Ulu Ventures

Ulu Ventures is a Palo Alto, California-based seed and early-stage venture capital firm that backs technology-driven startups across the United States. Founded in 2008, it focuses on internet-enabled consumer and business services and a broad range of sectors including EdTech, FinTech, healthcare, sustainability, enterprise IT, SaaS, IoT, digital media, mobile, agtech, and marketplaces. The firm emphasizes backing diverse entrepreneurial teams and typically engages in co-investments with other investors to pursue meaningful exits. It is described as the first Latina-led venture fund in Silicon Valley and is among the larger seed-focused vehicles in the region.

Andrea Bogarin

Senior Associate

Kathy Chen

Partner

Kevin Hoffberg

Venture Partner

Clint Korver Ph.D

Co-Founder and Managing Director

Stephen Malinak

Venture Partner

Steve Reale

Venture Partner

Miriam Rivera

Managing Director

Maria Salamanca

Partner

Nancy Torres

Partner

David White

Venture Partner

Past deals in EdTech

KaiPod Learning

Seed Round in 2024
Founded in 2021, KaiPod Learning provides in-person learning pods for online learners and homeschoolers. These pods offer enrichment activities, academic support, and socialization opportunities, guided by experienced coaches.

Mighty

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Mighty helps young entrepreneurs start and grow their own businesses. With Mighty, each kid will master the tools of business and harness the power of social impact. It's the modern day lemonade stand, but this time the products for sale are good for the world. Mighty gathers a dedicated team of investors to hit the ground running. They partner with great companies including Sesame Street, Collaborative Fund, and the founders behind Indiegogo and Flickr. All that's left to do is launch businesses.

Foundry College

Seed Round in 2019
Foundry College Inc. is an educational institution based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in providing online degree programs and courses tailored for working adults. Founded in 2018, the college focuses on delivering practical and relevant education that aligns with the skills and knowledge required by today's job market. Its offerings include two-year programs emphasizing business management and foundational skills, designed to equip students with competencies that are in high demand and resistant to automation. The institution utilizes an active, competency-based learning approach, featuring live instructor-led lectures and small group sessions, which fosters an interactive learning environment. Foundry College aims to prepare students for success in current and future careers, promoting a skilled and adaptive society.

Swing Education

Series B in 2018
Swing Education, Inc. is a technology company based in San Mateo, California, that operates an online platform designed to connect K-12 schools with substitute teachers. Founded in 2015, the company addresses the challenges schools face in filling temporary staff absences, which are prevalent in the educational system. On average, U.S. students spend approximately 5% of their school year with substitute teachers, which can disrupt learning continuity. The platform streamlines the process of finding, screening, and scheduling substitute teachers, alleviating administrative burdens for school leaders and ensuring quality coverage for hard-to-fill positions. This marketplace not only benefits schools by providing on-demand access to substitutes but also allows teachers to secure desirable assignments throughout the academic year.

Coding Dojo

Venture Round in 2018
Coding Dojo, Inc. is an education technology company that provides comprehensive programming training services through both online and onsite formats. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Jose, California, the company operates multiple locations across the United States, including Seattle, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Tysons Corner, and Tulsa. Coding Dojo offers a variety of coding boot camps that cover three full technology stacks, as well as courses in Data Science, Cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. Its innovative 14-week curriculum is designed to equip students with essential coding skills, regardless of their prior technical experience, fostering self-sufficiency in software development. The program includes mentored guidance, feedback, and access to curated course content, aimed at ensuring effective learning through intensive training.

TeachFX

Seed Round in 2017
TeachFX develops a smartphone and web application that records classroom lessons and uses machine learning to analyze the balance of teacher and student dialogue. The platform automatically generates feedback for educators, highlighting areas where student engagement can be increased and providing data for reflection and improvement. It supports goal setting, progress tracking, and aggregates classroom data to inform instructional leadership. By offering private, actionable insights, TeachFX helps schools and districts enhance teacher development, streamline professional development resource allocation, and promote more meaningful and equitable classroom conversations.

Guild Education

Series A in 2016
Guild Education provides a technology platform that connects working adults with online classes, programs, and degree options, offering personalized advising and retention coaching. The service enables employers to give employees education benefits and tuition reimbursement, helping them advance their careers while the platform supports discovery, learning, and organization of the experience. It bridges the gap between education and employment, delivering a comprehensive learning journey from start to finish.

