Leeds based learning technology company Sonocent has announced it is rebranding to Glean as part of its long-term growth strategy. The rebrand comes at a pivotal moment of change for the company as it commits to making improvements to the way that students of all abilities learn in the midst of rapid change in the education sector.
Glean’s technology has been adopted by students at every higher education institution in the UK and some of the world’s most prestigious Ivy League institutions including Cornell, Brown, and Columbia. The company has a long history of creating tech for good, and currently helps 100,000s of students with disabilities to meet their learning potential across the US, UK and Australia.
The company’s commitment to supporting all learners comes as an annual survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute1 revealed the lowest student satisfaction rate since 2006, with disrupted teaching and a lack of support leaving students feeling that they didn’t receive good value for money from their university this year.
This has seen a demand for virtual assistance in the classroom increase, with the edtech market projected to grow at 17% per annum, to $252 billion by the end of 2021, with an estimated 56.4 million students. This growth is projected to only increase as the higher education system catches up with the accelerated trajectory of digital transformation brought about by the pandemic.
According to a report by McKinsey2, Covid-19 has forced companies to speed up the adoption of digital technologies by several years, including those within the education sector. This acceleration of digital transformation has forced learning institutions to evaluate the ways they support all students in a new online/offline hybrid environment.
Identifying a pivotal shift in the priorities of students and higher institutions, Glean’s products and services aim to address the key challenges for learners of all abilities. Throughout the pandemic, 85% students have seen a reduction in attainment throughout the shift in teaching style, and over 50% of students are now questioning whether their learning experience in higher education was value for money.
18 months after the initial launch of the company’s newest SaaS product Glean, the company has seen significant success for the product both in terms of growth, but also in improving student success, with many students reporting increased academic results and reduced anxiety. Identifying that the challenges facing students with disabilities are often universal issues for all students, the company is now committed to supporting all students with inclusive and accessible learning solutions.
Glean is committing fully to further developing the Glean learning solution and phasing out legacy product Sonocent Audio Notetaker between now and 2025 to ensure that all students get the most value out of their education. The adoption of the new company name Glean marks a significant public commitment to this with the company officially adopting the trading name Glean on the 7th July 2021.
One of the Best Companies Top 40 Tech Companies to work for in the country, Glean’s team has grown by over 52% in the last 12 months as demand for EdTech and accessible solutions have soared and this change marks a commitment to further growth and development for the company.
Dave Tucker, CEO and Co-Founder at Glean, said: “For many years our goal has been to improve the learning of over a million students. To do that we always knew we needed to reach a broader range of learners than those with disabilities. This is why we created Glean, our web-based note taking platform. We took all the lessons learned over the previous decade to create an inclusive note taking tool, designed to improve learning from class.
“Since launching last year we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback and so now we feel assured in committing to Glean as our vehicle to give all learners the confidence and ability to acquire knowledge in an age of information overload.
“We’re so excited for what Glean’s future holds; for the team, for our customers, and for the millions of learners we hope to inspire and support.”
Dave Tucker has this week been shortlisted for the Disruptor of the Year category at the 2021 Great British Entrepreneur Awards for the North West & Yorkshire and the Humber region. Founded in 2013, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom. The awards have celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names. Previous winners include the founders of Grenade, Tangle Teezer, The LAD Bible, Clearscore & The Cambridge Satchel Company.
