Educational content creation platform Acrobatiq spun out from Carnegie Mellon University in 2015 and had been backed by the university's Carnegie Innovations division.

Acrobatiq, a US-based educational content creation platform spun out from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), was acquired by digital textbook provider VitalSource for an undisclosed sum on Tuesday, allowing the university to exit.

Founded in 2015, Acrobatiq offers an educational course creation platform that enables providers to tap data analytics and artificial intelligence to build digital programs personalised for each learner.

Features include a centralised dashboard aggregating key indicators, a web design suite called Smart Author and a library of adaptable educational content.

VitalSource will use Acrobatiq’s software to give clients the ability to publish their own digital coursework material. The company currently offers e-textbooks from more than 1,500 publishers for higher education institutions and individual students to purchase or hire.

Acrobatiq closed a $9.8m series A round in 2015 backed by Carnegie Innovations, a commercialisation unit of CMU, as well as media group Hearst’s corporate venturing arm, Hearst Ventures, philanthropic organisation Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Draper Triangle Ventures.

The spinout also secured a total of $17.7m in equity, options and securities over three rounds in 2015 and 2016, according to regulatory filings.

Pep Carrera, president of VitalSource, said: “We empower students and faculty with the resources necessary to promote greater success.

“By combining Acrobatiq’s cognitive and data science-based platform with VitalSource’s valued relationships with publishers and institutions, we have an opportunity to bring high-impact learning to the market at an unprecedented scale.”