Led · Series A · Mar 2020

Nepris operates a cloud-based platform that connects industry professionals with K–16 classrooms via live virtual sessions that are recorded and added to a growing video library. Since being founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Nepris has connected over 70,000 educators across more than 600 school districts and reached over 500,000 students, with nearly 10,000 hours of videos aligned to the U.S. Department of Labor O*NET database. Nearly 62% of students reached come from lower socioeconomic groups, and the platform enables employers and intermediaries to offer virtual tours, mock interviews, and career talks across diverse fields. The company says the new funding will allow it to scale up, expand to new regions, and sign more industry partnerships supporting all 16 CTE clusters. Nepris emphasizes making learning more relevant by exposing students to role models and career pathways and by lowering barriers between educators and industry professionals. The recent financing will support expanded regional reach and partnership growth. Nepris provides an online community that connects educators with industry professionals through live interactive sessions to show students how classroom learning applies in the workplace. Sessions include interactive Q&As with working professionals, virtual field trips, project mentorships, Industry Chats and even live Shark Tanks. Over 65,000 students in 2,200 classrooms have participated, with a focus on STEM and the Arts. The company plans to use new funding to redesign its site to simplify connections, expand work with Economic Development Councils and Workforce Boards, and boost the number of Industry Chats. Nepris also intends to reach more rural and lower socio-economic school districts, where it says students have the greatest need. Co-founder and CEO Sabari Raja framed the raise as a way to scale industry-education connections and broaden outreach. Nepris operates a platform that matches classroom teachers with industry experts for live video sessions that are recorded for future viewing. Teachers request sessions by specifying subject, lesson topics, grade level, curriculum alignment and preferred times; the system notifies registered industry experts who fit the criteria. Sessions typically take the form of Q&A, but have also been used for student project feedback and other engagements; students can ask and text questions during sessions. Launched in April 2014, Nepris says it has a community of thousands of teachers from 600 schools in 45 states and industry professionals from over 400 companies. The company charges $99 per teacher per year for unlimited use, though over half of teachers are sponsored by companies such as Samsung and the Container Store. Nepris is exploring white-labeling and licensing its platform to regional “STEM Hubs” as an additional revenue opportunity and aims to make industry engagement part of the everyday classroom experience.

Led · Equity · Aug 2018

STEM Premier operates an end-to-end online community and mobile digital-portfolio platform that connects students with career pathways, jobs, apprenticeships, two- and four-year colleges, trade schools, and scholarship opportunities. Users (age 13+) create external “virtual portfolios” showcasing career interests, academic performance, extracurricular activities, accomplishments, and certifications; participation is free. Member organizations and employers can identify, track, and directly reach out to users whose portfolios match recruiting and workforce needs across sectors including advanced manufacturing, information technology, finance and accounting, healthcare, applied sciences, hospitality, and business. The community has a growing base of over 350,000 users representing students from more than 19,000 high schools across all 50 states. The platform also matches users with over $20 billion in scholarships. K12 Inc. has made a $9M strategic investment to grow the platform and incorporate it into K12’s Destinations Career Academies and Career Technical Education efforts.

Led · Equity · Nov 2010

Web International English provides English language training for university students, government workers, and employees of international companies. Founded in 1998 and based in China, the company operates a network of 67 learning centers in 45 cities and serves more than 45,000 students. The company's core product is in-person English instruction delivered via its learning centers across China. In August 2010 it received a strategic investment from K12 Inc. to support growth. The proceeds of the investment will primarily be used to expand Web’s learning center network into more Chinese cities. The fundraise gives the company additional capital to scale its physical footprint while maintaining its existing student base.