Bonsal Capital

Bonsal Capital is a family private equity firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 1999 by Frank A. Bonsal, Jr., a co-founder of New Enterprise Associates. The firm focuses on mission-driven investments primarily in the Capital Region, targeting technology-enabled services in education and workforce development, as well as the information technology and life sciences industries.

Frank Bonsal III

Managing Partner

42 past transactions

Early Works

Seed Round in 2022
A multidisciplinary studio building companies from the ground up while creating everything in-house.

Canopie

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Canopie is a digital platform focused on addressing maternal depression and anxiety through customized, audio-based programs and automated coaching. By utilizing clinically validated therapeutic techniques, including adaptations of cognitive behavioral therapy and compassion-focused treatment, Canopie aims to prevent and manage maternal mental health disorders effectively. The platform collaborates with cities, payers, health systems, and healthcare providers to deliver accessible and affordable care for mothers, addressing significant barriers such as cost, scheduling, time constraints, and stigma associated with seeking help. Through its innovative approach, Canopie is dedicated to supporting pregnant women and new mothers in overcoming common mental health challenges.

KidzToPros

Series A in 2022
KidzToPros, LLC is a provider of after-school enrichment programs, specializing in sports coaching and various educational activities. The company operates an online platform that connects parents with private coaches for a wide range of sports, including soccer, basketball, tennis, martial arts, and more, as well as activities like chess, coding, and science. Established in 2016 and based in Fremont, California, KidzToPros aims to enhance children's extracurricular experiences by offering access to qualified instructors in a convenient marketplace.

RareBreed Ventures

Venture Round in 2021
RareBreed Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 2020 by McKeever "Mac" Conwell. The firm focuses on investing in pre-seed stage technology companies, aiming to support early-stage startups with potential for growth. By allowing angel investors to participate as limited partners in future funding rounds, RareBreed Ventures fosters a collaborative investment environment. The firm is dedicated to identifying and nurturing innovative ideas, contributing to the development of emerging businesses in the technology sector.

EveryDay Labs

Series A in 2021
EveryDay Labs, Inc. is focused on improving student outcomes by addressing chronic absenteeism through a unique combination of behavioral science, data science, and family engagement. Founded in 2015 and based in Redwood City, California, the company offers a toolkit that equips educators with insights, research, and strategies to effectively collaborate with families. This approach aims to ensure that every student has equitable opportunities to learn. By providing attendance intervention reports, EveryDay Labs enables schools and parents to monitor student attendance records, ultimately empowering educators to enhance support systems across districts.

Upswing International

Series A in 2021
Upswing International, Inc., established in 2013 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, specializes in providing an online collaboration platform for academic support to schools. The company's core offerings include AdviseUp, MentorUp, and TutorUp, which facilitate student-advisor, student-mentor, and student-tutor interactions respectively. Additionally, Upswing provides comprehensive analytics and a virtual learning center to college administrators. By integrating various student support operations into a single, user-friendly platform, Upswing aims to enhance student retention and success.

Sendcloud

Series B in 2020
SendCloud is a shipping platform designed for online retailers. It connects businesses to multiple shipping carriers, streamlining processes like label creation, tracking, and returns. The platform is easy to implement, taking just five minutes of a webshop's time. By optimizing the full shipping journey, from checkout to returns, SendCloud helps businesses save time and money, while also potentially increasing conversion rates at checkout.

Nepris

Series A in 2020
Nepris Inc. operates a cloud-based platform that links educators with industry professionals to enhance the relevance of curriculum topics for students. Founded in 2013 and based in Austin, Texas, Nepris facilitates virtual connections between professionals and classrooms, allowing for interactive discussions, project mentoring, and career exposure. The platform matches the expertise of industry professionals with specific educational requests, enabling educators to bring real-world knowledge into the classroom. This service supports K-16 classrooms, adult job seekers, and out-of-school youth by making it easier for educators to access industry insights, while also providing companies and regional organizations a means to engage effectively with future workforce talent. Through its innovative approach, Nepris aims to inspire students and increase classroom engagement by connecting them with the skills and experiences of working professionals.

