City Light Capital

City Light Capital is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2004 that invests in seed, early, and growth-stage companies across technology, education, digital health, climate, food, wellness, energy, agriculture, safety and care, and the environment in the United States. It emphasizes impact investing, partnering with experienced teams to build category-defining solutions in education, safety and care, and the environment, aiming to scale revenue in ways that improve lives. Notable portfolio companies include 2U, ShotSpotter, Trilogy Education, and Ready Responders.

Josh Cohen

Managing Partner

Matt Cohen

Partner

Tom Groos

Partner

Lauren Hinton

Investor

Sarah Millar

Principal

Past deals in Education

Angel AI Company

Seed Round in 2024
Angel AI Company is an AI platform that offers kids between the ages of five and twelve an age-appropriate online experience.

Folio.works

Seed Round in 2024
Each of us will spend about 30% of our lives at work. Folio prepares young adults to thrive in meaningful careers by helping them gain real-world experience. Our platform facilitates internships, part time jobs, and open-source challenge projects. We partner with universities and governments to facilitate coop programs, for-credit internships, and workforce training dollars to make internships ubiquitous. In turn, we’re building the most effective dataset on entry-level talent to power the future of hiring.

Angel AI Company

Seed Round in 2024
Angel AI Company is an AI platform that offers kids between the ages of five and twelve an age-appropriate online experience.

Backrs

Pre Seed Round in 2024
Backrs is a technology company that fosters supportive communities around young individuals, primarily focused on their educational and career growth. The platform connects these youth with caring adults, providing guidance, resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help them achieve their academic and professional goals.

Terra.do

Seed Round in 2022
Terra.do Inc. is an online climate education platform founded in 2020, with headquarters in Bengaluru, India, and an additional office in Stanford, California. The company aims to facilitate the transition to climate careers by providing learners with a comprehensive overview of the climate landscape. It collaborates with experts in climate science and related fields to deliver programs covering various topics, including climate science, environmental finance, and change mitigation. Through its online offerings, Terra.do enables participants to engage in hands-on climate projects, allowing them to apply their skills and knowledge in meaningful ways as they pursue careers focused on addressing climate challenges.

Ribbon Education

Seed Round in 2022
Ribbon Education, founded in 2021 in Brooklyn, New York by Joe Burgess and Lisa Jiang, is a developer of a teacher-student relationship management platform aimed at enhancing the educational experience. The platform focuses on helping teachers better understand their students and improve student outcomes while reducing administrative burdens. By scaling support for online programs, Ribbon Education enables educational institutions to make online learning more affordable and effective for adult learners. The company's mission is to improve the quality of education for all students and enhance teachers' professional lives, ultimately fostering better retention and engagement in educational settings.

EveryDay Labs

Series A in 2021
EveryDay Labs develops toolkits and attendance intervention reports to help educators partner with families and promote equitable opportunities for all students. Founded in 2015 and based in Redwood City, California, the company combines behavioral science, data science, and family engagement to reduce chronic absenteeism and optimize districtwide student supports.

EmPath

Seed Round in 2020
EmPath, Inc. is a technology startup based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2020. The company specializes in leveraging machine learning to identify and optimize employee skills, aligning them with current job roles and future opportunities. EmPath's Skills Career Management As a Service solution facilitates the development of talent management strategies, including internal mobility, career pathing, and personalized learning initiatives. The platform is designed to be flexible and integrates seamlessly with existing employee data, allowing organizations to enhance their upskilling and reskilling efforts. By utilizing proprietary AI and machine learning technologies, EmPath aims to empower businesses to improve workforce capabilities and adapt to the evolving demands of the market.

