Memrise was founded by Ed Cooke, Ben Whately, Greg Detre in 2010.

Who are Memrise's investors?

Memrise's investors include Avalon Ventures Management, Llc, Balderton Capital, Korelya Capital, Octopus Ventures, Techstars, Lerer Hippeau.

How much funding has Memrise raised?

Memrise has disclosed $3.2M raised across 1 round.

Where is Memrise headquartered?

Memrise is headquartered in London, GB.

Memrise

Techstars '11

London, GB · Founded 2010 · Delaware corporation · 49 employees on LinkedIn · 6 known investors

Find your way into Memrise

1,722 people in our graph share verified history with the Memrise team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Alice Pillarunlockedknows Ed Cooke · together at University of Oxford (overlapped)

×3knows the team · via University of Oxford

knows the team · via Harvard University

×3knows the team · via Techstars

×2knows the team · via Ey

knows the team · via Princeton University

Memrise is a language learning app that uses native-speaker videos, spaced repetition, and AI tools to help users learn practical, real-life language across 149 languages. The platform serves learners preparing for exams, work, or travel with interactive features including conversation practice, pronunciation tools, and AI-powered exam feedback.

AI & Machine Learning EdTech

Founders & leadership

Memrise was founded in 2010 by Ed Cooke, Ben Whately, and Greg Detre.

Ed Cooke inCo-founder2010–2021Ed Cooke co-founded Memrise, a language-learning platform that reached 70 million learners and pioneered interactive learning technologies. He studied cognitive science and philosophy at Oxford, Paris, Antwerp, and Macquarie universities, with research interests including consciousness, phenomenology, and sensory perception.

Ben Whately inCo-Founder and CEOHe is also co-founder and CEO of Astron Health, which develops personalized cancer treatment options using cellular pathway analysis, and co-founder and CEO of Angry Teenagers, a Web3-based reforestation initiative.

Greg Detre inGreg Detre studied at Oxford and Harvard, with machine learning expertise; he is co-founder and CTO of Memrise, a language learning platform serving millions of users.

Steven Toy inChief Executive Officer2021–2025He founded Just a Bite Better LLC in 2020 and advises dinemait, having previously led Memrise as CEO from 2021 to 2025 after joining as COO in 2020. Earlier roles include general manager at mobile app developer Apalon, venture lead at EY, and CEO of TaxChat.

Board

Richard LevandovBoard directorInvestor at Avalon Ventures Management, Llc

Mark EvansBoard director

Investors · 6

Avalon Ventures Management, LlcLa Jolla · $500K – $10M

Balderton CapitalLondon · $5M – $50M

Korelya CapitalParis

Octopus VenturesLondon · $130K – $1.3M

TechstarsBoulder · $220K

Lerer HippeaureportedNew York · $500K – $2M

Reported raises · per SEC filings

Form D private placements

$3.2M disclosed across 1 round · 2015

▶$3.2MraisedFeb 2017 · 18 investors · Other Technology

Rule 506(b)

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Ed CookeExecutive Officer, Director
Ben WhatelyExecutive Officer, Director
Richard LevandovDirector
Mark EvansDirector

Offering amount: $5M
Amount sold: $3.2M
First sale: Feb 2015
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Founder mafia

4 people who came through Memrise went on to found or lead other companies.

Toby MatherInternFounded Rig Kevin ShanahanHead of ProductFounded Paired Tony XiaoSoftware Development InternFounded Collections Ed CookeExecutive Officer, DirectorFounded Mindmax

Companies House · registry record

View on Companies House ↗

Registered name: MEMRISE LIMITED
Company number: 07463911
Status: Active
Company type: Private limited company
Incorporated: 8 Dec 2010
Registered office: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX
Nature of business (SIC): 62012 — Business and domestic software development85590 — Other education n.e.c.
Accounts: last made up to 31 Dec 2024 · next due 30 Sept 2026
Confirmation statement: last made up to 8 Dec 2025 · next due 22 Dec 2026

Current officers · 1

Benjamin William Whately — director, appointed 8 Dec 2010

Source: Companies House public register · retrieved 24 Jul 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the news

Memrise Statistics 2026: 65M Users, $35M Revenue & Spaced Repetition Data | Skillademiaskillademia.com · Mar 2024

Memrise raises $15.5M as its AI-based language-learning app passes 35M users | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com · Jun 2018

Language Learning Platform Memrise Raises $15.5M in Series Bfinsmes.com · Jun 2018

Memrise raises $1.05M to make memorization a gamegigaom.com · Feb 2012

Techstars Boston Grad Memrise Raises $1 Million to Make Learning Simple and Funbostinno.com · Feb 2012

Memrise Raises Cash & Expectations for Learningthenextweb.com · Feb 2012

Frequently asked questions

What does Memrise do?: Memrise is a language learning app that uses native-speaker videos, spaced repetition, and AI tools to help users learn practical, real-life language across 149 languages. The platform serves learners preparing for exams, work, or travel with interactive features including conversation practice, pronunciation tools, and AI-powered exam feedback.
Who founded Memrise?: Memrise was founded by Ed Cooke, Ben Whately, Greg Detre in 2010.
Who are Memrise's investors?: Memrise's investors include Avalon Ventures Management, Llc, Balderton Capital, Korelya Capital, Octopus Ventures, Techstars, Lerer Hippeau.
How much funding has Memrise raised?: Memrise has disclosed $3.2M raised across 1 round.
Where is Memrise headquartered?: Memrise is headquartered in London, GB.