CourseArc

Convertible Note in 2020
CourseArc, LLC, founded in 2015 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, offers a digital content creation platform that enables users to design engaging and interactive online courses. The company's tool is tailored for educational providers, corporate entities, nonprofits, and content publishers, allowing them to create mobile-friendly and accessible courses without the need for web development expertise. CourseArc's platform supports collaborative efforts by allowing multiple editors to work on a course simultaneously, facilitating communication through comments and task assignments. This approach ensures consistency in visual design and enhances the overall learning experience.

Student Opportunity Center

Seed Round in 2019
Student Opportunity Center, Inc. operates a web-based platform that facilitates connections between universities and their students regarding relevant events, publications, and scholarship opportunities. The company offers several key products, including S.O.C. Connect, which links honors and undergraduate research offices with students; S.O.C. Enterprise, which connects students to experiential learning opportunities within their institution's network; and ScholarBridge, a resource that helps students engage with faculty involved in undergraduate research. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, the organization aims to centralize and assess students' experiential learning, thereby preparing them for career success after graduation. By providing these services, Student Opportunity Center enables universities to make informed, data-driven decisions to enhance their experiential education offerings.

InferCabulary

Venture Round in 2019
InferCabulary is a digital visual vocabulary tool that supports vocabulary acquisition and critical thinking using semantic reasoning. It enables students to learn the nuanced meanings of words.

Terbium Labs

Series A in 2017
Terbium Labs, Inc., founded in 2013 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, specializes in data intelligence solutions for information security. The company offers Matchlight, a comprehensive and fully private dark web monitoring system designed to detect stolen data and mitigate the impact of data breaches. This automated platform monitors for leaks of sensitive information, providing organizations with real-time alerts when their data appears in unauthorized locations on the internet or dark web. By enabling proactive risk management, Terbium Labs helps organizations safeguard their high-value data against theft and misuse.

BetterLesson

Series B in 2017
BetterLesson, Inc. is a professional development platform designed for K-12 educators, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2008, the company focuses on connecting teachers with personal coaches to set professional development goals and create tailored learning plans. BetterLesson offers a comprehensive database that allows educators to access lesson plans, classroom materials, and instructional resources, facilitating collaboration and sharing among peers. The platform emphasizes research-based professional development aimed at enhancing student outcomes, equipping educators with the skills necessary to foster meaningful, student-centered learning experiences. Through various offerings, including workshops, one-on-one coaching, and defined learning pathways, BetterLesson supports educators in navigating the complexities of modern teaching and achieving strategic educational goals.

Faculty Guild

Seed Round in 2017
Faculty Guild focuses on creating technology that enhances the educational experience for both educators and students. The organization develops a teaching platform that connects students with skilled faculty, offering personalized professional coaching and a supportive community. Additionally, Faculty Guild provides a comprehensive suite of resources, including digital courseware and teaching tools, aimed at fostering deeper connections between faculty and students. By emphasizing evidence-based instructional practices, the platform helps students gain momentum and overcome challenges, ultimately supporting their journey toward graduation.

Torchlight

Series A in 2017
Torchlight is the complete caregiver support program for employers and health plans that provides real-time access to the strategies and solutions modern caregivers need most. From screen time to Social Security, Autism to Alzheimer’s, Torchlight meets caregivers where they are, providing the expert guidance, tools, and step-by-step action plans that solve even the most complex family challenges. Modern caregiving. Illuminated.

Allovue

Series A in 2015
Allovue, Inc. is a financial software company dedicated to supporting school districts and K-12 education departments in the United States. Founded in 2013 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, Allovue develops innovative solutions that enable educators to effectively budget, manage, and evaluate financial resources. Its flagship product, Balance, integrates with existing accounting and data systems, allowing district officials, principals, and administrators to visualize and analyze spending, track expenditures, identify trends, and plan for future investments. The platform facilitates communication of district budgets to staff, boards, and community leaders, ensuring alignment with educational goals. Additionally, Allovue offers supplemental services, including funding equity analysis and financial management training, aimed at empowering education decision-makers to allocate resources equitably and strategically to enhance student outcomes.

