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.