Brand new edtech startup Alumly has secured what it says is one of 2025’s largest early-stage tech investments to help university students find work.
While the size of the angel round was not disclosed, Startup Daily understands it topped 7-figures.
The raise was led by Ann and John Ellis, cofounders of Mauve Group, a London-based, privately-held global HR and employment services firm operating in over 150 countries.
Alumly was founded by former Salesforce APAC education leader David Yip, to transform the course-to-career experience for tertiary graduates in the AI era.
Yip said the initial funding lays the foundation for Alumly’s upcoming pre-Seed round.
Alumly founder David Yip
“This strategic backing is more than capital. It’s validation that the future of work affects everyone and we must begin with a radical shift in how we equip students for a world transformed by AI,” he said.
“As AI renders many traditional entry-level roles obsolete, we are rebuilding the bridge between education and meaningful employment.”
Yip said Alumly is tackling the “perfect storm” facing Gen Z and tertiary institutions everywhere: AI is automating white-collar, graduate-entry roles; declining uni enrolments and lagging industry alignment; and companies grappling with chronic skills shortages and broken hiring practices.
“We’re not just building a scalable software platform to capture our slice of a massive $1.4 trillion market opportunity, we’re addressing systemic failures across education and employment,” he said.
“We believe tech can, and should, deliver both commercial returns and societal impact.”
The skills-first “Earn while you learn” platform give students paid work experiences embedded within their studies, delivering a win-win-win for students, companies and universities.
John Ellis from Mauve Group, a global HR and employment solutions firm operating in more than 150 countries, said Alumly’s model hits the sweet spot.
“It enables ‘earn while you learn’ at scale to address the pressing need for practical skills development and immediate career relevance for students, while simultaneously offering companies a flexible, pre-qualified talent pipeline,” he said.
“This investment reflects our belief in the strength of the concept and the significant market potential we see ahead for this transformative platform”
Ann Ellis, Mauve’s CEO who previously a teacher and said there’s a clear synergy between Alumly’s mission and Mauve’s experience supporting the education sector.
“We understand the challenges institutions and students face, and we see real value in a solution that bridges education and employability so effectively,” she said.
Alumly is already in discussions with international partners and universities.
“This is not just a Melbourne story, it’s a global one,” David Yip said.
“We’re building from Australia, but we’re solving a worldwide challenge.”
The Alumly site is set to launch in early August.
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