Melbourne startup Getmee raises $2.5m for AI coaching service

Melbourne-headquartered education technology company Getmee has successfully completed a bridging round led by Access Capital Ventures (ACV) that takes its total funding to date to $2.5 million.

Founded in mid-2020 by Balendran 'Bala' Thavarajah, Getmee offers artificial intelligence-driven personalised coaching solutions designed for individuals to enhance their English language communication and employability skills.

It is an offering that grew from the founder's own experience arriving in Australia with no English or any formal schooling from his native Sri Lanka. Once here, Thavarajah taught himself English and gained access to Western Sydney University to complete a computer science degree through an alternative pathways program.

Thavarajah was also the founding chief technology officer (CTO) at mobile app-embedded location technology company Bluedot, which operates globally and has customers in a range of industries from restaurants to grocery stores to transportation.

Getmee also has an international presence with its AI coaching product now in use across 16 countries, with the product accessible through a mobile app as well as a white-labelled solution for larger enterprise customers.

The company highlights its solutions have been widely embraced by government immigration services agencies, employment service providers, universities, education providers and enterprise customers. Clients include AMES Australia, VFS Global, MTC Australia, Story House Early Learning, Far Eastern University, ISBR Business School Bangalore, Language Advantage Inc, and Deakin University.

"Getmee’s highly differentiated and scalable AI platform is transformative. We are excited to back Getmee and its talented team," says Allan Aaron, one of the General Partners of ACV who is joining the Getmee board.

"We are excited to back Getmee and its talented team. The AI innovation and founding principles of the company resonate with ACV’s investment ethos."

The company declined to reveal the value of the bridging round, but added support also came from longstanding customers and existing investors. The $2.5 million raised to date also includes backing from angels and equity crowdfunding.

Getmee says the fresh capital injection will help with the delivery of its product roadmap and solidify its market presence in 2024. 

"The funding and the experience of the ACV team brings, will allow us to support our growth. We look forward to achieving new milestones as we continue to push the boundaries of AI technology for communication skills coaching and reshape the industry landscape," says Thavarajah.

ACV was founded in 2021 with the requirement that all investments must have successfully completed a project in the Australian Government’s Accelerating Commercialisation programme. Portfolio companies include agricultural robotics startup Swarm Farm which raised $12 million in early 2023, and CCTV pipe inspection software group VAPAR which was founded by former Sydney Young Entrepreneur Awards finalists Amanda Siqueira and Michelle Aguilar.