Bangalore: Global publishing firm based in the U.K., Pearson will invest around $15 million in the Bangalore based e-learning firm TutorVista, promoted by serial entrepreneur K Ganesh.

TutorVista had earlier raised venture capital from Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank and Manipal Education as an investor.

Started in 2005, the company provides online tutoring and test preparation in the U.S. and U.K. seeking the help of technology to address problems like declining test scores, shortage of teachers and the lack of effective supplementary education and test preparation. It has test-preparations, presently available for school, college and graduate level students in many subjects and for many examinations.

These online sessions of TutorVista start with a diagnostic assessment to discover student strengths and weaknesses, followed by individualized learning strategies. The virtual classrooms have voice and chat messaging and electronic whiteboard for interactive use for both the student and tutor.

Pearson Education offers nearly 2,000 textbook companion web-sites and a range of other technology-led resources for course management and learning.

TutorVista entered the Indian market by acquiring Edurite. Earlier it was focusing on the U.S. and the U.K. markets.