Led · Equity · Oct 2018

Caribu is a Miami-based edtech startup that offers a video-calling app enabling children to read, draw and play games together with relatives and friends. The product pairs interactive video calling with in-app books and games as an educational and family entertainment platform. In November the company piloted e-commerce by bundling subscriptions with physical books from a publisher, and Black Friday sales generated half of November’s revenue. Caribu saw roughly 10x growth early in the pandemic and has expanded its team from four to 12 employees. During the pandemic the company added use cases such as a virtual Caribu library for teachers and expanded its games content. It was recognized by the Apple App Store as one of 15 apps and games that inspired the world in 2020. Financially, Caribu has raised about $5M since 2019, including a $2M capital boost in December, and CEO Maxeme Tuchman plans to pursue a Series A. Caribu is an interactive reading and drawing education platform that enables parents, extended family and mentors to read and draw with children remotely via a real-time video-call screen-sharing app. Led by CEO Maxeme Tuchman and based in Miami, the platform connects families in over 140 countries. The company raised $1.3M in funding to support rapid expansion of the platform in the U.S. and into additional global markets. The round was led by Be Curious Partners, with participation from John Cooper of Halestreet, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and AT&T. Caribu is currently available on iOS and plans to launch a new iOS version and an Android app later this year to add more personalization and interactivity. The proceeds will be used to scale distribution and accelerate product development internationally.

Participated · Equity · Jan 2018

Wonderschool operates a technology platform that helps prospective and operating child care providers with licensing, enrollments, billing, communications, staffing, and business coaching. The product functions as a digital marketplace for parents to find local child care and as a modular solutions provider for governments and employers. Wonderschool has built features to support large-scale partners, including substitute teacher matching (Substitute Teaching Pool) and state partnerships for staff recruitment and training. The company reports that most programs on its platform remained open through the pandemic and highlights strong state-level partnerships as significant milestones. Financially, Wonderschool’s last reported financing was a $25M Series B led by Goldman Sachs at a $165M post-money valuation. The company aims to scale its offerings to serve more providers and families across rural communities and major cities within a $61.7 billion child care market. Wonderschool provides software and services that help licensed educators and caregivers get credentialed, set up in-home preschools or daycares, launch websites, boost enrollment, and take payments in exchange for a 10% cut of tuition. The company runs a director “bootcamp,” pairs new directors with mentors, offers coaching on lead generation and tours, and provides ongoing support and weekly check-ins. Wonderschool says it is helping run 140 schools across the SF Bay, LA, and NYC and has over 500 directors on its platform, with some directors earning as much as $150,000–$200,000. The startup raised a $20M Series A (bringing total funding to $24.1M) and plans to use the capital to expand and build lead-generation and management software for directors. Its model is curriculum-agnostic, allowing directors to choose schedules and approaches such as Montessori or nature-focused learning. The company emphasizes safety and oversight through state licensing processes, a support team that helps prepare homes, and parental feedback loops to surface issues. Wonderschool operates a network of in-home daycare and preschools and offers a technology platform that helps caregivers manage programs, communicate with parents, and take payments online. The company screens providers for credentials, experience and education and supports them with licensing, liability insurance, health and safety compliance, and daily routines. Wonderschool monetizes by taking a percentage of monthly tuition fees. Headquartered in San Francisco, most of its roughly 140 programs are in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and it already runs 16 programs in New York City. After raising $2.1 million in new funding, the startup plans to open 150 programs in New York City and will focus growth first on California and New York. The company positions its model as a way to address childcare shortages and low compensation in early childcare by enabling providers to reduce costs and balance caregiving with work. Wonderschool operates a marketplace that helps qualified providers open and run in‑home daycares and preschools, vetting them by credentials, state licenses, liability insurance (which Wonderschool pays), health and safety standards, and daily routines. The company guides providers through setting an educational philosophy, establishing schedules and rates, and creates marketplace profiles so parents can book tours, join waiting lists, and enroll. Wonderschool also helps providers manage discounts, accept government subsidies, handle marketing and payments, and assists parents by matching them with backup care among its network. Its platform currently lists about 50 in‑home daycares and preschools in California; 76% of partners have a bachelor’s degree and 32% have graduate degrees. The company reports that the average provider income before joining was less than $38,000 and says most make around double that after joining the platform. Wonderschool plans to use new funding to expand into 15 new cities over the next year and a half.