EdTech firm secures funding to propel growth

A Somerset-based EdTech firm is set to accelerate its growth after receiving funding.

Taunton’s Schools BI has obtained a £150,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund, via fund manager The FSE Group.

Schools BI provides data analytics solutions to schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs), helping senior leadership teams turn fragmented data into actionable insights. 

The platform, which is currently used by around 300 schools across 40 MATs, alongside 30 independent schools and 35 international institutions across the Middle East, UAE,and the US, integrates with existing education systems to collate and visualise information on student performance, attendance, behaviour, HR, enrolment trends and financials, enabling faster, smarter decision-making through a single dashboard. 

Founded by education professionals with teaching and leadership experience, Schools BI has built a reputation for understanding the nuanced challenges of school data management. 

Bosses say the investment will support software development, platform enhancements and will help fund additional staff recruitment to meet rising demand at home and abroad.

They add that with the global English-language international school market growing by seven per cent year-on-year, Schools BI is well-positioned to scale its reach and offer measurable value to more educational institutions worldwide.

Rhys Gwillym, founder and chief executive of Schools BI, said: “This funding comes at a crucial time as we continue to scale and evolve our platform. 

“Our mission has always been to improve outcomes by equipping school leaders with intelligent, accessible insights. 

“With demand growing across the UK and internationally, particularly in the English-speaking education market, we are excited to expand our team and accelerate our development roadmap.”

Amanda Sheppard, investment manager at The FSE Group, added: “Schools BI has developed a solution that addresses a real and growing need within the education sector both in the UK and internationally. 

“Rhys and his team bring not only strong technical capability but also deep sector knowledge, which is reflected in their product and their client relationships. 

“We’re delighted to support their growth and look forward to seeing their continued success in the global EdTech market.”

The South West Investment Fund offers loans from £25,000 to £100,000, debt finance up to £2 million, and equity investment up to £5 million, helping smaller businesses access funding they might otherwise struggle to secure.

Paul Jones, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, added: “Schools BI is a good example of how South West businesses are using data and technology to make a real difference in their sectors. 

“This isn’t just clever tech; it is technology built by people who know education. 

“That combination of insight and innovation is helping them scale with confidence and we’re delighted that our South West Investment Fund is supporting their growth.”

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