illumine, a pioneering AI-first platform dedicated to early childhood education, has raised $2.5 million in seed funding led by Prime Venture Partners. The investment will fuel product innovation and drive global expansion as illumine sets its sights on becoming the worldwide standard in childcare management software.
The idea behind illumine stemmed from a deeply personal moment. Navneet Rastogi, Co-founder and CEO, missed witnessing his son’s first steps while the child was at daycare — a milestone he learned about only weeks later. “It should have been a joyous, shared moment, but it passed silently,” Rastogi said. “That was the turning point when I realized how disconnected and outdated communication in childcare really is.” From that emotional insight, illumine was born: a platform designed to keep parents informed in real-time, support educators, and streamline childcare operations.
As dual-income families become the norm and demand for childcare surges, the industry still struggles with fragmented systems and manual processes. illumine addresses this gap with the world’s first vertical AI SaaS platform tailored exclusively for childcare providers. The platform is already trusted by over 3,000 centres in 56 countries, including the U.S., UAE, Southeast Asia, Europe, and India.
“Despite parents spending thousands of dollars annually on early education, the sector remains severely under-digitized,” said Shripati Acharya, Partner at Prime Venture Partners. “illumine’s AI-first approach eliminates administrative burden, improves engagement, and empowers educators. We’re thrilled to support a team that is reimagining this vital sector.”
The founding team emphasizes a strong focus on intentional, adaptive design. Sourabh Agarwal, Co-founder and CTO, noted, “Our AI isn’t just about automation — it’s built to understand the complexities of childcare environments globally.” Purva Goyal, Co-founder and CPO, added, “Whether it’s a single preschool or a large multi-centre chain, illumine is designed to scale and flex to each operation’s unique needs.”
With this seed funding, illumine plans to double down on innovation, bolster support for childcare operators, and continue building solutions that enhance communication, reduce workload, and improve developmental outcomes for children.
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