Crack the Code, an edtech company based in Lima, Peru, just raised a $2.7 million seed round led by Kaszek Ventures. This is Kaszek’s first investment in a Peruvian company. The company, founded by Maria del Mar Velez, aims to close the gap that exists in Latin America (and any Spanish speaking country) when it comes to access to coding and computer science.
Crack the Code is revolutionizing online coding classes to kids 5-18 years old. The startup provides much needed computer science training in a fun, simple, and accessible format for Spanish-speaking children. The structured learning programs are composed of several courses according to the age and interests of the students and take place in a fun and rewarding environment, leveraging gameplay elements.
The coding platform employs professional teachers as well as college students who go through a selection process and training, allowing college students to make about $300-$500 per month, on average. While the classes are taught in Spanish, coding is traditionally done in English, so by learning how to code, kids get to practice their English skills, too. The startup also works with public and private schools and universities to provide easy-to-implement programming.
Crack the Code was founded by Velez in January 2018, and has been bootstrapped to date, signing up over 5,000 kids and teens from 22 countries. The investment from Kaszek will help the company expand its footprint in the region to reach even more families, add more subscribers, and build new partnerships to expand access to the platform.
The founder, Maria del Mar Velez, is the sister of David Velez, the co-founder and CEO of Nubank.