Quad Learning

Debt Financing in 2015
Quad Learning, Inc., operating as American Honors, was founded in 2012 and is based in Washington, D.C. The company focuses on creating more affordable pathways for students seeking to complete their bachelor's degrees at prestigious institutions. It develops a two-year honors program tailored for high-achieving students, offering essential academic support and personalized advising services, including course planning and career exploration. Additionally, Quad Learning collaborates with community colleges to deliver this competitive program, providing marketing strategies, recruitment, selective admissions, and faculty development services. The company also features an online learning platform, enhancing the educational experience for students and facilitating their transition to four-year universities.

Terbium Labs

Seed Round in 2015
Terbium Labs, Inc., founded in 2013 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, specializes in data intelligence solutions for information security. The company offers Matchlight, a comprehensive and fully private dark web monitoring system designed to detect stolen data and mitigate the impact of data breaches. This automated platform monitors for leaks of sensitive information, providing organizations with real-time alerts when their data appears in unauthorized locations on the internet or dark web. By enabling proactive risk management, Terbium Labs helps organizations safeguard their high-value data against theft and misuse.

Sickweather

Seed Round in 2015
Sickweather Inc. is a company that specializes in sickness forecasting and mapping through its innovative mobile application. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Windsor Mill, Maryland, Sickweather utilizes patented social listening technology to scan social networks for indicators of illness, allowing users to receive real-time alerts and check the likelihood of sickness in their area. The platform operates in over 120 countries and provides users with 15-week forecasts and a threat level index known as the SickScore. By crowdsourcing data about illness trends, Sickweather aims to deliver precise and meaningful insights, making it easier for individuals to understand public health risks, similar to checking weather forecasts.

Torchlight

Seed Round in 2015
Torchlight is the complete caregiver support program for employers and health plans that provides real-time access to the strategies and solutions modern caregivers need most. From screen time to Social Security, Autism to Alzheimer’s, Torchlight meets caregivers where they are, providing the expert guidance, tools, and step-by-step action plans that solve even the most complex family challenges. Modern caregiving. Illuminated.

Quad Learning

Series B in 2014
Quad Learning, Inc., operating as American Honors, was founded in 2012 and is based in Washington, D.C. The company focuses on creating more affordable pathways for students seeking to complete their bachelor's degrees at prestigious institutions. It develops a two-year honors program tailored for high-achieving students, offering essential academic support and personalized advising services, including course planning and career exploration. Additionally, Quad Learning collaborates with community colleges to deliver this competitive program, providing marketing strategies, recruitment, selective admissions, and faculty development services. The company also features an online learning platform, enhancing the educational experience for students and facilitating their transition to four-year universities.

Allovue

Seed Round in 2014
Allovue, Inc. is a financial software company dedicated to supporting school districts and K-12 education departments in the United States. Founded in 2013 and based in Baltimore, Maryland, Allovue develops innovative solutions that enable educators to effectively budget, manage, and evaluate financial resources. Its flagship product, Balance, integrates with existing accounting and data systems, allowing district officials, principals, and administrators to visualize and analyze spending, track expenditures, identify trends, and plan for future investments. The platform facilitates communication of district budgets to staff, boards, and community leaders, ensuring alignment with educational goals. Additionally, Allovue offers supplemental services, including funding equity analysis and financial management training, aimed at empowering education decision-makers to allocate resources equitably and strategically to enhance student outcomes.

Calvert Learning

Series A in 2013
Calvert Learning offers a comprehensive homeschool curriculum that combines traditional textbooks with online learning, serving English-speaking students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade worldwide. The curriculum covers a wide range of subjects, including history, mathematics, science, literature, and foreign languages, as well as various enrichment programs in arts, music, and writing. Founded in 1906 and based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, Calvert Learning has a long history of providing educational resources for nontraditional learning environments. The company operates as a subsidiary of Edmentum, Inc. and focuses on delivering high-quality educational experiences through a flexible, modular approach tailored to the needs of schools and districts. Additionally, Calvert Learning provides advisory teaching and technical support services to enhance learning outcomes for students.

