Sheffield based Chalkie raises £1m from Triple Point Ventures
At a glance
This article covers a funding round on 2 October 2025 for Chalkie, a teacher-first platform simplifying lesson preparation and resource creation, founded by Mark Hughes, Pete Sanderson and Phil Daneshyar. The company raised £1m in a round led by Triple Point Ventures.
What does Chalkie do?
Chalkie is a teacher-first online platform that centralises lesson planning, resource creation and classroom organisation. It helps teachers prepare lessons, generate teaching materials and manage workflows using AI-powered tools.
Why is Chalkie useful?
Problem
Teachers spend excessive time preparing lessons and creating resources, reducing time for classroom teaching. Many tools are fragmented and manual, increasing planning complexity and stress.
Solution
Chalkie explains that it simplifies lesson preparation and automates resource creation using teacher-first, AI-powered tools. This reduces planning time and lets teachers focus more on classroom teaching and students.
How much did Chalkie raise?
Chalkie has raised £1m from Triple Point Ventures to accelerate product development and expand into more schools. This makes it the 11th largest funding round in October 2025 (13 recorded). It ranks 389th of the year (484 recorded) in the Startupmag database, as of 2 October 2025.
For details on how Startupmag compiles its rankings, view our Methodology.
Who invested in Chalkie?
The key investors in the round are listed below.
- Triple Point Ventures: A UK venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology businesses.
If you're researching potential backers in this space:
- Explore our list of edtech venture capital firms in the UK
- Browse our directory of edtech angel investors in the UK
Who founded Chalkie?
The founders of Chalkie are Mark Hughes, Pete Sanderson and Phil Daneshyar.
In the funding announcement, Mark Hughes, Founder and CTO of Chalkie explained:
Our mission at Chalkie is simple – make teachers’ lives easier so they can focus on what they do best: teach.
Where is Chalkie based?
Chalkie is based in Sheffield, UK.
What sector is Chalkie in?
Chalkie operates in the education technology sector. It uses digital tools to support teaching and learning in schools.
Key trends and challenges in Edtech:
AI-driven tools in classrooms
Teachers increasingly use AI assistants such as ChatGPT to draft lessons and resources, saving prep time but risking errors.
Demand for proven learning impact
Schools and authorities now expect measurable evidence, like pilot studies or trials, showing improved student outcomes.
Digital equity and infrastructure gaps
Unequal access to reliable internet and modern devices affects rural and low-income pupils' learning opportunities.
For a deeper look at innovation in this space, see the edtech startups in the UK.
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