The early childhood education industry in the US is a vital sector focused on the development of children from birth to eight years old. It includes a variety of providers such as preschools, childcare centers, and educational technology startups, all aimed at fostering foundational learning and social skills. Innovative approaches, particularly in tech-driven platforms, are increasingly shaping the industry. Currently, there is a growing emphasis on integrating technology in learning environments, highlighting the potential for blended education solutions. With rising demand for quality childcare and educational resources, the industry is expected to evolve rapidly, adapting to the changing needs of families and communities.


The selection of investors listed exemplifies varied investment strategies in early childhood education. They range from venture capital firms like Reach Capital and Y Combinator, headquartered in major innovation hubs such as San Francisco and Oakland, to philanthropic organizations like Omidyar Network based in Redwood City. In 2024 alone, these firms collectively executed over 1,000 deals, reflecting a robust interest in this sector. Established between 1993 and 2020, these investors are small to large in size, indicating a wide range of financial support available for educational ventures aiming to uplift children’s learning experiences across the country.


Top 17 Early Childhood Education Investors in the US


1. Government of Canada

  • Website: canada.ca
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Canada, Kentucky, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1999
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 137
  • LinkedIn: government-of-canada

The Government of Canada is a public entity that provides a wide range of services and information to Canadian citizens and residents, addressing various needs including employment, immigration, health care, and taxation. Founded in 1999, it operates through multiple departments and agencies to ensure access to essential services and support for individuals and businesses across the country. In 2023, the Government of Canada has been involved in several significant transactions related to early childhood education, including grants to organizations such as Family Day, Today's Family Early Learning and Child Care, Andrew Fleck Children's Services, Lullaboo Nursery and Childcare Center, and Parkview Children's Centre. These grants highlight the government's commitment to supporting and enhancing early childhood education services across Canada.


2. 500 Global

  • Website: 500.co
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 98
  • LinkedIn: 500-startups

500 Global is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies, providing funding, mentorship, and resources to help founders scale their businesses. Notably, 500 Global has invested in several companies within the early childhood education space, including Lingokids, which raised a total of $11 million across multiple funding rounds (Seed and Series B) to enhance its educational offerings for young children. Additionally, they invested in Kinedu, which focuses on developmental activities for children, further demonstrating their commitment to supporting innovative solutions in early childhood education. With a total of 98 investments in 2024, 500 Global continues to play a significant role in nurturing startups that address various challenges in the education sector.


3. NewSchools Venture Fund


NewSchools Venture Fund is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998, based in Oakland, California. The organization is dedicated to improving education by funding and supporting innovative educational ventures. They collaborate with educators, school districts, and technology developers to enhance learning outcomes and address challenges within the education sector. Notably, NewSchools has made several grants to organizations focused on early childhood education, including the AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation, Waterford.org, Brightwheel, Kaymbu, and Learning Genie, all of which were announced on November 23, 2017. These investments reflect their commitment to fostering innovation in early childhood education and supporting initiatives that aim to improve educational experiences for young learners.


4. Y Combinator

  • Website: ycombinator.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 802
  • LinkedIn: y-combinator

Y Combinator is a prominent startup accelerator and venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2005. It provides funding and mentorship to early-stage technology companies through a structured program that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Y Combinator has successfully launched over 4,000 startups, making it a key player in the technology startup ecosystem. Among its notable investments in the early childhood education sector are Outschool, which raised $45 million in Series B funding in 2020 and focuses on live online classes for K-12 students, and Dost Education, which received seed funding in 2017. Additionally, Y Combinator invested in KidPass, a platform that connects families with children's activities, further demonstrating its engagement in the education space.


5. Reach Capital

  • Website: reachcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 17
  • LinkedIn: reach-capital

Reach Capital is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in early-stage investments across the learning, health, and work sectors, with a strong emphasis on empowering entrepreneurs who provide innovative solutions to significant challenges. Notably, Reach Capital has invested in several companies within the early childhood education space, including Lingokids, which raised $6 million in Series A funding, and Tinkergarten, which received $5.4 million in Series A financing and $1.2 million in Seed Round funding. Additionally, they participated in Lovevery's funding rounds, including a substantial $100 million in Series C funding, focusing on educational toys for young children. These investments demonstrate Reach Capital's active role in supporting the growth of early childhood education initiatives.