AstrumU

Series A in 2020
AstrumU, Inc. is a technology-driven company that focuses on connecting employers with recent graduates through its innovative platform. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, with an additional office in Kansas City, Kansas, AstrumU enables educational institutions and lifelong learners to assess the return on educational investments. The AstrumU platform employs artificial intelligence to analyze and synthesize data from students, schools, and employers, providing predictive insights that enhance recruitment and talent development. By quantifying skills based on verifiable data, the platform not only drives enrollment and enhances industry engagement but also aims to increase economic mobility for individuals entering the workforce.

EveryDay Labs

Venture Round in 2020
EveryDay Labs develops toolkits and attendance intervention reports to help educators partner with families and promote equitable opportunities for all students. Founded in 2015 and based in Redwood City, California, the company combines behavioral science, data science, and family engagement to reduce chronic absenteeism and optimize districtwide student supports.

InferCabulary

Seed Round in 2020
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.

Journey Live

Seed Round in 2020
Journey Meditation, Inc. specializes in providing a meditation application aimed at individuals and organizations. The company offers the Journey LIVE app, which features group meditation led by live instructors through real-time classes accessible to the public. Users can participate in scheduled video live streams throughout the day, guided by teachers from diverse backgrounds and meditation styles. Founded in 2015 by Stephen Sokoler, Journey Meditation is headquartered in New York, New York. The application is designed to make meditation relatable and accessible to a broad audience, incorporating six impactful Life Lessons to enhance the overall experience.

Bright Parenting

Seed Round in 2019
Bright Parenting is a parenting platform designed to enhance the relationship between parents and their children by providing tailored, bite-sized lessons on relevant topics. Recognizing that traditional resources often fall short of parents' needs, Bright Parenting offers concise lessons followed by engaging daily practices that promote skill retention and boost parental confidence. The platform focuses on delivering practical advice and activities that help parents effectively manage their children's behavior, instill positive strengths, and foster meaningful connections within the family. By streamlining the learning process and making it accessible, Bright Parenting aims to empower parents to feel competent and in control of their parenting journey.

MyVillage

Seed Round in 2019
MyVillage LLC is a company focused on providing high-quality child care services for children under the age of five. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, it aims to create a nationally standardized family home childcare network that benefits parents, caregivers, and children alike. The company offers a comprehensive curriculum and care platform designed to foster cognitive and social development in young children. MyVillage also supports early childhood education providers by offering essential tools for managing their operations, such as accounting, marketing, and scheduling resources, along with personalized guidance from experienced educators. By reinventing home-based care, MyVillage strives to enhance educational experiences in nurturing environments.

Campus

Seed Round in 2019
Campus is an accredited online community college dedicated to providing accessible higher education through its online learning services. The institution offers a range of associate degree and certificate programs, delivered both live online and in person. Campus prioritizes student success by making community college education available nationwide, ensuring that students have the flexibility and support needed to achieve their educational goals.

AstrumU

Seed Round in 2019
AstrumU, Inc. is a technology-driven company that focuses on connecting employers with recent graduates through its innovative platform. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, with an additional office in Kansas City, Kansas, AstrumU enables educational institutions and lifelong learners to assess the return on educational investments. The AstrumU platform employs artificial intelligence to analyze and synthesize data from students, schools, and employers, providing predictive insights that enhance recruitment and talent development. By quantifying skills based on verifiable data, the platform not only drives enrollment and enhances industry engagement but also aims to increase economic mobility for individuals entering the workforce.

Motimatic

Series A in 2019
Motimatic, LLC is a San Francisco-based company that operates an online advertising platform focused on driving economically beneficial behavior through targeted messaging. Founded in 2015, the company serves various markets, including healthcare, financial services, insurance, and education. In the education sector, Motimatic has developed a student retention platform that employs scientifically proven techniques to influence personal behavior. By utilizing subtle psychological cues, habit-forming triggers, and motivational strategies, the platform aims to help educational institutions convert stalled applicants, engage hard-to-reach students, and support those at risk of stopping out, ultimately enhancing student retention and completion rates.

