• Wonderschool

  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.

No current team members are available.