South African education technology company, The Invigilator has raised ZAR195 million (US$11 million) in fresh funding to expand its anti-cheating software internationally.
The startup, founded in 2020, has developed AI-powered tools that monitor students during online exams via their smartphones, flagging suspicious behavior and ensuring academic integrity.
“We always knew we were building something special, and the fact that South African technology is creating global awareness is fantastic to see,” said co-founder and CEO Nicholas Riemer.
He added that the new funding will enable the company “to ramp up AI development, allowing greater access to education while maintaining assessment credibility.”
Founding of The Invigilator
Launched in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Invigilator emerged as a response to the sudden global shift towards remote learning.
Co-founders Nicholas Riemer and his team sought to address one of the biggest challenges facing online education, ensuring fair and credible assessments.
By leveraging widely available technology such as smartphones, the company positioned itself as a low-cost, accessible solution tailored to both developed and developing countries.
What The Invigilator Does
The Invigilator allows students to use their mobile devices during exams, with the application quietly monitoring them through AI algorithms.
The system can detect unusual behavior, such as looking away from the screen too often, using unauthorized devices, or attempting to collaborate with others.
Recently, the company introduced a new AI-detection tool designed to identify assignments or assessments completed with the help of artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT.
This step reflects the growing concerns among educators about academic dishonesty in the AI era.
Who Is Funding Them
The latest funding round was led by Kaltroco, a private investment firm headquartered in Jersey, Channel Islands, alongside investment professionals based in Nashville, Zurich, and Cape Town.
Their backing underscores a rising global interest in education technologies originating from Africa, with investors betting on tools that address both the integrity of online learning and the scalability of remote education.
The Invigilator’s Success So Far
In just four years, The Invigilator has gained traction across the education sector, now being used by more than 100 institutions worldwide. Its popularity stems from its adaptability in low-bandwidth environments, making it suitable for regions with limited internet infrastructure.
This has given it an edge in emerging markets where online learning is growing but digital infrastructure remains uneven.
Plans for Newly Secured Funding
With the new capital injection, The Invigilator plans to enhance its AI monitoring capabilities, moving towards what it calls “live AI monitoring” for continuous oversight of assessments.
CEO Riemer said the company’s priority is to “create greater access to education while safeguarding credibility,” stressing that expanding globally will allow the platform to support millions of students beyond Africa.
The funding will also help the company scale its reach into new markets and strengthen its research and development in AI-driven assessment technologies.
Why It Matters
The rise of generative AI has fueled debate about the future of education, particularly around the credibility of online learning. Tools like The Invigilator seek to bridge the gap by giving educators confidence in the fairness of remote assessments.
With global demand for online education projected to reach $585 billion by 2027, according to HolonIQ, solutions that address cheating and academic integrity will become increasingly essential.
The Invigilator’s progress highlights how African-born innovations are beginning to shape global conversations about the intersection of education, technology, and fairness.
Talking Points
The Invigilator’s work represents more than just a technological intervention, it is positioning itself as a night watchman of academic integrity in an era when artificial intelligence and remote learning are reshaping education at an unprecedented pace.
By deploying AI to detect cheating and even spot AI-generated work, it is tackling one of the most pressing dilemmas of our time: how to balance accessibility in education with credibility. Remote learning, while democratizing knowledge for millions, has opened loopholes that threaten the trustworthiness of qualifications, particularly as generative AI makes it easier for students to bypass effort.
The Invigilator’s approach of using smartphones and low-bandwidth systems ensures that it is not only a tool for elite universities but also a scalable guardian for institutions in developing regions where connectivity remains fragile. In this sense, it functions like a vigilant overseer, ensuring that opportunity and fairness walk hand-in-hand.
Its role could become indispensable in safeguarding the credibility of certificates, degrees, and professional qualifications in a digital-first world where integrity is as valuable as knowledge itself.