6. Learn

  • Website: learn.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Austin, Texas, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: learn-capital

Learn is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2009. They focus on providing capital and capabilities to entrepreneurs in human-centric companies, particularly in technology and education. Learn has been involved in several notable transactions in the education sector, including investments in Bridge International Academies, which aims to provide affordable education in developing regions, and Wonderschool, which supports the creation of home-based preschools. Additionally, they invested in Prenda, which promotes microschooling as an alternative educational model. These investments reflect Learn's commitment to supporting innovative educational solutions that address significant societal challenges, particularly in early childhood education.


7. GSV Ventures

  • Website: gsv.ventures
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: gsvventures

GSV Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in investing in education technology companies, providing insights and analysis on the digital learning landscape. They host the ASU+GSV Summit, which connects leaders in education technology. GSV Ventures has been involved in several notable transactions relevant to early childhood education, including investments in Tynker, a platform that promotes creative computing for kids, and KaiPod Learning, which focuses on educational solutions for children. Their portfolio reflects a commitment to supporting innovative educational startups that enhance learning experiences for younger audiences.


8. Owl Ventures

  • Website: owlvc.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2014
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: owl-ventures-lp

Owl Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2014. The firm specializes in education technology, investing in innovative EdTech startups that aim to enhance learning outcomes for students and educators. Notable transactions include their investment in Tinkergarten, an edtech startup focused on outdoor learning for young children, and WhiteHat Jr., which provides coding classes for kids. Additionally, they have invested in LingoAce, a platform for language learning, and Novakid, which offers English language lessons for children. These investments highlight Owl Ventures' commitment to supporting companies that cater to early childhood education and learning.


9. Rethink Capital Partners

  • Website: rethink.vc
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: White Plains, New York, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2012
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: rethink-capital-partners

Rethink Capital Partners is an investment firm based in White Plains, New York, specializing in impact investing within the real estate and venture capital sectors. Founded in 2012, the firm focuses on developing and managing properties while also supporting early-stage investments in various sectors, including education, food, and healthcare. Notably, Rethink Capital Partners has made significant investments in the early childhood education space, including funding for Wonderschool, an innovative platform that connects families with preschool services, and Speakaboos, a mobile education platform designed for young children. These investments reflect their commitment to aligning financial returns with positive societal impact, particularly in enhancing educational opportunities for children.


10. Goodwater Capital

  • Website: goodwatercap.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Burlingame, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2014
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 41
  • LinkedIn: goodwater-capital

Goodwater Capital is a venture capital firm based in Burlingame, California, founded in 2014. The firm specializes in consumer technology and supports seed-stage entrepreneurs by providing investment, resources, and a community to help them grow. Goodwater Capital focuses on various sectors, including healthcare and financial services, with a mission to improve access to technology solutions for underserved communities. In the context of early childhood education, Goodwater has made significant investments, including a $1 million pre-seed investment in Grasshopper Kids, which focuses on early childhood education. They also invested in Kinderpass, a digital child healthcare platform that aims to enhance parent education and partner with pre-schools and schools, raising $500,000 in pre-seed funding. Additionally, their investment in Buddy.ai, which raised $11 million in a seed round, further emphasizes their commitment to educational technology solutions that can benefit early learners. These transactions highlight Goodwater Capital's active role in the early childhood education sector.


11. Imaginable Futures


Imaginable Futures is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2020, based in Redwood City, California. They are dedicated to investing in people and ideas that enhance human potential through holistic learning. Their mission focuses on social change in education, partnering with local organizations to create equitable opportunities for learners. Notably, they have been involved in significant transactions relevant to early childhood education, such as participating in the Series B funding round for Wonderschool, a childcare management platform, and providing grants to organizations like the National Black Child Development Institute and SPARK Schools, which aim to improve educational outcomes for children. Their initiatives span various regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, and the United States, emphasizing their commitment to systemic change in education.


12. Omidyar Network

  • Website: omidyar.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Redwood City, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2004
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: omidyar-network

Omidyar Network is a not-for-profit philanthropic organization founded in 2004, based in Redwood City, California. It is dedicated to fostering social change through funding and partnerships, focusing on shared power and prosperity in the digital age. The organization provides financial support and strategic guidance to initiatives that align with its mission. Notably, Omidyar Network has made significant investments in the early childhood education sector, including a $20 million investment in Wonderschool, an innovative platform that connects families with quality preschool options. They also participated in a $5.4 million Series A funding round for Tinkergarten, an edtech startup that offers outdoor classes for young children, promoting learning through play. Additionally, their earlier support for Bridge International Academies, which raised funds to improve educational access, highlights their commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for children. These transactions reflect Omidyar Network's active role in supporting early childhood education initiatives.


