Estonian startup 99math raised $2.1 million to expand its interactive math gaming platform. The investment will fuel its growth in the U.S. and beyond, enhancing student engagement and learning.
Growth and Market Expansion
- Founded three years ago, 99math is a multiplayer math game widely used in classrooms.
- Since its beta launch in 2019, it has grown to one million users, tripling its base in the past year.
- Students have solved over 600 million math problems, averaging three million per day.
- The company aims to expand in the U.S. while refining classroom and home-based features.
Investment and Investor Support
The $2.1 million funding round was led by Play Ventures, with support from:
| Investor Name | Contribution Role |
| Play Ventures | Lead Investor |
| Flyer One Ventures | Existing Investor |
| Change Ventures | Existing Investor |
CEO Tõnis Kusmin emphasized their goal of reaching more students while enhancing the platform’s engagement.
Classroom and Home-Based Learning Features
- For Teachers and Schools:
- Free resource with game-based math exercises.
- Setup takes less than a minute.
- Teachers can generate math problems quickly.
- Progress tracking is available for educators.
- For Parents:
- Parent subscriptions provide additional learning tools.
- Focus on boosting student confidence and motivation.
Experienced Leadership and Team Growth
99math’s leadership includes:
| Name | Role | Background |
| Tõnis Kusmin | CEO | Edtech Innovator (Tebo) |
| Timo Timmi | Co-founder | Entrepreneur |
| Ain Arend | Co-founder | Tech Developer |
| Hanna Talving | New Team Member | Former CEO of SayAt.me |
| Ihor Nikolaiev | New Team Member | Game Designer |
The company currently operates with a team of ten across Estonia, Europe, and the U.S.
Innovations and Market Insights
- Rapid Development Approach: The team frequently visits U.S. classrooms to gather insights and refine the product.
- Market Potential: With 40 million math students in the U.S. and nearly one billion worldwide, the opportunity for growth is significant.
- Competitive and Social Elements:
- Initially covered basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
- Plans to expand to other math topics and potentially different subjects.
- Future focus on competitive gaming elements and social interaction features.
Future Roadmap and Enhancements
- Enhancing multiplayer classroom experience.
- Improving home-use features and monetization strategies.
- Introducing new social and skill-based training elements.
- Expanding game library for first to sixth graders.
CEO Kusmin expressed excitement about taking 99math to the next level:
“This year, we are pushing the platform to a new level.”
By merging education with entertainment, 99math continues to innovate in the online learning space, making math more enjoyable and accessible for students worldwide.