Quad Learning

Series A in 2013
Quad Learning, Inc., operating as American Honors, was founded in 2012 and is based in Washington, D.C. The company focuses on creating more affordable pathways for students seeking to complete their bachelor's degrees at prestigious institutions. It develops a two-year honors program tailored for high-achieving students, offering essential academic support and personalized advising services, including course planning and career exploration. Additionally, Quad Learning collaborates with community colleges to deliver this competitive program, providing marketing strategies, recruitment, selective admissions, and faculty development services. The company also features an online learning platform, enhancing the educational experience for students and facilitating their transition to four-year universities.

GIGAS

Seed Round in 2012
Gigas offers powerful and advanced real time cloud hosting services with a very simple and intuitive control panel. Founded by experienced Internet and Telecoms experts from companies such as Deutsche Telekom/Ya.com, Telefonica/O2, Fon.com or Merril Lynch, Gigas cloud hosting services are designed to support the most demanding hosting configurations. Gigas main product, Cloud Datacenter, provides customers with a pool of resources so that they can enjoy their own fully functional datacenter. Customers can deploy servers in real time (with the chosen resources and operating system) and other datecenter equipment such as load balancers, firewalls, VLANs, etc, all from a fully operational control panel. The company is focused on Spain and Latam, with offices in Madrid, Bogotá, Medellín, Santiago de Chile, Lima, Panamá City, Mexico City and Miami, and provides services from four datacenters, two in Spain, one in Chile and one in Miami, all of them Tier-III and Tier-IV (highest possible certification for a datacenter). Gigas offers Infrastructure as a Service to more than 3,600 business customers, from SMEs to large corporates. The company is the official provider of public cloud to the European Commission, has received numerous awards and recognitions, like best cloud hosting provider in the world in the 2016 Cloud Awards, or being named a Global Significant Provider by Gartner. Gigas is listed in the Madrid Stock Exchange (MAB) since November 2015.

Quad Learning

Series A in 2012
Quad Learning, Inc., operating as American Honors, was founded in 2012 and is based in Washington, D.C. The company focuses on creating more affordable pathways for students seeking to complete their bachelor's degrees at prestigious institutions. It develops a two-year honors program tailored for high-achieving students, offering essential academic support and personalized advising services, including course planning and career exploration. Additionally, Quad Learning collaborates with community colleges to deliver this competitive program, providing marketing strategies, recruitment, selective admissions, and faculty development services. The company also features an online learning platform, enhancing the educational experience for students and facilitating their transition to four-year universities.

Curiosityville

Seed Round in 2011
Curiosityville LLC, founded in 2010 and located in Cockeysville, Maryland, operates an interactive educational website designed for children aged 3 to 8 years. The platform offers a variety of animated video games and engaging activities that focus on mathematics and other subjects, providing a playful learning environment for young learners. Through its innovative approach, Curiosityville aims to enhance early childhood education by making learning both enjoyable and accessible.

BetterLesson

Venture Round in 2011
BetterLesson, Inc. is a professional development platform designed for K-12 educators, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2008, the company focuses on connecting teachers with personal coaches to set professional development goals and create tailored learning plans. BetterLesson offers a comprehensive database that allows educators to access lesson plans, classroom materials, and instructional resources, facilitating collaboration and sharing among peers. The platform emphasizes research-based professional development aimed at enhancing student outcomes, equipping educators with the skills necessary to foster meaningful, student-centered learning experiences. Through various offerings, including workshops, one-on-one coaching, and defined learning pathways, BetterLesson supports educators in navigating the complexities of modern teaching and achieving strategic educational goals.

Moodlerooms

Venture Round in 2010
Moodlerooms is a provider of an online learning platform that connects educational institutions to its customizable Learning Management System, joule. The platform is designed to evolve around user needs, offering various hosting options, including basic, standard, and enterprise-level services. In addition to core functionalities, Moodlerooms provides a range of services such as e-portfolios, digital repositories, and comprehensive training solutions. The company also specializes in customization services, which encompass project management, custom module development, international deployment consultation, and open source consulting. Furthermore, Moodlerooms ensures quality through code review and certification, along with formally tested and reviewed software releases.

