OpenEd

OpenEd is the largest K-12 educational resource catalog, with over a million videos, assessments, and homework on each Common Core Standard and micro-concept.

While OpenEd integrates with all popular Learning Management Systems, it offers its own simple “flipped classroom” LMS oriented to using resources. It is also the only platform completely focused on offering Common Core resources.

Since OpenEd is the only free formative assessment bank combined with the largest resource library, OpenEd uniquely understands the true effectiveness of each resource. This allows OpenEd to determine the optimal video and lesson for each student, resulting in a truly personalized learning experience. OpenEd's app “Common Core Quest” quickly demonstrates this power of quizzing to select videos. It is the only app that drives from assessment to instruction and is the #1 Common Core app on the Google Chrome store and #2 on Google Play.

OpenEd is used by over 180,000 teachers and growing 20+% per month. The cost to acquire a teacher is low – only $0.60 – and they onboard the students and parents who buy access for $9.95/month. OpenEd's API for finding standard and skill-aligned resources is also used by EdTech leaders including Renaissance Learning, Promethean and Pacific Metrics. Combined, OpenEd claims its technology reaches over 10 million students.

OpenEd’s board includes the Executive Director of Wikipedia, Lila Tretikov, the Co-Founder & original CEO of Netflix, Marc Randolph, and the former CEO of ACT, Richard Ferguson.

Team Background

Ron Drabkin - VP of Marketing

Prior to joining OpenEd, Ron was the VP of Online Marketing & Business Development at JustAnswer, a platform that connects third-party experts (e.g. doctors, lawyers, veterinarians and mechanics) with users looking for answers to their technical questions. At JustAnswer, Ron led demand generation and built the marketing team.

Previously, Ron was the VP of Business Development & Co-Founder of JRG Software, a venture-backed manufacturing SaaS software startup. Ron later led the efforts to sell the company, which was acquired by CDC Software.

Ron began his career at Intel, where he held numerous roles, including Manager of the Factory Supply Chain Software group, Software Deployment Manager and Marketing Manager.

Ron holds a BA in Economics from Duke University and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

Adam Blum - Co-Founder & CEO

Prior to founding OpenEd, Adam was the CEO of Rhomobile, which was the first modern smartphone framework (before PhoneGap or Appcelerator). It was purchased by Motorola in 2011 and Adam stayed on as a Product Manager.

Previously, Adam served as VP of Engineering for Mobio Networks, a mobile application developer. He was also the Senior Director of Engineering at Good Technology (also acquired by Motorola), where he managed server development for the core GoodLink email product. Prior to that, Adam served as the CTO of Systinet, which was later acquired by Mercury Interactive/HP.

Adam was also the VP of Engineering for Talaris, a services procurement software company, and for CommerceOne. At CommerceOne, he managed development of all XML-related tools and platforms, including MarketSite, the world's first XML-based document integration server. Adam began his career at Phoenix Systems, a groupware and messaging startup, before leaving to join Microsoft as a Manager in the SQL Server product group.

Adam is the author of several books, white papers and articles focusing on a variety of topics, including early web development technology. He has also co-authored several patents. Adam previously served as an Adjunct Professor and Advisor to the University of California, Berkeley Center for Document Engineering.

Adam holds an MS in Computer Science from George Mason University and a BS in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.

Co-Investors

PivotNorth Capital

Seed-stage venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, CA