Legends of Learning

Seed Round in 2018
Legends of Learning offers an engaging game-based learning platform for educators. It provides access to curriculum-aligned games across earth and space, life, and physical sciences, enabling teachers to create playlists tailored to lesson plans. The platform tracks student progress in real-time and enhances classroom engagement.

Trilogy Education Services

Series B in 2018
Trilogy Education Services, Inc. is a workforce accelerator that collaborates with universities to provide skills-based training programs aimed at preparing students for high-demand careers in the digital economy. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in Boca Raton, Florida, Tempe, Arizona, and London, United Kingdom, the company specializes in areas such as web development, data analytics, and visualization. Trilogy's platform combines a market-driven curriculum, career services, and partnerships with employers to ensure that graduates possess the technical skills and confidence necessary for success. The company addresses regional hiring needs by designing programs tailored to local job markets, thereby helping students transition into roles in software engineering, data architecture, and beyond. To date, thousands of working adults have completed Trilogy-powered programs, which are endorsed by over 1,500 employers, including both startups and Fortune 500 companies.

Meritize

Seed Round in 2018
Meritize is a company specializing in funding solutions for skills-based education and workforce development. It offers a unique merit-based lending program that considers an individual's academic, military, and work achievements to enhance credit evaluation, expanding educational funding opportunities and improving outcomes.

SV Academy

Venture Round in 2017
SV Academy is a career development organization that expands access to technology-sector roles, focusing on sales and customer success. Founded in 2017, it partners with more than 400 SaaS employers to connect graduates from underrepresented backgrounds with opportunities in tech. The program offers accelerated skill-building, mentorship, and job placement assistance, along with post-hire support such as alumni networking and coaching. Its income-inclusive participation model and industry-readiness preparation reduce barriers to entry, enabling diverse professionals to pursue long-term career growth in competitive tech roles. Notably, 60% of its graduates are promoted in the first year, reflecting rapid progression for participants. The program has been recognized for innovation in education by Fast Company.

Trilogy Education Services

Series A in 2017
Trilogy Education Services, Inc. is a workforce accelerator that collaborates with universities to provide skills-based training programs aimed at preparing students for high-demand careers in the digital economy. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in Boca Raton, Florida, Tempe, Arizona, and London, United Kingdom, the company specializes in areas such as web development, data analytics, and visualization. Trilogy's platform combines a market-driven curriculum, career services, and partnerships with employers to ensure that graduates possess the technical skills and confidence necessary for success. The company addresses regional hiring needs by designing programs tailored to local job markets, thereby helping students transition into roles in software engineering, data architecture, and beyond. To date, thousands of working adults have completed Trilogy-powered programs, which are endorsed by over 1,500 employers, including both startups and Fortune 500 companies.

Practice

Series A in 2016
Practice is an innovative company that provides an applied microlearning solution to foster continuous learning within organizations. By utilizing a mobile-first video platform, Practice enables teams to frequently practice essential skills and receive timely feedback through peer-to-peer video assessments and coaching. This approach not only enhances competence and confidence among employees but also drives innovation and collaboration. Organizations such as Comcast, Domino’s, and the University of Pennsylvania utilize Practice's technology to improve the reinforcement and retention of training for new hires, accelerate productivity, and maximize the return on investment for learning and talent development initiatives. Through its patented methodology, Practice aims to create a scalable framework that supports ongoing skills development and promotes a culture of learning.

Practice

Series A in 2016
Practice is an innovative company that provides an applied microlearning solution to foster continuous learning within organizations. By utilizing a mobile-first video platform, Practice enables teams to frequently practice essential skills and receive timely feedback through peer-to-peer video assessments and coaching. This approach not only enhances competence and confidence among employees but also drives innovation and collaboration. Organizations such as Comcast, Domino’s, and the University of Pennsylvania utilize Practice's technology to improve the reinforcement and retention of training for new hires, accelerate productivity, and maximize the return on investment for learning and talent development initiatives. Through its patented methodology, Practice aims to create a scalable framework that supports ongoing skills development and promotes a culture of learning.

