Pelican Capital Invests in Steplab to Boost Teacher Development Platform

Pelican Capital announces a new investment in Steplab, a leading teacher professional development platform used by more than 200,000 teachers worldwide. This marks Pelican Capital’s tenth platform investment, reinforcing its commitment to the education technology sector.

While the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, the investment is designed to support Steplab’s expansion plans, including team growth, enhanced research, product development, and international market entry. Pelican Capital will also appoint Troy Harris to Steplab’s board, alongside new Chairman Greg Watson and Non-Executive Director John Wild, both bringing extensive sector experience.

Steplab provides digital professional development tools tailored for educators, focusing on scalable impact and personalized learning. Pelican Capital, a private equity firm with a growing portfolio in education technology, sees this investment as a strategic opportunity to deepen its presence in the professional development space.

Claire Hill, CEO of Steplab, highlights the significance of the partnership: “The demand for what we do has grown faster than we ever anticipated, and Pelican’s investment gives us the grounding and expertise to go further, faster. For schools currently using Steplab, this means even more of what’s working.”

The deal aligns with broader industry trends emphasizing digital transformation in education and the increasing need for scalable teacher development solutions. With rising demand for continuous professional learning, platforms like Steplab are positioned to capture significant market share.

Pelican Capital’s investment will enable Steplab to leverage cross-selling opportunities within Pelican’s existing education portfolio and accelerate international expansion into Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. The firm also anticipates operational synergies through shared technology development, research, and administrative functions.

Financial details such as valuation and stake percentage were not disclosed. Legal and advisory support was provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP, EIGHT ADVISORY, ACP Altenburg Advisory, Cairneagle, KPMG UK, Claritas Tax, Confidas People, and Code & Co.

Looking ahead, Steplab plans to enhance its product offerings by developing new professional development modules, integrating advanced analytics, and expanding research-driven content. The company aims to maintain its impact-driven culture while navigating the challenges of scaling internationally and aligning operational processes with Pelican Capital.

This investment positions Steplab to strengthen its competitive standing in the teacher development market, prompting potential responses from competitors in product innovation and strategic partnerships.

Pelican Capital’s backing signals confidence in Steplab’s growth trajectory and the broader education technology sector’s potential for innovation and expansion.