BRIGHT WHEELS KEEP ON TURNING: Brightwheel, a San Francisco-based startup that offers program management software for early-childcare providers, has raised $21 million in a Series B round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Omidyar Network, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Eniac Ventures, GGV Capital, Golden Venture Partners and Lowercase Capital also participated in the round. The company has now raised close to $34 million in venture capital.
Founded in 2014, Brightwheel offers an online platform where childcare and after-school providers can manage their program logistics, from attendance tracking and parent communication to payment processing. The company claims that it has helped deliver “over $300 million in tuition to small business owners across America,” according to its press release.
According to CNBC, Brightwheel charges program providers “around $2.50 per kid per month.”
Early-childhood software platforms have received considerable attention and funding from investors this year. In August, Wonderschool (also based in San Francisco) raised $20 million in a round led by Andreessen Horowitz to expand its efforts to help licensed childcare providers start and run their own businesses.
