Bucharest-based Youni secures €900K to boost their AI ecosystem that connects universities with students worldwide | EU-Startups

Youni, a Romanian edtech startup founded in 2018, streamlining the university admissions process through the use of artificial intelligence. Recently raised €900,000 in a seed funding round, led by Czech accelerator Soulmates Ventures with €600,000 and Romania’s Early Game Ventures contributing €300,000. The platform helps students navigate applications to top global universities and provides universities with an efficient way to connect with qualified candidates.

To date, more than 6,000 students from all over the world have been helped by Romanian startup Youni to find and get into their ideal university. The global platform, powered by AI, not only boasts a 100% acceptance rate for applicants but also provides benefits to universities by allowing them to recruit quality candidates and streamline the work of the admissions teams. The platform provides universities with information that enables better planning of the admissions process, targeting of resources to applicants with the highest probability of success, and a more efficient allocation of scholarships.

Andrei Nicolae, Founder and CEO of Youni explained: “When I was looking for a university, I didn’t really know which field of study was the most suitable for me. Additionally, at that time in Romania it was not possible to apply online to study at the university and all information was hidden on many different platforms, which was both time-consuming and mentally demanding for me. When I worked in education in Germany, I saw that local students also experienced similar difficulties, that’s why I decided to develop an intelligent platform that would offer a universal helping hand to all students.“

Helping many students in many ways

The Youni platform provides comprehensive support to students in one place – helping them develop both personally and professionally, and above all, preparing them to enter prestigious world universities, including Harvard University, the University of Cambridge or LSE. Each user creates a detailed profile where they list their interests, goals, academic results and achievements. Based on this data, algorithms using artificial intelligence then recommend suitable fields of study as well as the universities that provide them.

Hynek Sochor, Founder and Managing Partner of Soulmates Ventures said: “Finding the right field of study and succeeding in entrance exams is often very difficult for students. They need comprehensive information, direction and support. We consider using scalable and modern digital technologies for this purpose to be an excellent idea that has the potential to simplify students’ paths towards their ideal career path.” 

At Youni, students can use verified tutors to help them prepare for standardised tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, A Levels/GCSE, SAT or International Baccalaureate (AA/AI), which are often required in the admissions process. Additionally, the platform provides support to users in applying to universities and for scholarships. At the same time, there is the possibility of consulting with education advisors who provide students with valuable advice and guidance on their academic journey.

Universities benefit just as much from the application

Universities benefit from Youni by using its AI technology to streamline the admissions process. The platform identifies the most suitable candidates based on their profiles and connects them with universities, reducing the workload for admissions teams. Youni has partnered with several universities in Germany and Switzerland to enhance their selection process.

In addition, Youni helps students secure scholarships by using AI to match them with relevant opportunities, including those offered by universities. This approach opens up access to education, especially for disadvantaged students. So far, Youni has helped secure $52 million in scholarships.

With new funding, Youni plans to further develop its platform and expand into markets in the US, UK, and Australia. Over the next year, the startup aims to assist one million students in getting into their ideal university.

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