AltSchool, which provides a network of alternative education schools, has raised $100 million in funding led by Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund. Marc Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, Emerson Collective, First Round Capital Learn Capital, John Doerr, Harrison Metal, Jonathan Sackler, Omidyar Network and Adrian Aoun all participated in the round, which also included a new debt facility for school expansion. “We started AltSchool because we wanted to change kids’ lives, but it has become so much bigger,” said Max Ventilla, CEO and founder of AltSchool. “Our students are coming to love learning – they’re achieving milestones in a way that they and their parents didn’t imagine possible in traditional school. We’ve created a culture where teachers feel empowered and valued and where students and parents feel heard. Now, thanks to the philosophical and financial support from our investment partners, many many more educators and families around the country will be able to experience what education can be in the 21st century with AltSchool.”
Artivest, a platform providing private equity and hedge funds with suitable investors, has raised a $15 million round of financing led by KKR. Return backers RRE Ventures, Peter Thiel, Nyca Partners, Anthemis Group and FinTech Collective also participated. “The process of investing in private placements—previously inefficient for all involved–has not changed in any meaningful way for decades. A number of trends have come together, including alternative funds’ increasing focus on individual investors and investors’ growing appetite for all types of alternatives. At this crucial moment, we are bringing private investing a much-needed digital upgrade,” said Artivest CEO and Founder, James Waldinger. “It’s a great honor and a meaningful endorsement to be backed by KKR, one of our first partners.”
Retale, a mobile app which lets consumers browse store circulars, has raised $12 million in funding. The financing comes from the company’s existing backers, including Axel Springer SE and is part of an $18 million raise by Retale’s parent company Bonial.com Group.
Mobile trivia app gameit has closed a $1.6 million seed funding round. The app rewards consumers with prizes and shopping deals for engaging with brands. A number of private angel investors contributed to the round, as did DAK Capital. “72 percent of Americans ignore ads completely, yet companies continue to spend billions on advertising each year to try and reach them. By gamifying mobile advertising, gameit is changing this paradigm,” said Bryce Johnson, CEO of gameit. “gameit creates a true value exchange between advertisers and their audiences – incentivizing consumers to engage with brands, while driving a higher level of brand knowledge and retention. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”