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Prenda

YC S19

Mesa, US · Founded 2017 · Delaware corporation · 15 employees · 22 known investors

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Prenda provides a learning model and operational support for adults to start and run microschools serving K-8 students. The platform combines customized curriculum, goal-setting frameworks, and community structures designed to help students develop intrinsic motivation and pursue their interests.

EdTechEducationUnited States of AmericaAmerica / CanadaFully Remote

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S19)

Prenda was founded in 2017 by Kelly Smith.

KSKelly Smith
Kelly SmithFounder and CEOKelly Smith has worked in marketing, product management, consulting, and strategy roles at various companies before founding Prenda, a platform that enables microschool operators to deliver personalized K-8 education.
AJ
Andy JenningsTech/Tools Team Lead
AA
Amera aloPeople Team

Board

RHRob Hutter
Rob HutterInvestor & Board MemberFounder, Managing Partner at Learn Capital
CS
Cahlan SharpGrowth2019–2023

Investors · 22

Album VClisted by Album VCLehi · $500K – $3M

How we know: Album VC's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

BVP Investorslisted by BVP Investors
MVP Ventureslisted by MVP VenturesChicago

How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us

Perot Jainlisted by Perot JainDallas · $500K

How we know: Perot Jain's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

PHX Ventureslisted by PHX VenturesTempe · $1M – $5M

How we know: PHX Ventures's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

Pioneerlisted by PioneerToronto, Ontario

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · pioneerfund.vc · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Soma Capitallisted by Soma CapitalSacramento · $100K – $300K

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · somacap.com · Not right? Tell us

Stand Together Ventures Lablisted by Stand Together Ventures LabArlington
Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Burst CapitalreportedSan Francisco · $100K – $2M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Dalton VenturereportedShanghai

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Duro VenturesreportedLynnwood

How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Firework VenturesreportedSacramento · $25K – $10M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

HaystackreportedSan Francisco · $1M – $3M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Learn CapitalreportedAustin · $100K – $20Mvia Rob Hutter · board

How we know: board seat on SEC Form D · funding news · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

LearnStartreportedAustin · $50K – $1M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Liquid VenturesreportedSan Francisco · $250K – $5M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

PeakreportedAmsterdam · $275K – $4.4M

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · Not right? Tell us

Peak State VenturesreportedNew York · $100K – $15M

How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Peterson Venture PartnersreportedSalt Lake City · $5M – $25M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Seven Seven SixreportedPalm Beach Gardens · $500K – $5M

How we know: funding news · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Also in the syndicate · 1

776lead

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$42.2M disclosed across 7 of 9 rounds · 2017–2022

▶$16MraisedNov 2022 · 3 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Naguib SawirisDirector
  • Rob HutterDirector
  • Katelin HollowayDirector
  • Patricia LaystromDirector
  • Kelly SmithExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$30.2M
Amount sold
$16M
First sale
Oct 2022
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$19.2MraisedMay 2021 · 13 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Rob HutterDirector
  • Kelly SmithExecutive Officer, Director
  • Cahlan SharpDirector
Offering amount
$21.2M
Amount sold
$19.2M
First sale
May 2021
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2017
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$6.1MraisedMay 2020 · 13 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Rob HutterDirector
  • Kelly SmithExecutive Officer, Director
  • Cahlan SharpDirector
Offering amount
$6.1M
Amount sold
$6.1M
First sale
May 2020
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2017
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$205.5KraisedApr 2020 · 16 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Kelly SmithExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$205.5K
Amount sold
$205.5K
Minimum investment
$10K
First sale
Aug 2019
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2017
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$613.5KraisedMay 2019 · 3 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Kelly SmithExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$613.5K
Amount sold
$613.5K
Minimum investment
$5K
First sale
Apr 2019
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2017
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$40KraisedNov 2018 · 3 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Kelly SmithExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$400K
Amount sold
$40K
Minimum investment
$5K
First sale
Nov 2018
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2017
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$60KraisedJul 2017 · 3 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Andrew B. JenningsExecutive Officer
  • Kelly SmithExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$125K
Amount sold
$60K
First sale
Jul 2017
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2017
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Related companies · 7

OutschoolOutschool operates a marketplace for live online classes taught by independent instructors to children ages 3–18, covering both core subjects and interest-based topics. The platform serves homeschooled and traditionally schooled students across 183 countries.
TokoToko is an AI-powered English conversation tutor that provides personalized speaking practice with real-time grammar and pronunciation feedback. It serves English learners globally with 1,000+ conversation topics, exam preparation modules, and workplace communication training.
Alice.techAlice is an AI-powered study platform that combines leading language models with a proprietary learning system to help students understand, retain, and perform better on exams. The platform serves students across all academic levels from primary through master's students, with particular focus on university students with text-heavy courses.
OpennoteOpennote is an AI-powered learning platform that consolidates lecture materials, notes, and readings in one place and provides contextual explanations, practice tools, and video tutorials to help students understand course content.
FusionacademyFusion Academy is an educational institution that integrates social-emotional learning (SEL) into its holistic learning model through 1-to-1 instruction, mentorship, and campus programs designed to develop students' emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills.
JovianJovian offers beginner-friendly online courses in programming, data science, machine learning, and web development, with a focus on practical, hands-on learning using Python and related tools. The platform serves aspiring developers and data professionals through structured courses with lessons, assignments, and cloud-based project environments.
NicheNiche offers an online quiz that helps families search for and identify schools that fit their needs, letting users filter by location, grade level, school type, and religious affiliation. It serves parents choosing K-12 schools.

Companies working in the same space as Prenda.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
Prenda, Inc.

In the news

Prenda raises $20M led by 776 to build tech to run K-8 microschools – TechCrunchtechcrunch.com · Jun 2022

Frequently asked questions

What does Prenda do?
Prenda provides a learning model and operational support for adults to start and run microschools serving K-8 students. The platform combines customized curriculum, goal-setting frameworks, and community structures designed to help students develop intrinsic motivation and pursue their interests.
Who founded Prenda?
Prenda was founded by Kelly Smith in 2017.
Who are Prenda's investors?
Prenda's investors include Album VC, BVP Investors, MVP Ventures, Perot Jain, PHX Ventures, Pioneer, Soma Capital, Stand Together Ventures Lab and 13 more.
How much funding has Prenda raised?
Prenda has disclosed $42.2M raised across 7 of its 9 known rounds.
Where is Prenda headquartered?
Prenda is headquartered in Mesa, US.