- Marker Learning has raised $15 million in funding. These are the details.
Marker Learning – a leading provider of remote learning and attention disability services – announced it has raised $15 million in Series A funding, led by Andreessen Horowitz. This funding round also included investments from the venture arm of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, as well as existing investors, Primary Ventures, Difference Partners, Operator Partners, and Night Ventures. With the support of Andreessen Horowitz’s Cultural Leadership Fund, strategic investors in the round included NBA champion Danny Green (GreenLight Venture Partners), creative director and entrepreneur La Mar Taylor, 2X WNBA champion Jewell Loyd, among others.
For co-founders Stefan Bauer and Emily Yudofsky, Marker’s mission is personal. Both of them were diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school and experienced firsthand the costly and time-consuming process of seeking and receiving appropriate support.
While K-12 students are legally entitled to learning disability assessments in public schools, diagnoses are often delayed or missed entirely due to unprecedented staffing shortages and backlogs. And parents who turn to the private market are met with evaluation fees of up to $14,000, and waitlists that can stretch beyond 24 months.
Due to this systemic failure, only 4% of students receive a formal diagnosis or support, despite 20% of the population has a learning disability. And students of color and of low-income households are disproportionately overlooked.
Marker Learning’s core evaluation offering utilizes its groundbreaking technology and world-class network of providers to deliver the highest quality services for a fraction of the cost of traditional offerings. Within 1 month, learners receive a comprehensive diagnostic report that can be submitted to schools or employers to obtain learning services or accommodations. When appropriate, Marker’s report could also be used to secure accommodations on entrance exams and standardized tests.
While individuals between the ages 6 to 50 can seek support directly from Marker Learning, the company also partners with school districts to provide critical services within a school setting. And Marker Learning partners with school district special education staff to help manage their caseloads and acts as an extension of school psychologist teams so that district personnel can better prioritize day-to-day student care.
Marker Learning reaches 1 million students through its school partnerships and will continue to rapidly scale school district partnerships. And with the funding, Marker plans to expand into new geographies and expand the breadth of support services offered on their platform.
Along with launching the Series A funding round, Marker Learning has announced their expansion into tutoring, coaching, and other learning support services. These new services are available to both individuals and to schools.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are transforming access to learning and attention disability care – from early diagnosis to navigating the world as a neurodivergent adult.”
“It’s our mission to ensure everyone has continued support and a clear path forward, no matter where they are in their journey.”
— CEO and co-founder Stefan Bauer
“We are committed to serving all students and others with learning disabilities, no matter their backgrounds or means. Creating greater educational equity and access to learning support has always been, and will continue to be, Marker’s north stars.”
— Co-Founder Emily Yudofsky
“Marker Learning exemplifies what technology can do to unlock access to scarce, specialized resources in an affordable way, and transform the experience for both professionals and consumers. I’d encourage anyone with a family member or friend with needs in this area to try Marker and experience the difference for themselves.”
— Julie Yoo, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz
“Personally, Marker has been a lifesaver. As the lead school psychologist in my district, I have taken on a large chunk of caseloads due to our vacancies within the department while still performing all of my lead psychologist responsibilities. There is absolutely no way I could have gotten to the evaluations I’ve had this year without Marker’s help.”
— Anita Frederick at Hall County School District, located in Georgia and serving over 25,000 students
“We’re proud to partner with Marker Learning, a company whose innovative technology is empowering neurodiverse learners. Having dyslexia myself, I learned a long time ago that when students have the permission and support to think differently, there’s no limit to what they can achieve.”
— Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group
