BibliU
{{Infobox company
| name = BibliU
| logo = BibliU logo.svg
| company_type = Private
| industry = Education Technology
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|2013}}
| founder =
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = London
| hq_location_country = United Kingdom
| area_served = Global
| key_people = David Sherwood, CEO
| products = {{nowrap|eTextbooks}}
{{nowrap|Online learning}}
| owner =
| num_employees = 80+
| num_employees_year =
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| website =
}}
BibliU is an education technology company, specialising in digital textbook and monograph provision for universities, libraries and other higher education institutions. BibliU is currently partnered with over 130 higher education institutions globally, including the University of Coventry, University of Liverpool and the University of Phoenix.{{cite web|url=https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/flyingstart/bibliu|title='Flying Start: BibliU eBooks|date=24 August 2020|publisher=Coventry University Library}}{{cite web|url=https://libanswers.liverpool.ac.uk/faq/193135|title='What is BibliU?'|date=10 August 2020|publisher=Liverpool University Library}}
BibliU was founded in 2013{{cite web|url=https://innovation.ox.ac.uk/startupincubator/meet-ceos/interview-dave-sherwood/|title=Dave Sherwood, CEO of BibliU|publisher=}} by former Rhodes Scholar David Sherwood, while he was studying at Oxford University.{{cite web|url=https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/the-spotify-of-the-textbook-world-takes-off-as-bibliotech-is-go-01-aug-2017|title=The Spotify of the textbook world takes off as BibliU is go|publisher=}} He cofounded the company with current CTO Daniel Engelke, Tao Mantaras,{{cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/technology/bibliotech-a-spotify-of-textbooks-raises-5m-20180611-h11858|title='Spotify of textbooks' founders raise $5m|date=11 June 2018|publisher=}} Ryan White, and Ellis Gecan at the Oxford University startup incubator.{{cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/futurebook/startup-week-bibliotech-414096|title=Startup of the week: BibliU - The Bookseller|website=www.thebookseller.com}}
Platform
The company provides e-textbooks to students by negotiating with core book publishers to give access to students and academics at reduced prices. Textbook packages are integrated into school library management systems and packages are adjusted according to a schools' reading lists. The company also has a subscription service for university libraries to make textbook packages searchable in their databases.{{cite web|url=https://www.bytethebook.com/the-hub/dave-sherwood-ceo-bibliotech-education|title=Dave Sherwood - CEO of BibliU Education - Byte the Book|date=21 September 2017|publisher=|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814134852/https://www.bytethebook.com/the-hub/dave-sherwood-ceo-bibliotech-education|archive-date=14 August 2018|url-status=dead}} The first field in which the company had a significant portion of the available textbooks for offer was chemistry, though its provision has expanded significantly into other fields in recent years.
Funding history
In 2018, the company received $4 million in funding from the University of Oxford Innovation Fund III.{{cite web|url=http://parkwalkadvisors.com/newsletter/newsletter-2017-04-11-bibliotech/?frame=0|title=University of Oxford Innovation Fund III closes BibliU investment|website=parkwalkadvisors.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.globaluniversityventuring.com/article.php/6916/bibliotech-bookmarks-4m-round|title=BibliU bookmarks $4m (USD) round · Articles · Global University Venturing|website=www.globaluniversityventuring.com}} In 2020, the company received an additional $10m (USD) in Series A funding, with the investment round led by Nesta Impact Investments, who announced that "BibliU is playing a leading role in the digital transformation of higher education and seeks to support inclusive access to educational content. BibliU offers all students more cost-effective access to their course materials and in formats that are inclusive and accessible."{{cite web|url=https://www.nesta.org.uk/project-updates/why-were-investing-edtech-higher-education/|title=Why we're investing in EdTech for Higher Education|date=13 May 2020|publisher=}}
BibliU's successful Series A funding round, taking place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic fallout was covered extensively by Sky News,{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/innovation-agency-nesta-backs-uk-edtech-start-up-bibliu-11974089|title=Innovation agency Nesta backs UK edtech start-up BibliU|date=16 April 2020|publisher=}} EdSurge,{{cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-04-17-bibliu-raises-10-million-to-scale-online-textbooks|title=BibliU Raises $10 Million to Scale Online Textbooks|date=17 April 2020|publisher=}} and Forbes,{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverwilliams1/2020/04/17/why-now-might-be-the-best-time-for-great-startup-ideas/#5b4416106e68|title=Why Now Might Be The Best Time For Great Startup Ideas|date=17 April 2020|publisher=}} among others.{{cite web|url=https://news.elearninginside.com/bibliu-raises-10-million-series-a-to-scale-digital-textbook-library-and-platform/|title=BIBLIU RAISES $10 MILLION SERIES A TO SCALE DIGITAL TEXTBOOK LIBRARY AND PLATFORM|date=20 April 2020|publisher=}}
Leadership
As of September 2020, BibliU's Board of directors consists of the following individuals,
- Dave Sherwood, CEO and Co-Founder
- Daniel Engelke, CTO and Co-Founder
- Mark Whitby, Chairman and former SVP at Seagate Technology