13. Kapor Capital

  • Website: kaporcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Oakland, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 1999
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 6
  • LinkedIn: kapor-capital

Kapor Capital is a venture capital firm based in Oakland, California, founded in 1999. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage startups that aim to close gaps of access and economic opportunity, particularly for underrepresented communities. They provide funding, support, and resources to help these startups grow and achieve their social impact goals. Notably, Kapor Capital has invested in several companies relevant to early childhood education, including Encantos, an edutainment company that offers subscription services for preschool and primary school children, raising a total of $2 million in seed funding from them. Additionally, they invested in codeSpark, a startup that develops web and mobile games to teach coding to children, raising $4.1 million in seed funding. These transactions highlight Kapor Capital's active role in supporting educational initiatives for young children.


14. co.lab (playcolab.com)


Co.lab (playcolab.com) is a corporate investor based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2013. The company specializes in providing couponing advice and budgeting strategies to help consumers save on food expenses, particularly targeting families and individuals. In addition to its core business, co.lab has actively invested in the early childhood education sector, participating in seed rounds for several relevant companies. Notable investments include Montessorium, which focuses on Montessori-based educational tools; StoryToys, known for its interactive storybook apps for children; Kiko Labs, which develops educational games for preschoolers; Hoot Reading, a platform that connects children with reading tutors; and codeSpark, which teaches coding to kids through engaging games. These investments highlight co.lab's commitment to supporting innovative solutions in early childhood education.


15. Google

  • Website: google.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States (USA)
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 32
  • LinkedIn: google

Google, a corporate investor based in Mountain View, California, is primarily known for its advertising technology through Google AdMob, which provides mobile app monetization solutions. In addition to its core business, Google has engaged in various philanthropic efforts, particularly in the education sector. Notable transactions include grants to Rocket Learning, which focuses on improving educational access and outcomes for young children, and CommonLit, an organization that provides free reading resources to students. These investments reflect Google's commitment to supporting educational initiatives, particularly those that can impact early childhood education.


16. SouRC Group

  • Website: google.org
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Beverly Hills, California, United States (USA)
  • Founded year: 2002
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 26
  • LinkedIn: sourc-group-llc

SouRC Group, also known as Google.org, is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2002, based in Beverly Hills, California. It focuses on philanthropy and social impact, providing funding, resources, and support to nonprofits, civic entities, and academic institutions. Google.org aims to promote education, community resilience, and scientific advancement through initiatives like the Google.org Accelerator and Impact Challenge. Notably, they have funded organizations such as the Central Square Foundation, which raised $4 million in 2024 for educational initiatives, and TalkingPoints, which received $1.5 million in 2019 to enhance communication between non-English speaking families and schools. These transactions highlight their commitment to improving educational access and quality, including in early childhood education contexts.


17. Pearson Online & Blended Learning


Pearson Online & Blended Learning, a division of Pearson PLC, is an educational services company based in Columbia, Maryland, specializing in online learning solutions and academic support programs. Founded in 1998, Pearson has over 20 years of experience in the education sector, particularly in K-12 education. The company has made significant investments in various educational technologies and platforms, including the acquisition of Connections Education for $400 million, which enhances their online learning capabilities. Additionally, Pearson has invested in early-stage companies such as Sudiksha, which raised $210,000 in a seed round, and SPARK Schools, which raised $2.7 million in Series A funding. These transactions reflect Pearson's commitment to innovative educational resources and personalized learning experiences, making them a notable investor in the early childhood education landscape.



Early Childhood Education Insights: Key Investors in the US


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Government of CanadaCanada, Kentucky, United States (USA)10001+1999137
500 GlobalSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)201-500201098
NewSchools Venture FundOakland, California, United States (USA)11-5019980
Y CombinatorSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)51-2002005802
Reach CapitalSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)11-50201517
LearnAustin, Texas, United States (USA)11-5020094
GSV VenturesSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)11-5020169
Owl VenturesSan Francisco, California, United States (USA)11-5020147
Rethink Capital PartnersWhite Plains, New York, United States (USA)11-5020123
Goodwater CapitalBurlingame, California, United States (USA)51-200201441
Imaginable FuturesRedwood City, California, United States (USA)1-1020200
Omidyar NetworkRedwood City, California, United States (USA)51-20020043
Kapor CapitalOakland, California, United States (USA)1-1019996
co.lab (playcolab.com)San Francisco, California, United States (USA)1-1020130
GoogleMountain View, California, United States (USA)10001+32
SouRC GroupBeverly Hills, California, United States (USA)11-50200226
Pearson Online & Blended LearningColumbia, Maryland, United States (USA)1001-500019980


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