Ulu Ventures

Ulu Ventures is a California-based venture capital firm focused on seed- and early-stage investments in technology-driven startups. It backs companies in enterprise IT, software-as-a-service, internet-enabled consumer and business services, EdTech, FinTech, healthcare, sustainability, IoT, digital media, and mobile, with an emphasis on diverse entrepreneurial teams. Based in Palo Alto, the firm favors opportunities in the Bay Area and across the United States, often collaborating with others to build early-stage portfolios. Founded in 2008, Ulu Ventures applies a disciplined investment process that integrates risk assessment and data-informed decision making to identify viable exit paths and foster steady returns. The firm is recognized as Latina-led, marking a notable leadership milestone in Silicon Valley.

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 Education

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.

ADEii Health

Funding Round in 2023
ADEii Health is dedicated to addressing the mental health crisis by closing the labor gap in mental health services. The company collaborates with school districts, higher education institutions, community health organizations, and healthcare providers to deliver tailored behavioral health and wellness services that meet specific community needs. ADEii Health enhances access to professional licensing and facilitates connections between communities and behavioral health teams. Additionally, it utilizes technology to streamline intake and assessment processes, thereby improving the overall consistency and quality of care. Through these initiatives, ADEii Health aims to strengthen the healthcare industry's capacity to respond effectively to the demands for mental health support.

Lando

Seed Round in 2023
Lando is a company focused on enhancing after-school learning through innovative technology. It operates engineering and design thinking camps that provide children with hands-on experiences in solving complex engineering challenges. By offering classes that emphasize design thinking, Lando aims to equip students with essential skills such as problem-solving and resilience. The company's approach is centered on fostering a fast-paced learning environment that encourages creativity and critical thinking in young learners.

Praxis Labs

Series A in 2023
Praxis Labs designs and develops virtual reality-based software for diversity and inclusion training in workplaces. Founded in 2019 and based in Stanford, California, the company integrates research-backed curriculum with advanced VR technology to create immersive unconscious bias training experiences. Praxis Labs offers services that include designing curriculum for diversity and bias trainings, producing high-quality training materials, and providing quantifiable metrics to measure improvements in understanding and empathy regarding implicit bias within organizations.

Praxis Labs

Series A in 2021
Praxis Labs designs and develops virtual reality-based software for diversity and inclusion training in workplaces. Founded in 2019 and based in Stanford, California, the company integrates research-backed curriculum with advanced VR technology to create immersive unconscious bias training experiences. Praxis Labs offers services that include designing curriculum for diversity and bias trainings, producing high-quality training materials, and providing quantifiable metrics to measure improvements in understanding and empathy regarding implicit bias within organizations.

Landed

Series B in 2021
Landed, Inc. is a financial services company based in San Francisco that assists essential professionals, particularly in education and healthcare, in purchasing homes and achieving financial stability within their communities. Founded in 2015, Landed provides debt-free financing options, allowing homebuyers to receive funds in exchange for a share of their home's value upon refinancing or selling. The company collaborates with schools, employers, and affinity networks to establish and manage down payment support funds, facilitating access to homeownership for teachers, school staff, and other professionals. Additionally, Landed offers personalized support through a dedicated team, including partner agents and homebuying experts, to help clients navigate their home-buying options and provide education on the process.

Tinycare

Series A in 2021
Founded in 2018 by Michael Lai, Tinycare operates modern, micro daycare centers serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in San Francisco. It aims to provide safe, clean, high-quality care with a progressive learning approach.

Backer

Venture Round in 2021
Backer is a prominent fintech company specializing in 529 college savings plans, aimed at simplifying the process of saving for education. The company offers an investment platform that enables families to establish college savings plans efficiently, facilitating contributions from family and friends. Its user-friendly gifting platform and innovative mobile application enhance the experience by allowing for seamless tax-free investments. Backer's strategic partnerships with various 529 programs further bolster its high enrollment conversion rates, distinguishing it in the education savings market. The company's focus on making education savings accessible and straightforward supports families in planning for their children's educational futures.

