Aula

Aula operates as a Learning Experience Platform (LXP) specifically designed for the higher education sector. The company was established in 2016 by co-founders Anders Krohn, Adrian Franklin, and Oliver Nicolini, who were students at the University of Oxford at the time. Their journey began from a shared dissatisfaction with the clunky and outdated Learning Management Systems (LMS) prevalent in universities, which they felt served more as digital filing cabinets than as interactive learning environments. This first-hand experience as students fueled their mission to create a more engaging, community-first platform.

The business provides a communication-centric platform to higher education institutions, aiming to replace traditional emails and LMS like Blackboard or Canvas. Its model is centered on fostering interaction and a sense of community among students and educators. The platform's design is inspired by modern communication tools such as Slack and WhatsApp, providing a user-friendly, mobile-first interface that feels familiar to users. Key features include a central newsfeed for module materials and conversations, direct messaging, group chats, and tools for assignment submission and feedback. Aula also supports integrations with various popular educational tools, including Turnitin and Zoom, enhancing its functionality within a university's existing digital ecosystem.

Initially launched as a remote startup in 2017, Aula rapidly iterated its product, forming early partnerships with institutions like Ravensbourne and the University of the West of Scotland. A significant milestone occurred in 2018 when the company secured $4.2 million in a seed funding round to expand its partnerships and platform integrations. This was followed by a pivotal partnership with Coventry University Group, which started as a small pilot and expanded to tens of thousands of learners. On January 26, 2022, Coventry University Group officially acquired the Aula platform and key members of its product team. Under this new ownership, Aula continues to be developed as a tool for digital learning, leveraging the resources and insights of a major university group to focus on its core mission of making learning more engaging.

Keywords: Learning Experience Platform, LXP, EdTech, higher education, student engagement, communication platform, online learning, digital campus, collaborative learning, virtual learning environment, LMS alternative, pedagogical tools, Coventry University Group, Anders Krohn, Adrian Franklin, Oliver Nicolini, university software, remote learning, student community, interactive learning