Stanford Graduate School of Business is among the investors in a $1.5m funding round for Upswing, which helps online students connect with their cohort.

Upswing, a US-based student support platform, has raised $1.5m in funding from a consortium that included Stanford Graduate School of Business, EdSurge reported on Thursday.

The round was led by Lumina Impact Ventures and also included Rethink Education and Village Capital.

Upswing originally operated an online video platform aimed at online coaching, but has pivoted towards the academic sector.

Upswing’s technology combines the various aspects of student support – tutoring, mentoring and advising – with data science to help institutions ensure online students are happy with their education and do not drop out.

The company’s offering includes the Student Services Platform, which enables online students to build relationships with their peers without visiting campus. The company has partnered more than 70 colleges and universities across the US to date.

Upswing has now reportedly raised $3m in funding. The previous cash injections were provided by assorted angel investors, according to deals database Crunchbase, though the claims are unsourced.