Swing Education

Seed Round in 2016
Swing Education, Inc. is a technology company based in San Mateo, California, that operates an online platform designed to connect K-12 schools with substitute teachers. Founded in 2015, the company addresses the challenges schools face in filling temporary staff absences, which are prevalent in the educational system. On average, U.S. students spend approximately 5% of their school year with substitute teachers, which can disrupt learning continuity. The platform streamlines the process of finding, screening, and scheduling substitute teachers, alleviating administrative burdens for school leaders and ensuring quality coverage for hard-to-fill positions. This marketplace not only benefits schools by providing on-demand access to substitutes but also allows teachers to secure desirable assignments throughout the academic year.

Guild Education

Seed Round in 2015
Guild Education provides a technology platform that connects working adults with online classes, programs, and degree options, offering personalized advising and retention coaching. The service enables employers to give employees education benefits and tuition reimbursement, helping them advance their careers while the platform supports discovery, learning, and organization of the experience. It bridges the gap between education and employment, delivering a comprehensive learning journey from start to finish.

Rockit Online

Seed Round in 2014
Rockit Online is an online education platform focused on providing effective English language learning experiences to students and young professionals in Asia, particularly in Vietnam. The company combines live instruction from bilingual teachers with multimedia content, facilitating a comprehensive approach to mastering English. By offering its services at a lower cost and with greater convenience, Rockit Online aims to prepare learners for success in the global job market. In addition to language education, Rockit Online also serves as a media platform that shares insights and information on various topics, including beauty, skincare, fashion, healthcare, and technology. This dual focus allows the company to cater to a diverse range of interests while enhancing the overall learning experience for its users.

Viridis Learning

Seed Round in 2013
Viridis Learning, Inc. is an education technology company specializing in workforce education and human capital solutions for the middle-skill workforce. The company operates a platform that facilitates training, certification, and job placement for individuals seeking to enter, sustain, or advance in middle-skill occupations. Through its human capital technology solution, Viridis, the company addresses skill deficiencies by aligning training programs with the needs of local employers. The training offerings include a variety of courses such as Residential Concrete Specialization, Energy Management and Controls, and Advanced Residential Construction Supervisor, among others. With its base in New York, New York, Viridis Learning aims to enhance the employability of individuals while meeting the demands of employers in the middle-skill labor market.

SIPX

Series B in 2013
SIPX, Inc. is a company based in Palo Alto, California, that specializes in providing a web-based service designed to facilitate copyright management and the delivery of digital documents within the higher education sector. Founded in 2012, SIPX enables copyright owners to register their content while establishing access restrictions and pricing rules. It allows university libraries to integrate their institutional holdings, enabling professors to easily search for articles and other documents. Students can access digital content for reading and printing, enhancing their educational experience. The platform also empowers content owners and publishers to monetize requests for individual articles from institutions with limited budgets and offers insights into how content is utilized in academic settings. SIPX operates as a subsidiary of ProQuest LLC, reflecting its commitment to simplifying the processes associated with legally accessing digital content in education.

If You Can

Seed Round in 2013
If You Can Company is a computer software firm based in San Mateo, California, that specializes in developing educational games aimed at enhancing children's cognitive and emotional skills. Established in 2012, the company offers products such as IF, an adventure game designed to boost child intelligence, and SEL, a tool focused on social and emotional learning for schools. These games help children manage emotions, foster empathy, and develop essential social skills. Additionally, If You Can provides a dashboard for parents and educators to monitor children's progress in completing age-appropriate lessons, thereby supporting their educational development.

SIPX

Series A in 2012
SIPX, Inc. is a company based in Palo Alto, California, that specializes in providing a web-based service designed to facilitate copyright management and the delivery of digital documents within the higher education sector. Founded in 2012, SIPX enables copyright owners to register their content while establishing access restrictions and pricing rules. It allows university libraries to integrate their institutional holdings, enabling professors to easily search for articles and other documents. Students can access digital content for reading and printing, enhancing their educational experience. The platform also empowers content owners and publishers to monetize requests for individual articles from institutions with limited budgets and offers insights into how content is utilized in academic settings. SIPX operates as a subsidiary of ProQuest LLC, reflecting its commitment to simplifying the processes associated with legally accessing digital content in education.