StraighterLine

Seed Round in 2010
StraighterLine, Inc. is an online education provider based in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 2009. The company offers affordable online and distance learning courses from accredited colleges and universities, focusing on introductory-level subjects such as business, English, health science, humanities, mathematics, and technology. By providing a self-paced, pay-as-you-go model, students can access courses for $99 per month or $1,000 per year, significantly reducing the financial barriers associated with higher education. StraighterLine’s mission is to increase access and affordability in education, allowing students to complete core courses online and seamlessly transfer credits to accredited partner institutions, ultimately facilitating the pursuit of their degrees. The company also offers a tuition assistance program to further support students in their educational journey.

Questar Assessment

Post in 2009
Questar Assessment, Inc. specializes in providing comprehensive assessment solutions for the K-12 education market, catering to states, school districts, and other educational entities. The company offers a range of customizable services, including test design and construction, item development, online test administration, and psychometric services. In addition to these services, Questar develops proprietary assessment products such as the Degrees of Reading Power program, WriteQuest, and various proficiency tests. The company is committed to delivering end-to-end testing solutions that encompass everything from program management to data analysis and reporting. Questar Assessment aims to support educational institutions by ensuring reliable online testing performance and addressing the specific needs of its clients. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Brewster, New York, Questar was formerly known as Touchstone Applied Science Associates, Inc. and became a subsidiary of Educational Testing Service, Inc. in 2017.

BetterLesson

Debt Financing in 2009
BetterLesson, Inc. is a professional development platform designed for K-12 educators, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2008, the company focuses on connecting teachers with personal coaches to set professional development goals and create tailored learning plans. BetterLesson offers a comprehensive database that allows educators to access lesson plans, classroom materials, and instructional resources, facilitating collaboration and sharing among peers. The platform emphasizes research-based professional development aimed at enhancing student outcomes, equipping educators with the skills necessary to foster meaningful, student-centered learning experiences. Through various offerings, including workshops, one-on-one coaching, and defined learning pathways, BetterLesson supports educators in navigating the complexities of modern teaching and achieving strategic educational goals.

BetterLesson

Seed Round in 2009
BetterLesson, Inc. is a professional development platform designed for K-12 educators, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2008, the company focuses on connecting teachers with personal coaches to set professional development goals and create tailored learning plans. BetterLesson offers a comprehensive database that allows educators to access lesson plans, classroom materials, and instructional resources, facilitating collaboration and sharing among peers. The platform emphasizes research-based professional development aimed at enhancing student outcomes, equipping educators with the skills necessary to foster meaningful, student-centered learning experiences. Through various offerings, including workshops, one-on-one coaching, and defined learning pathways, BetterLesson supports educators in navigating the complexities of modern teaching and achieving strategic educational goals.

Starfish Retention Solutions

Seed Round in 2008
Starfish Retention Solutions, Inc. specializes in developing student success and advising solutions for higher education institutions globally. The company's flagship product, the Starfish Enterprise Success Platform, is designed to enhance student support initiatives by identifying at-risk students in real-time and connecting them with essential services. Key components of this platform include Starfish EARLY ALERT, which tracks student progress and identifies concerns, Starfish CONNECT for online scheduling and communication between students and their advisors, and Starfish Degree Planner, which provides personalized academic roadmaps for students. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Starfish serves a diverse clientele, including community colleges, four-year public and private institutions, and online programs. The company also offers implementation, training, community building, product support, and strategic services to its clients.

Videology

Series A in 2008
Videology is a digital media advertising technology company that specializes in providing solutions for connecting advertisers with consumers. The company develops software that enables converged and addressable advertising across both television and digital video platforms. By utilizing consumer data and advanced ad decisioning, Videology optimizes the performance of video and display advertising campaigns, ensuring that advertisements reach the most relevant audiences. Its advertising technology continually analyzes media and audience data to enhance forecasting and demand estimation, bringing the efficiencies of programmatic advertising into the traditional TV and premium video landscape. Through its offerings, Videology aims to create a more meaningful web experience for consumers while increasing accountability for advertisers.

