Ben Sze’s Impactful Journey in Education and Entrepreneurship
Ben Sze is a name that resonates in Australia’s entrepreneurial and education sectors. From his role as the co-founder of Edrolo, an innovative education technology company, to his latest venture with Teacher’s Buddy, Ben Sze has consistently championed efforts to improve learning outcomes and empower educators. His story is not just a narrative of business success but also of resilience, reinvention, and using technology for meaningful change.
The Drive for Better Solutions
Ben Sze has always been wired to ask, “How can this be done better?” This question has paved his way from being an auditor at KPMG to becoming a key player in Australia’s ed-tech transformation. Despite admitting that many of his early ideas were less than perfect, his constant curiosity and drive have led to remarkable achievements.
Born to Chinese parents, Ben grew up with the traditional advice of pursuing a safe and stable career. This led him to begin his professional life in accounting, entering KPMG as an auditor. However, it didn’t take long for him to realise that this path didn’t align with his aspirations. The backward-looking nature of accounting and the stigma around auditors didn’t match his forward-thinking mindset. He wanted to work on something enabling and impactful – something that wasn’t just about numbers but about making genuine improvements in people’s lives.
Building Edrolo
Ben Sze’s entrepreneurial journey took a significant leap in 2013 when he co-founded Edrolo, an edtech company aimed at modernising Australian high school education. Alongside co-founders Duncan Anderson and Jeremy Cox, Ben left his corporate career to focus on Edrolo full-time, despite the initial challenges of operating without income for eight months. Their belief in the untapped potential of online education paid off, with Edrolo securing $2.6 million in funding in 2015, led by AirTree Ventures. This funding enabled the company to expand its reach to 120 schools and develop innovative tools like Exam Master, which tracks student progress and identifies areas of weakness.
By 2022, Edrolo had grown into a leader in Australian education technology, serving over 250,000 students across 1,100+ schools annually. The company secured $40 million in Series B funding, led by Blackbird Ventures, with participation from AirTree Ventures and several superannuation funds. This milestone allowed Edrolo to expand its offerings to include Years 7 to 10, launching new resources in Maths and Science, with Humanities on the horizon. Ben’s leadership as Co-CEO for 12 years was instrumental in scaling Edrolo to over 1,200 schools and a team of 200+ passionate members. In 2023, Ben transitioned to a non-executive director role, ensuring his strategic contributions to Edrolo’s mission while pursuing new ventures.
Revolutionising Education with Teacher’s Buddy
After stepping back from his Co-CEO role at Edrolo, Ben launched Teacher’s Buddy in March 2025, a platform designed to empower educators by simplifying their workload through innovative AI tools. Teacher’s Buddy addresses the administrative burdens of planning, marking, and reporting, enabling teachers to focus on impactful teaching and student engagement. The platform’s adaptability allows it to support curricula globally while tailoring to local educational standards.
Ben’s vision for Teacher’s Buddy aligns with his lifelong mission to improve education. He often speaks about “reigniting teachers’ passion for teaching” by saving them countless hours each week. This new venture builds on his legacy of leveraging technology to create meaningful change in education, ensuring that both teachers and students benefit from innovative, time-saving solutions. Through Edrolo and Teacher’s Buddy, Ben continues to leave an indelible mark on the education sector, championing progress and innovation.
Commitment to Change and Well-being
2023 was a pivotal year for Ben. While his entrepreneurial success continued to grow, he recognised the importance of stepping back to prioritise health and family. He made the difficult decision to leave his Co-CEO role at Edrolo, taking time to focus on his well-being.
Ben has since shared his experiences and insights about balancing professional ambitions with personal well-being on his personal blog. His openness about the challenges entrepreneurs face has inspired many others in the startup ecosystem, proving that prioritising health and family doesn’t come at the cost of pursuing success.
Additional Roles and Contributions
Beyond Edrolo and Teacher’s Buddy, Ben is making an impact in various other roles:
- Board Member at WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research): Since 2022, Ben has been a part of WEHI’s advocacy and support committee, helping with strategy development in donations, public relations, and alumni engagement.
- Board Member at Toorak College: Since 2020, Ben has contributed to the governance and strategic direction of Toorak College, ensuring opportunities for students to excel.
- Mentor to Startup Founders: Ben dedicates a significant amount of time supporting fellow entrepreneurs, passing on lessons learned from his remarkable career.
His background in finance, with roles at Goldman Sachs and JBWere, has also equipped him with the business acumen and strategic foresight crucial to his ventures.
Lessons from Ben Sze
Ben Sze’s story is full of valuable lessons for educators, startup enthusiasts, and young entrepreneurs alike:
Passion Fuels Purpose: His unwavering focus on improving education continues to drive his efforts across different ventures.
Trust Your Instincts: Ben’s decision to leave accounting reflects the importance of listening to your intuition and pursuing what truly resonates with you.
Build Ideas Through Collaboration: Ben encourages open conversations about ideas rather than keeping them sheltered, believing collaboration leads to refinement and growth.
Reinvent When Necessary: Whether pivoting from an auditor to an entrepreneur or restructuring life priorities to focus on well-being, Ben shows the power of reinvention.
To explore more about Ben Sze’s inspiring story, his journey with Edrolo, and his latest venture, Teacher’s Buddy, visit his LinkedIn profile here, the Edrolo website, and the Teacher’s Buddy website.
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