the population accesses educational content online.

Poverty, lack of digital skills, and a shortage in locally-relevant content are some of the factors hindering digital education services in the region.

Around 46% of 15 year olds in Latin America do not meet minimum standards of literacy and text comprehension, says the company, citing a 2015 study by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

“Reading comprehension is the foundation to develop students’ critical thinking, communication, and creativity. Technology can be a valuable educational tool to support teachers and students,” said Viviana Zocco, CEO and Founder of Grupo Vi-da.

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Its technology platform analyzes students’ performance data, identifying why a certain student is struggling with his studies, and then recommends suitable digital content. Parents can also learn how to support their child’s education at home.

Narayan Ammachchi

News Editor for Nearshore Americas, Narayan Ammachchi is a career journalist with a decade of experience in politics and international business. He works out of his base in the Indian Silicon City of Bangalore.

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