Montreal online tutoring platform Paper is raising $123.5 million in funding (US $100 million) led by IVP and existing investors.
Paper's CEO, Phil Cutler, made the announcement on the company's blog on Wednesday morning.
"After seven years of hard work, passion, and resolve, Paper is the leading provider of 24/7 high-dosage tutoring that uplifts every member of a school community," wrote Cutler. "Every day, over a million students, as well as their guardians, teachers, and administrators, wake up knowing they can rely on our dedicated educational support system."
The CEO says Paper will use the funds towards Paper's platform, and "to make critical investments in innovation and scale that will allow us to tackle inequities in the education system."
Returning investors include Framework Venture Partners, Bullpen Capital, Reach Capital, Birchmere Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, BDC Capital and ETW.
Along with the financing, IVP's Tom Loverro is joining the company's Board of Directors.
Paper says it experienced extraordinary growth over the last year, going from 50,000 to over one million students across North America. The edtech company calls itself "the leading software provider of 24/7 high dosage tutoring."
"We are thrilled by the feedback we continue to receive from school districts, teachers, parents, and students alike related to the critical academic support we are providing kids," said Cutler. "Tutoring, once reserved for the privileged few, is now broadly accessible, leveling the playing field across all students."
According to Cutler, Paper addresses challenges school districts face in implementing effective tutoring: cost, equity, and scale. School districts contract with Paper for a fixed price, unlimited usage model. Students and families receive support from online tutors while teachers get help from 24/7 online assistants to track student progress.
"In speaking with large school districts, it's clear that Paper addresses an urgent need where others have failed – scaling high dosage tutoring that serves all students in need. We are excited to partner with this talented team as they continue to do this important work and grow the business," said Loverro. "The stakes have never been higher for the many kids being left academically behind. It's devastating to kids, their parents, their communities, and our nation's future."
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