Perlego raises $20M to invest in AI and democratise university learning
Perlego, the subscription-based digital library offering unlimited access to academic content, has raised $20 million in a funding round led by former Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy. ITHAKA, the organisation behind JSTOR, also joined the round alongside investors such as MediaHuis, Raine, KPN Ventures, and the founders of Kahoot, bringing Perlego’s total funding to $75 million.
Founded in 2017, Perlego partners with thousands of international publishers, offering a vast library of over one million academic, professional, and non-fiction titles in six languages, from publishers like Cambridge University Press, Elsevier, and Harvard University Press. Its platform is used by over 250 educational institutions worldwide, making learning more accessible.
This new investment will fuel Perlego’s global expansion and allow it to introduce AI-powered products aimed at improving access to academic materials. One such product, launched alongside the funding announcement, is "Dialogo", an AI-powered Research Assistant. Designed to help students refine their research, Dialogo suggests the most relevant sources from Perlego’s extensive library and provides direct access to full texts. Unlike generic AI tools, Dialogo ensures that students are guided to academically credible materials.
Additionally, Dialogo supports a fairer ecosystem for authors and publishers, offering transparent attribution, content control, and equitable compensation.
On the raise, Sir Terry Leahy said: “Perlego is addressing one of the most pressing challenges in modern education – access to essential learning materials. This investment is a vote of confidence in Perlego’s innovative approach to learning and the platform’s potential to reshape the educational landscape. Investing in the futures of young people has always been a passion of mine, and I am particularly committed to funding research in areas of regional disparity. I look forward to seeing how the business continues to transform access to education and I am incredibly proud to play a part in the journey that aligns so closely with my own values.”
Gauthier Van Malderen, Founder and CEO of Perlego, said: “This investment represents a vital opportunity to drive meaningful change in education and AI more broadly. We’re passionate about providing accessible yet game-changing solutions to education. With the support of Sir Terry Leahy and our strong team of investors, we are excited to accelerate our growth and continue to empower learners worldwide.”
