HighGrade Ventures

HighGrade Ventures is a niche EdTech-focused seed fund launched in 2018 with operations in London, UK and Tel Aviv, Israel. The fund was established through a collaboration between MindCET, an Israeli EdTech incubator that has organized the Global EdTech Startup Awards since 2014, and Arie Capital, a venture firm backed by British, Chinese, and Israeli investors focused on Israeli technology companies. Managing Partner Avi Warshavsky leads the fund, which operates with a $4 million vehicle and supports four to six investments per year. HighGrade invests approximately $250,000 per company in pre-seed and early-stage EdTech startups that have successfully launched a product with initial market traction. The fund targets entrepreneurs demonstrating deep technology innovation with forward-thinking educational approaches and scalable business models, with a particular focus on enhancing EdTech activity across Europe. One known portfolio company is Storyball, a London-based developer of a smart interactive ball for children's play and learning. The Global EdTech Startup Awards organized by MindCET serves as a key deal flow channel for the fund. HighGrade Ventures combines capital with business development support, EdTech mentorship, and access to a network of stakeholders to help portfolio companies penetrate the market. The fund's dual anchor in London and Tel Aviv gives it access to two of Europe's most active EdTech ecosystems, while its partnership structure with MindCET provides deep domain expertise and a credentialed pipeline of education technology founders.