NxThera

Series A in 2008
NxThera, Inc. is a medical technology company based in Maple Grove, Minnesota, established in 2008 and currently a subsidiary of Boston Scientific Corporation. The company specializes in convective water vapor energy technology aimed at treating endourological conditions, particularly benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which affects over 32 million men in the United States. NxThera's innovative platform employs a minimally invasive vapor therapy that converts sterile water into thermal energy delivered to prostate tissue, providing an effective treatment option for patients suffering from urologic conditions, including prostate and kidney cancer. This approach aims to enhance urinary flow and improve overall patient quality of life while minimizing side effects commonly associated with traditional treatments.

Moodlerooms

Seed Round in 2007
Moodlerooms is a provider of an online learning platform that connects educational institutions to its customizable Learning Management System, joule. The platform is designed to evolve around user needs, offering various hosting options, including basic, standard, and enterprise-level services. In addition to core functionalities, Moodlerooms provides a range of services such as e-portfolios, digital repositories, and comprehensive training solutions. The company also specializes in customization services, which encompass project management, custom module development, international deployment consultation, and open source consulting. Furthermore, Moodlerooms ensures quality through code review and certification, along with formally tested and reviewed software releases.

Headsprout

Series D in 2007
Headsprout, Inc. is a Seattle-based company established in 1999 that specializes in computer-based learning programs aimed at teaching fundamental academic skills, particularly in reading. The company offers an online reading program that utilizes adaptive educational sequencing and differentiated instruction to cater to individual learning needs. Its software also features automated progress reports and a vocabulary-building engine, which collectively help users develop into capable and confident readers.

American Public Education

Series B in 2005
American Public Education, Inc. is a provider of online and campus-based postsecondary education, primarily focused on serving military and public service communities. The company operates through two main segments: the American Public University System, which includes American Military University and American Public University, and Hondros College of Nursing. American Public Education offers a comprehensive range of educational programs, including 121 degree programs and 111 certificate programs across various fields such as business administration, health science, technology, criminal justice, education, and liberal arts, as well as specialized areas like national security and military studies. With a commitment to affordability and quality, the institution serves over 83,000 adult learners, delivering education through experienced faculty dedicated to fostering academic success. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia, American Public Education continues to be recognized for its effective practices in online higher education.

Spectrum K12 School Solutions

Series A in 2001
Spectrum K12 School Solutions, Inc. specializes in software and services for special education programs within K-12 schools in the United States. Founded in 1996 and based in Towson, Maryland, the company offers Encore, a web-based data management system designed to facilitate the individualized learning process for students receiving special services. This includes support for special education, 504 plans, limited English proficiency (LEP/ESL), and pre-referral response to intervention (RTI) programs. Spectrum K12 School Solutions aims to enhance educational outcomes for students with diverse needs through its tailored software solutions.

Smarthinking Online Tutoring

Seed Round in 2000
Smarthinking is a leading provider of online tutoring services, catering to over 1,000 educational institutions, including universities, colleges, and schools. The company offers a range of services designed to enhance student performance, persistence, and retention. These services include live online tutoring, writing practice, and video tutorials, specifically aimed at supporting higher education students. By providing on-demand assistance, Smarthinking equips learners with the resources they need to succeed in their academic pursuits.

Blackboard

Series B in 1999
Blackboard Inc. is a leading provider of enterprise technology and innovative solutions for the education sector, catering to higher education, K-12, business, and government markets. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, the company offers a diverse range of products designed to enhance the teaching and learning experience. Its flagship platform, Blackboard Learn, supports academic goals through a comprehensive learning management system, while Blackboard Collaborate facilitates interactive and mobile learning. Additional offerings include Blackboard Analytics, which converts data into actionable insights, and Blackboard SafeAssign, which helps identify plagiarism in student submissions. The company also provides tools for accessibility, student support, and community engagement, such as Blackboard Ally and Blackboard Connect. With a global presence, Blackboard aims to improve educational outcomes and institutional performance by leveraging technology to streamline processes and enhance communication among educational stakeholders.
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