Praxis

Seed Round in 2021
Praxis is a non-profit venture group established in 2010, headquartered in New York City. It aims to support faith-motivated entrepreneurs who are dedicated to cultural and social impact. Praxis operates two Accelerator programs, each year welcoming a select cohort of twelve businesses and twelve nonprofits. These programs provide essential resources, including knowledge, networking opportunities, and personal discipleship, to help leaders build sustainable and high-impact organizations. Additionally, Praxis is set to launch the Praxis Academy, a summer program designed for undergraduate students at the intersection of faith, startups, and culture. Graduates of this program can apply for the Future Founders program, which offers apprenticeships with alumni from the Accelerator programs. Through these initiatives, Praxis seeks to equip the next generation of entrepreneurs to address societal challenges and contribute positively to their communities.

Praxis Labs

Seed Round in 2021
Praxis Labs designs and develops virtual reality-based software for diversity and inclusion training in workplaces. Founded in 2019 and based in Stanford, California, the company integrates research-backed curriculum with advanced VR technology to create immersive unconscious bias training experiences. Praxis Labs offers services that include designing curriculum for diversity and bias trainings, producing high-quality training materials, and providing quantifiable metrics to measure improvements in understanding and empathy regarding implicit bias within organizations.

Tinycare

Seed Round in 2020
Founded in 2018 by Michael Lai, Tinycare operates modern, micro daycare centers serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in San Francisco. It aims to provide safe, clean, high-quality care with a progressive learning approach.

Praxis Labs

Seed Round in 2020
Praxis Labs designs and develops virtual reality-based software for diversity and inclusion training in workplaces. Founded in 2019 and based in Stanford, California, the company integrates research-backed curriculum with advanced VR technology to create immersive unconscious bias training experiences. Praxis Labs offers services that include designing curriculum for diversity and bias trainings, producing high-quality training materials, and providing quantifiable metrics to measure improvements in understanding and empathy regarding implicit bias within organizations.

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.

Backer

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Backer is a prominent fintech company specializing in 529 college savings plans, aimed at simplifying the process of saving for education. The company offers an investment platform that enables families to establish college savings plans efficiently, facilitating contributions from family and friends. Its user-friendly gifting platform and innovative mobile application enhance the experience by allowing for seamless tax-free investments. Backer's strategic partnerships with various 529 programs further bolster its high enrollment conversion rates, distinguishing it in the education savings market. The company's focus on making education savings accessible and straightforward supports families in planning for their children's educational futures.

Landed

Series A in 2019
Landed, Inc. is a financial services company based in San Francisco that assists essential professionals, particularly in education and healthcare, in purchasing homes and achieving financial stability within their communities. Founded in 2015, Landed provides debt-free financing options, allowing homebuyers to receive funds in exchange for a share of their home's value upon refinancing or selling. The company collaborates with schools, employers, and affinity networks to establish and manage down payment support funds, facilitating access to homeownership for teachers, school staff, and other professionals. Additionally, Landed offers personalized support through a dedicated team, including partner agents and homebuying experts, to help clients navigate their home-buying options and provide education on the process.

Landed

Seed Round in 2018
Landed, Inc. is a financial services company based in San Francisco that assists essential professionals, particularly in education and healthcare, in purchasing homes and achieving financial stability within their communities. Founded in 2015, Landed provides debt-free financing options, allowing homebuyers to receive funds in exchange for a share of their home's value upon refinancing or selling. The company collaborates with schools, employers, and affinity networks to establish and manage down payment support funds, facilitating access to homeownership for teachers, school staff, and other professionals. Additionally, Landed offers personalized support through a dedicated team, including partner agents and homebuying experts, to help clients navigate their home-buying options and provide education on the process.

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.

