TIME picks four Finnish companies for global edtech ranking

The ranking, published for the first time, assessed over 7 000 education technology companies based on their financial strength and industry impact. Each company was given an overall score derived from these criteria, and the top 250 performers were selected for the final list. 

The highest-ranking Finnish company, Helsinki-based Claned, secured the 24th position on the list. The company addresses the low performance levels of online courses with a learning platform that makes it easy to create engaging online courses using built-in learning design elements and analytics. Founded in 2013, Claned today has customers from over 40 countries.

Ranked 45th, 3DBear offers virtual environments for learning. The company uses 3D technologies such as augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to create immersive classrooms for career and technical education. For example, the company is part of the EU’s Bit the Spectrum project, where VR and AR exercises are used to support students on the autism spectrum. 

Unlocking development for all

Accessibility and impact are also emphasised by the self-styled “world's most accessible learning ecosystem”, Funzi, ranked 150th on TIME’s list. The company offers short self-study courses accessible to anyone with a mobile device. They focus on the “critical 21st-century skills” needed for career development and starting businesses. Funzi’s partners include industry giants like Pearson and Facebook.

“This is a much appreciated recognition for our goal to give everyone with a mobile device access to the skills that they, and our planet, need to thrive in the future: employability, entrepreneurship and sustainability,” commented Aape Pohjavirta, founder of Funzi.

The last Finn on the list, Valamis, occupying the 197th spot, stands out by targeting large enterprises and workforce development. Valamis’ digital learning platform is built around a data-driven approach to help companies understand how their organisation learns best. Headquartered in Joensuu, the company also has offices in the US, the UK, Germany, India and the Netherlands.

Finnish innovation and achievement has also been recognised elsewhere by TIME this past year, with the magazine listing four Finnish innovations in an annual best-of list and hailing Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves as the best film of 2023 .