Tinkergarten

Seed Round in 2016
Tinkergarten, Inc. is a company that specializes in outdoor play-based learning classes for children aged 18 months to 8 years. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Northampton, Massachusetts, Tinkergarten focuses on providing authentic early childhood education through engaging activities. The company connects families with local leaders who facilitate these activity-based classes, fostering skill development in a natural environment. By offering a network of community leaders, Tinkergarten enhances the learning experience, allowing children to grow in confidence and capability while enjoying the benefits of outdoor play.

Practice

Convertible Note in 2015
Practice is an innovative company that provides an applied microlearning solution to foster continuous learning within organizations. By utilizing a mobile-first video platform, Practice enables teams to frequently practice essential skills and receive timely feedback through peer-to-peer video assessments and coaching. This approach not only enhances competence and confidence among employees but also drives innovation and collaboration. Organizations such as Comcast, Domino’s, and the University of Pennsylvania utilize Practice's technology to improve the reinforcement and retention of training for new hires, accelerate productivity, and maximize the return on investment for learning and talent development initiatives. Through its patented methodology, Practice aims to create a scalable framework that supports ongoing skills development and promotes a culture of learning.

StraighterLine

Series B in 2012
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.

2U

Series D in 2012
2U, Inc. is an education technology company headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, operating in various countries including the United States, Hong Kong, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2008, 2U specializes in providing a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service platform that enables nonprofit colleges and universities to offer online degree programs and alternative credentials, such as short courses for working professionals. The company operates in two segments: the Graduate Program Segment, which focuses on full graduate degrees, and the Short Course Segment, aimed at skill enhancement for career advancement. 2U partners with educational institutions to deliver comprehensive support services, including enrollment, student support, and course development. Its technology platform facilitates a blend of live classes, engaging course content, and practical learning experiences, ensuring high-quality educational outcomes for students across the globe.

2U

Series C in 2011
2U, Inc. is an education technology company headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, operating in various countries including the United States, Hong Kong, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2008, 2U specializes in providing a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service platform that enables nonprofit colleges and universities to offer online degree programs and alternative credentials, such as short courses for working professionals. The company operates in two segments: the Graduate Program Segment, which focuses on full graduate degrees, and the Short Course Segment, aimed at skill enhancement for career advancement. 2U partners with educational institutions to deliver comprehensive support services, including enrollment, student support, and course development. Its technology platform facilitates a blend of live classes, engaging course content, and practical learning experiences, ensuring high-quality educational outcomes for students across the globe.

2U

Series B in 2010
2U, Inc. is an education technology company headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, operating in various countries including the United States, Hong Kong, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2008, 2U specializes in providing a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service platform that enables nonprofit colleges and universities to offer online degree programs and alternative credentials, such as short courses for working professionals. The company operates in two segments: the Graduate Program Segment, which focuses on full graduate degrees, and the Short Course Segment, aimed at skill enhancement for career advancement. 2U partners with educational institutions to deliver comprehensive support services, including enrollment, student support, and course development. Its technology platform facilitates a blend of live classes, engaging course content, and practical learning experiences, ensuring high-quality educational outcomes for students across the globe.

2U

Series A in 2009
2U, Inc. is an education technology company headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, operating in various countries including the United States, Hong Kong, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2008, 2U specializes in providing a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service platform that enables nonprofit colleges and universities to offer online degree programs and alternative credentials, such as short courses for working professionals. The company operates in two segments: the Graduate Program Segment, which focuses on full graduate degrees, and the Short Course Segment, aimed at skill enhancement for career advancement. 2U partners with educational institutions to deliver comprehensive support services, including enrollment, student support, and course development. Its technology platform facilitates a blend of live classes, engaging course content, and practical learning experiences, ensuring high-quality educational outcomes for students across the globe.
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