29 Nov IU Angel Network Invests in True Leap, Inc.
Houston, Tex. — The IU Angel Network, an investment vehicle of IU Ventures, is proud to announce its strategic $95,000 investment in TrueLeap Inc., a global education technology company.
Over the past decade, the education sector has seen a remarkable transformation with the integration of innovative digital platforms, which have become increasingly essential for students and educators alike. The ongoing global shift towards digital learning, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the urgency for advanced and adaptable educational solutions. TrueLeap Inc. is revolutionizing the world of education with its innovative platform that empowers students to take charge of their learning journey. By offering sustainable education technology solutions, TrueLeap Inc. is helping students across the globe unlock their full potential. The funding provided by IU Angel Network will enable True Leap to accelerate its expansion across Africa and Southeast Asia and enhance its learning management system and content management system by introducing new features to increase value to school systems and end users. 
With two decades of experience in teaching, including a decade dedicated to online education, Sunny Zhang, Ph.D., the Founder of TrueLeap Inc., appreciates the transformative power of education on both individuals and communities. She experienced frustration with outdated and costly educational platforms, which led to a pivotal revelation when she, along with Co-Founder and CEO, Sandip Bordoloi, Ph.D., identified a significant global gap where approximately 80% of students lacked access to digital learning tools. This realization catalyzed their mission to develop a tailored platform for resource-limited school systems in emerging markets. Their focus on usability, affordability, and intelligence is evident in their ecosystem approach, which encompasses not only software and hardware but also content, training, and research.
Zhang is an alumna of IU’s Kelley School of Business, having earned both her master’s and doctorate degrees from the institution. She described her Ph.D. training in Marketing with a minor in Social Psychology from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences as “unparalleled”. “Being surrounded by brilliant minds from every corner of the world not only helped me with my dissertation research on the effect of social networks on innovation adoption but also profoundly shaped my core values and inspired me to do what I do today,” Zhang said.
Zhang described IU as “foundational” to TrueLeap Inc.’s evolution. She expressed her excitement about the investment from her alma mater, stating, “Our collaboration began during the pandemic from our startup studio, Born Global Ventures. We have synergistic missions to make a global impact through the IU network”. Zhang also is a regular attendee at the IU Founders and Funders Network Venture Summit held in Bloomington, IN every May.
Kate Evinger, Associate Director of the IU Angel Network, shared her enthusiasm for the investment, saying, “True Leap is narrowing the digital divide by increasing access to quality educational resources for students and providing essential tools for teachers and administrators through their platform, which was built to perform in environments with limited digital infrastructure. We believe that True Leap is shaping the global future of learning, and we’re excited to be a part of their journey.”
Beyond offering software platforms to educational systems in India, TrueLeap Inc. has recently celebrated the inauguration of its first technology labs in the Democratic Republic of Congo in partnership with Akili Digital DRC, the Commission of Conventional Catholic Schools, and the Association of Parents in Catholic Schools of Congo.
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If you are an investor interested in learning more about the IU Angel Network please apply on our website. If you are an IU Entrepreneur looking to meet with the IU Ventures team, please apply for funding on our website.
About TrueLeap Inc
TrueLeap Inc. is a global digital education company headquartered in Houston, Texas focused on developing affordable technology solutions to address the ever-growing digital divide and improve access to quality education worldwide.
Media Contact
Sunny Zhang, PhD
sunny@trueleap.io
About IU Ventures
IU Ventures invests in and supports IU-affiliated early-stage companies. Its investment programs include the IU Philanthropic Venture Fund, IU Angel Network, Shoebox Fund and Innovate Indiana Fund. It further supports IU founders through the Executive in Residence Program and IU Founders and Funders Network. Student support is provided through a variety of engagements, including the new IU Venture Fellows Program. Each program takes unique approaches to accelerate and support the positive impacts that entrepreneurs affiliated with IU already achieve across the world. IU Ventures is a recognized leader in increasing opportunities for diverse and historically underserved entrepreneurs and investing in Indiana startups with a shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Media Contact
Emily Atkinson, PhD
emiatkin@iu.edu
Investor Contact
IU Ventures
ventures@iu.edu