Reed Hastings And John Doerr Put $11M In Adaptive Online Math Learning Platform DreamBox

Leena Rao

Leena Rao is currently a Senior Editor for TechCrunch. She recently finished graduate school at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where she studied business journalism and videography. From 2004 to 2007, she helped lead Congresswoman Carloyn Maloney’s community outreach and relations efforts in New York City. She graduated from Columbia University in 2003, where she was... → Learn More

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
dreambox-learning

DreamBox Learning, an adaptive e-learning platform for students, has raised $11 million in new funding led by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings (who is investing through the Charter School Growth Fund), and Kleiner Perkins partner John Doerr (this is a personal investment for Doerr). GSV Capital Corp. and Deborah Quazzo also participated round. This brings DreamBox’s total funding to $18 million.

Launched in 2008, DreamBox Learning offers more than 500 online math lessons, puzzles, games and curriculums for schools and home schools, targeting young students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

DreamBox assesses each student’s mathematical understanding on an ongoing basis, providing the most suitable hints and encouragement at the right pace for that child, and offers the next personally appropriate activities as subsequent choices.

The company also offers assessment tools for teachers to understand a student’s comprehension and proficiency. Teachers get a detailed view of each child’s progress including a summary for every student in the class, expandable views of all of the lesson groups within the curriculum categories, a description of the specific math concepts each child is learning, and notifications on struggling students who may need additional assistance.

“DreamBox Learning has cracked the code on improving early educational outcomes for every child – regardless of zip code,” said Doerr in a release. “Their robust math curriculum and adaptive learning technology is a game-changer, transforming education across the country.”

Since fall 2010, nearly 500,000 elementary students from all 50 states have logged onto DreamBox Learning to view more than 11 million lessons. Additionally, a recent independent study by SRI International showed that students’ test scores improved by 5.5 percent after having access to DreamBox Learning Math for only 16 weeks.

Hastings said of Dreambox: “This additional investment underscores my commitment to bring the power of DreamBox Learning to every school, classroom and student across the U.S. to help motivate kids to become masters of mathematics.”

DreamBox Learning will use the new funds to expand its curriculum, fuel future product development, and expand distribution and adoption.

We are seeing more and more innovative platforms disrupt the online learning space. Khan Academy, which was just granted $5 million, is another online learning platform that is taking education to the next level and has even received the attention of Bill Gates.


Website: dreambox.com
Launch Date: June 8, 2004
Funding: $18.1M

DreamBox Learning combines rigorous elementary mathematics with a motivating learning environment and the revolutionary DreamBox® Intelligent Adaptive Learning™ platform. This innovative technology captures every decision a student makes while working within lessons and dynamically adapts and individualizes instruction in real time. As a result, students master key concepts, increase achievement, and experience long-lasting confidence. With DreamBox Learning Math, all kids can become mathematicians. The company was acquired by a partnership between Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and the Charter Fund in...

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