Oneday secures £3.2m to build AI mentor layer, help founders earn MBA
This article covers oneday, an edtech startup, which has raised £3.2m in growth debt to expand its tech-enabled university model that lets entrepreneurs earn an accredited MBA while building real businesses. The funding is intended to increase student onboarding, develop an AI learning and mentor layer and grow local community initiatives, supporting founder-led learning and practical skills development for entrepreneurs and students.
Oneday has raised £3.2 million in growth debt to expand its tech-enabled university model that lets entrepreneurs earn an accredited MBA while building real businesses. The London-based company says the capital will be used to increase student onboarding, develop an AI learning and mentor layer, and grow local community initiatives that support founder-led learning. The deal is notable as an example of alternative higher-education models attracting non-dilutive capital in the UK edtech scene.
Why it matters
Oneday positions itself at the intersection of higher education and practical entrepreneurship, offering students hands-on experience rather than classroom-only teaching. That approach addresses ongoing debates about the value of traditional degrees and the need for work-ready skills, particularly in the startup economy where practical traction often matters more than credentials.
The use of growth debt rather than equity also signals investor appetite for financing models that scale operational capacity without immediate dilution for founders. For UK edtech investors, the financing highlights continued interest in companies that combine accredited qualifications with demonstrable outcomes.
Inside the product
Oneday pairs students with active entrepreneurs to build, test, and launch businesses while progressing through an accredited MBA. The company is developing an AI mentor layer intended to validate ideas, run experiments, generate demand and convert thousands of mentor-founder interactions into personalised guidance. According to Oneday, this system produces tailored learning and execution roadmaps for each student that are informed by progress, behaviour and real business data.
To bolster retention and real-world networking, Oneday plans to introduce local city leaders responsible for organising retreats, graduations, meetups and other community events. These in-person elements are designed to complement the platform’s AI-driven learning tools and strengthen peer and mentor networks.
Who are the investors?
The £3.2 million growth debt facility was provided by Flashpoint, an international tech investment firm reported to manage approximately $600 million in assets. The financing is structured as growth debt, meaning the capital is intended to support scaling operations and product development without taking equity.
Oneday’s prior backers include Ananda Ventures Partners, Brighteye Ventures, Flint Capital, Outward VC and Sparkmind Capital. These investors have previously supported early-stage startups across technology and education-focused ventures. The mix of existing venture investors and new debt financing suggests a capital strategy blending equity and non-dilutive funding to accelerate product and community growth.
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Founder perspective
Led by co-founder and chief executive Taras Polishchuk, Oneday frames its mission around practical entrepreneurship education. The leadership emphasises combining accredited academic outcomes with business creation to produce both credentials and commercial experience. The company says the new funds will accelerate onboarding and improve the AI infrastructure that underpins personalised mentoring and learning pathways.
The bigger picture
Oneday’s raise sits within a broader shift in UK and European education and venture trends: more startups are pursuing hybrid learning models, and investors are increasingly open to non-equity instruments for growth financing. As the edtech sector grapples with proving efficacy and outcomes, products that couple accreditation with tangible founder-led results will remain in focus.
For policymakers and funders, the development underscores questions about how higher-education accreditation and vocational pathways can adapt to entrepreneurial careers. For the UK ecosystem, the deal is another data point in the evolution of funding choices available to education-focused startups seeking to scale.
They've invested in oneday
Get to know these edtech investors
| Investor | Sector | Stage | Activity | Team | Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Flashpoint Venture Capital (Flashpoint) | 3 investments investments | more info | |||
 Ananda Ventures Partners | 2 investments investments | more info | |||
 Brighteye Ventures | 21 investments investments | 10 contacts contacts | |||
 Flint Capital | 2 investments investments | more info | |||
 Outward VC | 12 investments investments | 4 contacts contacts | |||
 Sparkmind Capital | 2 investments investments | more info |
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