Grockit picks up $20M led by Discovery Communications to expand its social learning tool Learnist

Grockit, an online social learning company, has received a $20 million investment from Discovery Communications and others in a move that will go towards building out the company’s Learnist product. It also marks what the company says, the first “social learning startup investment from a global leader in broadcast and digital media.” Through this strategic investment, Grockit will be receiving capital investment, shared technology, marketing distribution, and promotion.

Other investors that participated include the Summit Group, who previously invested in Uber and Scribd, Atlas Ventures, Benchmark Capital, Integral Capital Partners, and GSV Capital Corp.

Learnist is a social learning platform that lets students and teachers create a “learn board” to help educate people on subjects ranging from English to more complex subjects. It is a collection of videos, blogs, and images that can be used to help someone learn.

Discovery’s Chief Digital Officer, JB Perrette says that with Learnist, “we see a natural accompaniment to our primary video content business, with a unique knowledge platform and model that encourages passionate audiences to share what they know and learn what they don’t.”

In addition to this round of funding, Learnist has redesigned its site, shifting its focus towards highlighting its community of experts, including industry professionals like Bobby Chang, founder of In-Case, Clark Scheffy, founder of Ideo, and Lean Startups guru Eric Ries. The company says that it has grown by 400% and its user engagement “has doubled.”

The education tech scene has exploded over the past few years with the introduction of many new services, ranging from the Khan Academy to CK-12 to now Grockit’s Learnist platform.

Photo credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images