Landed

Seed Round in 2017
Landed, Inc. is a financial services company based in San Francisco that assists essential professionals, particularly in education and healthcare, in purchasing homes and achieving financial stability within their communities. Founded in 2015, Landed provides debt-free financing options, allowing homebuyers to receive funds in exchange for a share of their home's value upon refinancing or selling. The company collaborates with schools, employers, and affinity networks to establish and manage down payment support funds, facilitating access to homeownership for teachers, school staff, and other professionals. Additionally, Landed offers personalized support through a dedicated team, including partner agents and homebuying experts, to help clients navigate their home-buying options and provide education on the process.

Landed

Seed Round in 2016
Landed, Inc. is a financial services company based in San Francisco that assists essential professionals, particularly in education and healthcare, in purchasing homes and achieving financial stability within their communities. Founded in 2015, Landed provides debt-free financing options, allowing homebuyers to receive funds in exchange for a share of their home's value upon refinancing or selling. The company collaborates with schools, employers, and affinity networks to establish and manage down payment support funds, facilitating access to homeownership for teachers, school staff, and other professionals. Additionally, Landed offers personalized support through a dedicated team, including partner agents and homebuying experts, to help clients navigate their home-buying options and provide education on the process.

BetterUp

Seed Round in 2016
BetterUp Inc. is a leadership development company that offers an innovative online platform aimed at enhancing the personal and professional growth of individuals and organizations. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco, BetterUp specializes in virtual coaching, providing users with personalized guidance through one-on-one sessions with a network of over 3,000 coaches available in 46 languages across more than 90 countries. The platform focuses on fostering mental fitness, career and leadership development, and social connection, thereby enabling employees to develop new behaviors and skills that promote high performance in a rapidly changing work environment. With a client base that includes prominent organizations such as NASA, Google, and Hilton, BetterUp has established itself as a leader in the field of mental health and coaching. The company is supported by a distinguished Science Board composed of experts in positive psychology and human performance, further enhancing its credibility and impact in the industry.

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.

BetterUp

Seed Round in 2016
BetterUp Inc. is a leadership development company that offers an innovative online platform aimed at enhancing the personal and professional growth of individuals and organizations. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco, BetterUp specializes in virtual coaching, providing users with personalized guidance through one-on-one sessions with a network of over 3,000 coaches available in 46 languages across more than 90 countries. The platform focuses on fostering mental fitness, career and leadership development, and social connection, thereby enabling employees to develop new behaviors and skills that promote high performance in a rapidly changing work environment. With a client base that includes prominent organizations such as NASA, Google, and Hilton, BetterUp has established itself as a leader in the field of mental health and coaching. The company is supported by a distinguished Science Board composed of experts in positive psychology and human performance, further enhancing its credibility and impact in the industry.

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.

CampusQuad

Seed Round in 2013
CampusQuad Inc., established in 2012 and headquartered in San Carlos, California, specializes in a cloud-based mobile communication platform called CampusQuad. This platform connects students in real-time to various aspects of campus life such as events, deals, classifieds, and other student-driven content. It serves universities by fostering extracurricular engagement and helping students navigate their college experience more effectively.

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.

NovoEd

Seed Round in 2013
NovoEd, Inc. is a software company that provides a collaborative online learning platform aimed at enhancing experiential learning and driving business performance. Founded in 2012 in San Francisco, NovoEd's platform enables organizations to design and deliver educational experiences that foster collaboration, mentorship, and purposeful practice among participants. The company offers a range of professional services, including instructional design, course construction, and learning analytics, tailored to meet the diverse needs of clients across various sectors such as healthcare, technology, and education. NovoEd's solutions encompass leadership development, digital transformation, employee onboarding, and diversity and inclusion training, facilitating the development of essential skills for employees, executives, and students. With a focus on connecting learners, mentors, and leaders, NovoEd aims to unlock collective knowledge and achieve measurable outcomes for organizations worldwide.

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.

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.
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.