Ice Miller client Rethink Education has invested in Aanaab, a Saudi-based digital training platform. Aanaab’s mission is to empower teachers by offering distance courses to enhance the efficiency of teachers and educators across the globe. This transaction is Rethink’s first investment in the Middle East.

Rethink Education is dedicated to helping unlock the full human potential of people in marginalized and underserved groups. They support mission-driven founders willing to tackle the hard problems to transform educational outcomes for all learners and seek investments that contribute to the betterment of our society, communities, and planet.

Founded in 2019, Aanaab works with leading institutions in the education realm to offer K-12 teachers and educators a range of courses, licensing, and qualifications, predominantly in Arabic, to advance their professional development. Aanaab is owned and operated by Saudi female entrepreneurs who are paving the way for digital innovation and the enhancement of Saudi Arabia’s education sector.

Like many other areas of the world, regions in the Middle East and North Africa face the ongoing challenge of training and continually upskilling teachers and school leaders. Most of the education solutions in the region focus on the students, curriculum, or resources, often overlooking the teachers. Rethink’s investment in Aanaab is an opportunity to build a comprehensive teacher professional development solution to address a major challenge.

Ice Miller Business group partners Frank Bayyari, Josh Borean, and associate Huidi Shu led the deal team with support from Devin Routie, Xuan Feng, Jacqueline Perrotta.