Vision Knight leads Series B for China education app

Other investors include Toutou Shidao, Tsinghua Holdings-backed THU Capital, with existing investors China Growth Capital, Everbright Capital, and Frees Fund.

Incubated by the knowledge-sharing app Dedao in 2017, Shaonian Dedao targets young people aged 5-15. A provider of pay-to-listen in-house-developed audio content, training camps, and live-streamed lessons, the company has accumulated three million registered users. It claims to be cash flow positive.

The pay-to-listen content - Shaonian Dedao's main business line - comprises guided book readings led by famous teachers and radio dramas. More than 200 products are available. The training camps aim to provide companion reading services through a light teaching and high-service model. They typically cost RMB1,000 a time.

The live-streamed lessons were introduced as recently as last year. The first one, known as Quanling’s Chinese Class, was developed by Zhang. She became well known as a reporter and host on CCTV between 1997 and 2015 and now serves as CEO and chairman of Shaonian Dedao. Quanling's Chinese Class has seen a 25-fold increase in student numbers over the past 20 months. 

Zhang is not the only CCTV alumnus pursuing this business model. Kaishu Jianggushi - also known as Kaishu Story - was established by former CCTV host Kai Wang, best known to users as Uncle Kai. Earlier this year, the storytelling start-up raised $66 million in an extended tranche of Series C round led by Trustbridge Partners.

Lighthouse Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor for Shaonian Dedao's Series B.

• Tweet  
• Facebook  
• LinkedIn  
• Google plus  
• Save this article  
• Send to  

• Topics
• Greater China
• Early-stage
• Technology
• Consumer
• China
• Education
• Vision Knight Capital
• China Growth Capital
• Frees Fund
• China Everbright