Polish startup Brainly raises $9m to make a major push into the US with its social learning platform

Brainly, the Polish edtech startup that we recently paid a visit, has closed a $9 million round from lead General Catalyst Partners, Point Nine Capital and Runa Capital.

The fresh cash will allow Brainly to accelerate its expansion to the US, where it launched operations earlier this year. Krakow-headquartered Brainly will be opening a new office in NYC to underscore the importance of the US market for the startup.

Brainly, originally founded in 2009, offers a social learning network that essentially allows students to help each other with schoolwork. The company claims more than 30 million people around the globe visit Brainly’s websites to seek homework help every month.

Now live in 36 countries, Brainly has more than doubled its user base during the past year, and today more than 8,000 questions are asked on Brainly sites every hour. Says Michal Borkowski, who will stay on as CEO of Brainly as he fleshes out the US-based management team:

“Every student in the world eventually becomes stuck on a homework problem, causing frustration and loss of confidence. Our vision is to help students become unstuck by turning homework into an opportunity to inspire learning and collaboration.”