When Authentic Understanding Meets AI

My first 30-minute meeting with SchoolAI founder Caleb Hicks stretched to over ninety as we delved into his vision. What immediately struck me was Caleb’s authenticity as both a former educator and EdTech leader. Caleb has literally spent his entire career designing learning experiences that help teachers truly make a difference for every kid. His journey from middle school teacher to product leader has given him a prepared mind for incorporating new technologies into classrooms. Former colleagues described Caleb as “a force of nature who wills things into existence,” which I’ve seen firsthand since our seed investment.

K12 EdTech is notoriously challenging, but I believe unique moments arise when new technologies solve real problems for educators. Having previously invested in ClassDojo and Clever’s seed rounds during the rise of mobile and 1:1 devices in classrooms over a decade ago, I recognized that the ‘why now’ for AI’s potential to impact student learning was too significant to ignore.

Why NextView Led SchoolAI’s Seed Round

The challenges facing education today are immense. Teachers and schools are navigating shrinking budgets, growing class sizes, and ongoing recovery from pandemic-related learning gaps. The reality is that teachers simply can’t be everywhere at once, making it increasingly difficult to understand how every individual student is really doing.

Because education shapes our collective future, the bar must be exceptionally high when new technologies enter the classroom. During our diligence, SchoolAI stood out for three key reasons: their authentic “by educators, for educators” approach, their focus on addressing fundamental classroom challenges rather than surface-level symptoms, and their commitment to security and privacy standards necessary for educational environments. 

A common theme emerged from the educators I spoke to: they were tired of tools merely “putting Band-Aids on artery wounds.” They wanted solutions that addressed root problems rather than surface symptoms and were excited by the possibility of SchoolAI’s more purposeful tools to support being more effective at their core mission. One teacher described the “goosebump moment” when she realized she could create differentiated instruction for each student in seconds instead of hours. This transformative potential highlighted that SchoolAI was building something truly special.

Beyond building effective classroom tools, SchoolAI also takes serious things seriously – having built a team of educators and technologists who respect the profound responsibility of bringing AI into learning environments where safety and privacy can’t be compromised. Their approach to security and compliance is thoughtful and comprehensive, maintaining the highest standards for student privacy with full FERPA and COPPA compliance and SOC 2 certification.

Exciting Growth & Impact

Since our seed investment in Fall 2023, SchoolAI has created the industry’s first Classroom Experience platform, combining AI assistants for teachers that help with classroom preparation and administrative work, along with “Spaces” – personalized AI tutors, games, and lessons that adapt to each student’s unique learning style and interests. 

The platform has been enthusiastically embraced by educators. Teachers consistently report that SchoolAI helps them identify learning gaps more efficiently, provide tailored instruction to students with different needs, and reclaim time previously spent on administrative tasks. School leaders highlight how it has reignited passion in experienced teachers while providing powerful support for newer educators still developing their craft.

This genuine enthusiasm has fueled SchoolAI’s remarkable growth, with the platform being used in more than 1 million classrooms across all 50 U.S. states and over 80 countries worldwide, with 400+ school districts adopting it through strategic partnerships. 

The Road Ahead

Today, I’m thrilled to share SchoolAI’s $25 million Series A funding led by Insight Partners. This milestone represents how far the company has come in just 18 months and the tremendous impact they’re already having in classrooms across the globe.

With this new funding, SchoolAI will scale to more schools globally, develop new products for students, parents, teachers, and school administrators, and expand its implementation team to provide comprehensive onboarding and professional development. Having served on SchoolAI’s board since the seed round, I’ve watched this exceptional team execute with purpose and passion, building the future of education – one where every student gets personalized support and every teacher has the tools to make that possible. I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey with Caleb and the entire SchoolAI team as they transform teaching and learning for millions of students and educators worldwide.

To learn more about SchoolAI and its innovative solutions for educators, schools, and districts, visit https://schoolai.com.