Learning.com Company Profile
Background
Founded: 1999
Mission: To equip K-12 students with essential digital skills necessary for success in the modern world.
Vision: To bridge the digital divide by providing comprehensive digital literacy education to students across diverse educational settings.
Industry Significance: As a pioneer in digital education, Learning.com has been instrumental in integrating digital literacy into K-12 curricula, serving over 1.5 million students annually across approximately 1,400 school districts.
Key Strategic Focus
Core Objectives:
- Develop and deliver web-based curricula that engage students in learning keyboarding, online safety, applied productivity tools, computational thinking, coding, and more.
- Ensure alignment with national and state educational standards to facilitate seamless integration into existing educational frameworks.
Areas of Specialization:
- Digital Literacy: Comprehensive programs covering essential digital skills.
- Coding Education: Interactive coding challenges that progress from introductory concepts to real-world applications.
Key Technologies Utilized:
- EasyTech: A self-paced digital literacy curriculum based on real-life applications and popular digital tools, guiding students through complex technical concepts in a game-based environment.
- EasyCode: An interactive coding program that grows students' programming skills from introductory practice to hands-on game design, scaffolded with block-based coding, text-based coding, and Python.
Primary Markets Targeted:
- K-12 educational institutions seeking to integrate digital literacy and coding into their curricula.
- School districts aiming to address the digital divide and prepare students for online assessments, college, and the workforce.
Financials and Funding
Funding History:
- August 2023: Acquired by Lumos Capital Group, a private equity firm specializing in education technology investments.
- August 2024: Secured growth financing from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), underscoring financial stability and supporting expansion initiatives.
Intended Utilization of Capital:
- Enhancing product offerings and technological platforms.
- Expanding market reach and customer base.
- Investing in research and development to maintain a competitive edge in the edtech industry.
Technological Platform and Innovation
Proprietary Technologies:
- EasyTech: A self-paced digital literacy curriculum that includes keyboarding, online safety, introductory coding, and business skills, aligned with national and state standards.
- EasyCode: An interactive coding program that teaches design thinking and programming through student-paced challenges, culminating in real-world projects.
Significant Scientific Methods:
- Utilization of gamified learning environments to enhance student engagement and retention.
- Application of adaptive learning technologies to personalize educational experiences.
Leadership Team
- Lisa O’Masta – CEO: Joined Learning.com in 2024, bringing extensive experience from leadership roles at Learning A-Z, Illustrative Mathematics, Stride, McGraw-Hill Education, SchoolNet, and Laureate Education.
- Sean Sullivan – COO & CFO: With a diverse background in business strategy, finance, and operations across various industries, Sean previously served as CFO and Executive Vice President at Fortior Solutions.
- Brian Rose – SVP Strategic Initiatives: An engineer by education, Brian has a history of expanding early-stage and emerging growth technology companies, including roles at Charter School Capital, Ignite Education Group, Pinnacle Education, and Insight Schools.
- Chris Kinsella – SVP Sales: Joined in 2024, bringing nearly two decades of experience in sales leadership, most recently as Vice President of Sales for PowerSchool.
- Carolyn Ewing-Turner – VP of Marketing: Appointed in 2024, Carolyn has held senior marketing roles in the insurance and healthcare industries, including VP of Marketing at Colonial Life.
- Logan Rhodehamel – VP of Product Development: With over 24 years in software development, Logan oversees development and UX teams, emphasizing design-thinking and Agile processes.
- Jessica Hall – Chief of Staff: Bringing nearly 20 years in K-12 education, Jessica has led customer success teams for Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt and Waggle.
- Valerie Greenhill – VP of Product Management: Joined in 2024 with over 20 years of experience in educational products and services, previously serving as VP of Design, Delivery, & Networks at Battelle for Kids.
- Ayana Albert – VP of Human Resources: With over 25 years in HR, Ayana has led talent acquisition, employee engagement, and diversity initiatives across various industries.
Leadership Changes
- 2024 Appointments:
- Lisa O’Masta: Appointed as CEO.
- Chris Kinsella: Appointed as SVP of Sales.
- Carolyn Ewing-Turner: Appointed as VP of Marketing.
- Valerie Greenhill: Appointed as VP of Product Management.
- Ayana Albert: Appointed as VP of Human Resources.
Competitor Profile
Market Insights and Dynamics:
- The edtech industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing integration of technology in education and the need for digital literacy skills.
- The market is characterized by a diverse range of solutions catering to various aspects of digital education, including content delivery, assessment tools, and learning management systems.
Competitor Analysis:
- Study Island: A web-based standards mastery program for K-12 students, focusing on practice and assessment.
- Solution Tree: Provides educational strategies and tools aimed at improving staff and student performance.