Clever

Seed Round in 2012
Founded in 2012, Clever is a San Francisco-based company that operates as a single sign-on platform for K-12 education. It simplifies digital learning management by bringing all educational applications into one secure portal and providing seamless access for students and teachers.

LearnZillion

Seed Round in 2012
LearnZillion, Inc. is an educational technology company based in Washington, District of Columbia, founded in 2011. It specializes in providing open and cloud-based curricula to schools, primarily focusing on mathematics and English. The company's platform offers a range of instructional materials, including video lessons and practice problems, which support teachers in delivering effective instruction and tracking student performance. LearnZillion's solutions are designed to cater to the specific needs of students, promoting interactive learning through task-implementation guides. Additionally, the company's services are accessible via a mobile application, enhancing the teaching and learning experience. As of January 2020, LearnZillion operates as a subsidiary of Weld North Education, LLC.

Remind

Seed Round in 2012
Remind is a communication platform established in 2011 that focuses on enhancing student success through improved engagement among educators, families, and school administrators. The application serves as a real-time messaging tool designed to bridge communication gaps in primary education, allowing teachers, parents, students, and administrators in K-12 schools to interact effectively. Remind facilitates the scheduling of reminders and coordination of school-related activities, thereby streamlining communication and supporting educational outcomes. The company has attracted investment from notable firms such as First Round Capital, GSV, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, and Social Capital.

Fidelis Education

Series A in 2011
Fidelis Education, Inc. is a software development company based in Mountain View, California, that focuses on enhancing student success through innovative technology solutions. Founded in 2011, the company has created a Learning Relationship Management (LRM) platform that helps educational institutions coordinate out-of-class support services. This platform allows staff to streamline various support offerings while enabling students to access and benefit from these resources effectively. Fidelis Education's portfolio includes tools for mentoring, coaching, academic support, social/emotional learning, and community engagement. These tools aim to foster meaningful relationships among students, faculty, and mentors, recognizing that such relationships are crucial for effective learning and professional development. The company's commitment to addressing the complexities of learner relationships positions it as a key player in the education technology sector.

Motion Math

Seed Round in 2011
Motion Math Inc. is an educational game developer based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on creating engaging mobile games to help children develop a love for math and intellectual challenges. Established in 2010, the company offers a suite of movement-based games that facilitate the understanding of fundamental math concepts, particularly fractions, through interactive visuals and adaptive content. These games connect various representations of fractions, such as numerators, denominators, percents, and pie charts, to their positions on a number line, thereby enhancing learners' perceptual skills. Motion Math's offerings include over 900 levels of adaptive content accessible via web and iPad applications, aligning with K-6 educational standards and fostering math fluency and conceptual understanding based on growth mindset research. Since November 2017, Motion Math has operated as a subsidiary of Curriculum Associates LLC.

Presence

Seed Round in 2010
PresenceLearning, Inc. is a provider of online speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral and mental health services, and other special education-related resources for K-12 students and school districts across the United States and Canada. Founded in 2009 and based in San Francisco, the company utilizes a teletherapy platform that connects schools and parents with a network of licensed professionals through web-based videoconferencing technology. This platform allows for secure, live online sessions, enabling educational institutions to deliver evidence-based therapeutic activities and support to students with special needs. PresenceLearning has facilitated over 2.5 million teletherapy sessions, positioning itself as a leader in the delivery of clinical services via the internet.

Inkling Systems

Angel Round in 2010
Inkling Systems, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that specializes in cloud publishing platforms designed to create and publish interactive content. Its primary offerings include Inkling Knowledge, a mobile workforce enablement platform that facilitates the creation and distribution of training materials; Inkling Notices, which allows users to share updates and analyze engagement with field workers; Inkling Collaboration, a platform aimed at enhancing in-store execution through connectivity among frontline employees; and Learning Pathways, which guides employees through training processes while enabling managers to track and verify skills. Inkling's solutions cater to various sectors, including field reference, sales enablement, retail operations, training, and franchise operations. Founded in 2009 and originally named Standard Nine Inc., the company rebranded to Inkling Systems, Inc. in June 2011.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.