New Zealand EdTech Platform Raises $2.3M to Address Teacher Burnout
Teacher's Buddy, an AI education platform developed in New Zealand, has secured $2.3 million in seed funding as it expands globally. The round was led by Auckland-based Soul Capital alongside Australian investor Giant Leap.
The platform now operates in 130 countries with more than 12,000 educators using it. Within New Zealand, 25 schools have adopted or are trialling the system.
How the Platform Works
Founders Matt Abraham and Ben Sze built Teacher's Buddy to reduce administrative workload while maintaining teaching quality. The platform generates lesson plans, assessments, reports and personalised learning materials aligned with curriculum standards.
Teachers can adjust content for individual students, including those who are neurodiverse, learning English, or need advanced material. The system supports Te Reo and aligns with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
Data shows teachers using the platform save an average of two hours per day. This frees time for direct student engagement rather than administrative tasks.
The Burnout Problem
New Zealand teachers work longer hours than the OECD average, putting in 47.5 hours per week on average. One-third report high stress levels, with administrative burden cited as a major contributor.
Abraham said the platform addresses a specific gap. "Educators are often expected to manage lesson planning, teaching and reporting in the same week and many feel they are unable to give personalised attention to students who need extra support," he said.
Abraham created the platform after serving on his local school's board of trustees in Northland for nearly a decade. "I am passionate about supporting the incredible work that teachers do and everything we are building is intended to support and strengthen teacher wellbeing," he said.
What's Next
The company plans to launch a new version including personalised professional development tools for teachers. Future updates will allow publishers and educational providers to upload curriculum-aligned content directly into the platform.
Teacher's Buddy is targeting growth to more than 30,000 teachers and 200 school partners across New Zealand, Australia and the UK within the next 12 months.
Abraham said New Zealand remains central to the company's strategy. "We were founded here, and teachers in New Zealand face the same workload pressures seen globally. We want Teacher's Buddy to become a permanent part of the education landscape, supporting schools across the country for years to come," he said.
Why Investors Are Backing It
Jon Sandbrook, venture principal at Soul Capital, said the education sector is at a turning point. "The early adoption of the Teacher's Buddy platform across so many countries demonstrates how urgent the need has become," he said.
Soul Capital backed the founders because of their ability to scale the model. "We're backing their solution because it empowers teachers to do what they do best - helping learners from all backgrounds and capabilities to realise their full potential," Sandbrook said.
For educators looking to understand how AI tools are being applied in schools, AI for Education resources provide context. Those interested in how to use these tools directly can explore the AI Learning Path for Teachers.
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