Cypher is a London-based edtech startup offering creative coding camps for children aged 5 to 14. The startup aims to inspire children to learn coding, computational thinking, problem solving and communication. Cypher recently closed a second funding round of £250K, which means since its launch in 2016 the startup has raised a total of £435K.
This latest round saw investment from investors including Michael Liebreich. The startup also won the 2017 Small Business Grants and was selected for the Natwest Accelerator programme.
Today, Cypher has hosted over 1,000 children in its coding camps and seen revenue grow 330% in two years. The startup now has global plans to franchise the business in the US and Middle East.
Cypher founder; Elizabeth Tweedale, has been teaching children coding in London over the last 6 years.
The entrepreneur saw a commercial opportunity to make coding accessible to all kinds of children and wanted to have a positive social impact on children’s futures. Tweedale is setting out to empower the next generation to explore and understand the rapidly changing world they live in, becoming familiar with skills that could prove invaluable for their futures.
She said: “when today’s school children leave university, technologies such as AI and robotics will be commonplace. I truly believe it is our generation’s responsibility to educate children on coding and computational thinking in order for them to navigate this new reality. Children should embrace these technologies, rather than be intimidated by them.”
Cypher runs coding camps at schools in all the holidays, providing childcare and giving constructive, interactive and educational activities for children that will inspire an excitement for computer programming.
Tweedale continued: “We use real life, creative examples to engage the students in the social value of coding and computer science – applying these skills to conservation, architecture and design. I am passionate about the advantages technological developments can bring to wellbeing.”
