Prenda
YC S19Mesa, US · Founded 2017 · Delaware corporation · 15 employees · 10 known investors
Find your way into Prenda
287 people in our graph share verified history with the Prenda team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Jen Ardunlockedknows Kelly Smith · together at Brigham Young University (overlapped)
×3knows the team · via MIT
×8knows the team · via Brigham Young University
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.
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S19)
Prenda was founded in 2017 by Kelly Smith.
KS
Kelly SmithinFounder 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.
Board
RH
CS
Cahlan SharpBoard director
Investors · 10
MVP VenturesChicago
PHX VenturesTempe · $1M – $5M
Stand Together Ventures LabArlington
Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K
Album VCreportedLehi · $500K – $3M
Learn Capitalreported · 2 sourcesAustin · $100K – $20Mvia Rob Hutter · board
PeakreportedAmsterdam · $275K – $4.4M
Peak State VenturesreportedNew York · $100K – $15M
Seven Seven SixreportedPalm Beach Gardens · $500K – $5M
Also in the syndicate · 1
776lead
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$42.2M disclosed across 7 of 9 rounds · 2017–2022
- Undisclosed amountSeries BJun 2022Source ↗
▶$16MraisedNov 2022 · 3 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$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
▶$19.2MraisedMay 2021 · 13 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$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
▶$6.1MraisedMay 2020 · 13 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$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
▶$205.5KraisedApr 2020 · 16 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$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
▶$613.5KraisedMay 2019 · 3 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$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
▶$40KraisedNov 2018 · 3 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$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
▶$60KraisedJul 2017 · 3 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$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
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Competitors · 3
by search overlap
Outschool342 shared keywordsOutschool 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.
Fusionacademy176 shared keywordsFusion 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.
Niche134 shared keywordsNiche Direct Admissions is a college admission platform that allows high school seniors to receive automatic acceptance and scholarship offers from participating colleges based on their Niche profile information, eliminating the need for traditional applications and essays. The service matches student profiles against college-specific criteria set by partner institutions to facilitate direct admissions to U.S. colleges.
Companies competing with Prenda for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
In the news
Why Microschools Are Multiplying - Education Nexteducationnext.org · Jul 2026Frequently 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 MVP Ventures, PHX Ventures, Stand Together Ventures Lab, Y Combinator, Album VC, Learn Capital, Peak, Peak State Ventures and 1 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.