From social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn to more-focused apps like Remind and SignupGenius, educators have access to a bevy of applications that can help improve communication with parents.
But Bloomz thinks it has built the most robust option, and some investors seem to agree.
The 2-year-old Seattle startup today announced a $2.3 million funding round from firms like 8VC, ff Venture Capital, Founder’s Co-op, CorrelationVC, Wisemont Capital, and Acequia Capital; angel investors like Chris Liddell and Charlie Songhurst also participated.
Teachers and parents from more than 10,000 schools — mainly pre-kindergarten to eighth grade — use Bloomz to communicate about real-time updates, photo-sharing, event and volunteer coordination, parent-teacher conference signups, and more.
“Bloomz is the most complete app for educators of any level that need to connect with parents in a meaningful way,” Bloomz CEO Chaks Appalabattula told GeekWire.
Appalabattula said Facebook and LinkedIn aren’t exactly competitors, and added that apps like Remind and ClassDojo focus on specific aspects of communication or behavior tracking — which, according to the CEO, “creates challenges for engaging today’s young social and mobile parents since they create too many islands.”
Appalabattula said Bloomz focuses on three dimensions of parental engagement in one app. They include a classroom community for parents; a communication tool for photo sharing, messaging, and more; and coordination tools like calendars and volunteer coordination.
The web and mobile service is free for now, but Bloomz is exploring ways to monetize. The company employs six and has raised $3.6 million to date.
