Edtech Luca raises US$8M in Series A to transform basic education in Mexico and Latin America with AI

- With more than 30,000 active students in Mexico, the EdTech was recognized by Google and Arizona University as the world’s third-best education technology company.

- The EdTech aims to become the dominant player in Mexico over the next five years, combining AI with microlearning and gamification to transform basic education.

Monday, 05 January 2026, Mexico City - Luca, an AI-powered learning platform for education, announced the closing of a US$8 million Series A round led by 6 Degrees Capital, a Tier 1 venture capital fund based in the United Kingdom and Belgium, with participation from Explorer (Portugal), Heartcore Capital (Denmark), and Shilling VC (Portugal). The deal includes the addition of two high-profile operators to its board: Juan Romero, former CEO of Pearson LatAm and current CEO of ISP LatAm (International Schools Partnership / Principal Global Network of Schools), and Vasco Pedro, founder of Unbabel and Spinnable AI. Additional angel investors include founders and strategic operators in the global education and technology sectors.

This latest raise brings Luca’s total funding to more than US$13 million since its seed round in 2022, cementing its growth as one of the world’s most promising EdTech companies, with traction, institutional validation, and an offering tailored to Mexico’s educational landscape.

With this investment, Luca will pursue a three-pronged strategy: consolidate its presence in Mexico and become the dominant player in the K-12 segment (basic education, from preschool through high school) over the next five years; begin operations in other Latin American countries; and develop new personalized education products using artificial intelligence.

Recognized by Google and Arizona State University as the world’s third-best EdTech company, Luca now reaches more than 30,000 active students in Mexican schools, with measurable results: 28% less time spent on academic administration for teachers and 20% improvement in learning thanks to digital content that quickly identifies knowledge gaps.

A regional opportunity with global scale

Luca founder and CEO Frederico Bello built his career at institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Uber, and The Power MBA before making a decision that would change his professional trajectory: dedicating himself to transforming education, convinced that it is the sector with the greatest potential for social and economic impact in Latin America. Mexico has the third-largest basic education student population in Latin America, with more than 30 million students. Across Spanish-speaking Latin America, the market exceeds 120 million students, making it the third-largest in the world. Only India and China are larger.

“We’re building Latin America’s largest education company, designed to lead the global transformation of education over the next 100 years,” says Frederico Bello, founder and CEO of Luca. “Artificial intelligence presents an unprecedented opportunity: for the first time, we can bring truly personalized learning to millions of students at scale. This will completely transform how teaching and learning happen. Luca is ready to lead the implementation of these adaptive technologies directly in schools and classrooms around the world, delivering real academic results,” Frederico adds.

AI in the classroom: how Luca works

Luca is a hybrid education system that combines digital and print content for primary and secondary schools, covering the full curriculum at each level. In primary school, it covers Mathematics, Spanish, Science, English, Reading, and Grammar. In secondary school, it includes Mathematics, Spanish, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English, Geography, History, and Civic and Ethical Education. Its platform is aligned with the New Mexican School (NEM) and makes it possible to adapt content to each student’s pace, automate teachers’ tasks such as projects, lesson plans, and exams, and generate real-time performance reports.

The platform uses advanced artificial intelligence tools to reduce teachers’ administrative workload: it grades written assignments, creates personalized projects, generates exams with one click, and provides predictive analyses of each student’s academic performance. For school administrators, Luca offers a robust platform for data-driven strategic decision-making. For parents, it provides transparent, ongoing information about their children’s progress.

“At 6 Degrees Capital, we believe the transformation of education through AI is already underway. Six out of ten teachers in the United States already use these tools because they are naturally drawn to them. AI is arriving just as the system is showing strain on all sides: a shortage of overworked and underpaid teachers, classes that are too large, and governments responding with more bureaucracy,” explained Thibault D’hondt, General Partner at 6 Degrees Capital.

Technology with pedagogical purpose

At Luca, artificial intelligence enhances learning, but the heart of the startup remains human. Every tool has been designed with guidance from pedagogical experts and draws inspiration from successful education models such as those in Finland and Singapore, to ensure a balanced experience combining innovation and holistic development. Its methodology incorporates practices such as microlearning, gamification, hybrid education, and AI-powered learning.

With this foundation in place, Luca’s next step is to take personalized learning to another level: giving each student individualized support powered by artificial intelligence. The technology is not intended to replace teachers, but to become a powerful tool that allows them to focus their time and energy on what matters most: developing each student’s potential.

According to the OECD’s most recent PISA 2022 results, 66 % of students in Mexico do not reach the minimum proficiency level in mathematics, and 47 % are below the basic level in reading comprehension. Across Latin America, gaps compared with countries with more advanced systems exceed two school years. These figures reflect a critical reality: current teaching models no longer meet the cognitive and social needs of millions of students in the region.

A study conducted by Tecnológico de Monterrey found that using Luca can improve academic performance by up to 20% in Mathematics, Science, Languages, and English. These results were observed at dozens of schools in Mexico less than six months after implementation. The study sets Luca apart in Mexico’s education landscape as the only solution with independent scientific validation of its academic outcomes

In just three years, Luca has established itself as one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in Mexico and the world. In 2025, it multiplied its revenue fivefold, and this new school year it is maintaining the same pace in revenue growth and number of schools. Today, it operates profitably with a scalable model. According to 6 Degrees Capital, it is one of the top deals they have backed globally, both for its performance and its future potential and vision.

In a region where education’s structural challenges require sustainable solutions adapted to the local context, Luca is positioning itself as a strategic player that combines advanced technology with a deep understanding of pedagogical needs. This round marks not only a financial milestone, but also the strengthening of a vision: to build a scalable, measurable educational model centered on the holistic development of students and teachers in Latin America.

www.lucaedu.com