SAN FRANCISCO, June 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Outschool, the only marketplace for live online classes for K-12 children, today announced a $1.4 million seed round led by Collab+Sesame, a fund backed by the Collaborative Fund and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street. The company will use the new investment to grow the online destination, which currently offers more than 1,000 unique classes, with prices ranging from as little as five dollars for a one-time class to hundreds of dollars for a semester-long course.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f6a45497-93ae-4624-9f20-2c89273ac2ae
Outschool’s online marketplace provides parents and their K-12 students with access to a huge range of unique classes, ranging from core academics to enrichment and practical skills, guided by passionate teachers via group video chat and messaging. Live, online group classes provide a more engaging and collaborative learning experience than other online options.
“We see a future where in-person learning is enhanced by live online learning to offer parents a higher level of choice and variety in their children’s education,” commented Nick Grandy, an Outschool co-founder who was a high school teacher and the first employee at Airbnb. “We see kids who love to learn and who take responsibility for their own development, customizing their curriculum to follow their unique interests, strengths and challenges.”
Parents use Outschool in several ways to enrich their children’s education – to accelerate their learning in core subjects, fill in gaps in their knowledge, or pursue interests in topics that aren't covered in regular schools. Outschool classes are offered by independent teachers, many of whom also teach or have previously taught in public schools. They are entrepreneurial educators who make independent teaching their full-time business, or take it on as a way to earn additional income.
According to one Outschool parent, “it's wonderful to have access to such a wide range of interesting subjects taught by enthusiastic teachers in the comfort of our own home. My kids also enjoy being able to interact through video conferencing not just with teachers, but with fellow classmates.”
Outschool’s approach to live online learning offers important benefits over other options, including:
- Accessibility – Classes are accessible anywhere and the cost is split between students.
- Collaboration – Students learn with a teacher and peers rather than studying on their own.
- Choice – Students choose from teachers across the world and from a huge range of topics, schedules and levels.
"Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder, and we recognize that digital media is an increasingly important means to that end,” said Tanya Haider, Executive Vice President for Strategy, Research, and Ventures at Sesame Workshop. “Outschool’s approach aligns with our beliefs by offering classes that enable kids to explore their interests, feed their passion for learning and empower families to choose the lessons that best meet their children’s interests.”
Other investors in the round include Caterina Fake, Y Combinator, SV Angel, FundersClub, Spectrum28 and Learn Capital.
About Outschool
Outschool is the only marketplace for live online classes for K-12 children. The website offers parents an accessible way to broaden their children's education with personalized instruction from independent teachers and interaction with their peers. Classes cover all subject areas and are attended by children in every state and 24 countries. Outschool is based in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.outschool.com.