Conocer

About Conocer

Conocer Inc., operating as Conocer, is an EdTech company founded in January 2020 by co-founders Satoru Tanabe (CEO) and Kohei Hasegawa (CTO). Tanabe's background includes roles at the Development Bank of Japan, an MBA from UC Berkeley, and experience at Boston Consulting Group and Quipper, where he was the business manager for 'Studysapuri'. This experience in both finance and educational services influenced Conocer's mission to redesign student-centered education.

The company operates a hybrid tutoring school called 'Kono-juku', which combines digital learning with in-person coaching. Its business model targets students in public schools aiming for admission into Tokyo metropolitan high schools. The service is offered on a subscription basis, providing five-subject tutoring for a fixed monthly fee.

Conocer's core service merges technology with personalized instruction to create what it calls "Student Success," defined as a lifelong successful experience through learning. The platform uses scientifically validated methods to improve student grades. Students primarily learn from high-quality instructional videos created by experienced teachers, ensuring a consistent standard of education. This is supplemented by in-person tutors at the learning centers who provide follow-up and support for areas where students are struggling. The learning process is managed through a proprietary tablet application that tracks student progress and identifies difficulties, allowing for data-driven coaching and curriculum improvement. This blend of technology and human interaction allows a single instructor to manage more students effectively while maintaining high-quality educational outcomes.

Since its first center opened in December 2020, Conocer has expanded to over 40 locations within Tokyo as of late 2023. The company has secured significant funding, with a cumulative total of $30.5 million, to support its expansion. Investors include Genesia Ventures, ANRI, DBJ Capital, and DG Daiwa Ventures.