AI learning app Gizmo levels up with 13M users and a $22M investment

Since its launch in 2021, Gizmo, an AI-powered learning platform that transforms students’ notes into interactive study materials, has attracted more than 13 million users across over 120 countries. This is a significant jump from the over 300,000 users the platform had when TechCrunch last covered it in 2023. 

And, as user adoption increases, investor interest is following suit. The company recently secured $22 million in Series A funding, according to its announcement on Tuesday.

The funding will go toward expanding Gizmo’s engineering and AI teams, as well as expanding its presence in the U.S. college market. The company, which had just seven employees prior to the raise, plans to scale to around 30, CEO Petros Christodoulou tells TechCrunch.

The company’s momentum comes at a time when student behavior is shifting. Academic performance in the U.S. has hit a historic low, according to the 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Excessive screen time and reduced attention spans have been noted in previous studies as contributing factors.

Plus, with many young learners drawn to platforms like TikTok and YouTube, the biggest challenge for edtech startups is how to sustain engagement. Gizmo is betting that gamifying learning may be the solution. 

Designed for teenagers and young adults, Gizmo believes that its appeal is the use of game mechanics to drive engagement. Features like leaderboards, streaks, limited daily lives for incorrect answers, and the ability to challenge friends are designed to keep users coming back. 

Other micro-learning platforms have also gained traction in recent years, such as Anki, Quizlet, and Nibble, alongside newer entrants such as Yuno and Knowt, which have all attempted to redirect screen-time habits into productive learning. However, for a young learning app like Gizmo to grow this much interest in just a few years is notable. For comparison, Yuno touts 1 million app downloads, and Knowt has more than 7 million users. 

The Series A round was led by Shine Capital, with participation from Ada Ventures, Seek Investments, GSV, and NFX, which previously led Gizmo’s $3.5 million seed round.