Formative

Santa Monica, United States Founded: 2013 • Age: 13 yrs Acquired By Newsela
Online platform offering real-time instruction tools for educators
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About Formative

Formative is a company based in Santa Monica (United States) founded in 2013 by Craig Jones, Daniel Cornell, and Kevin McFarland was acquired by Newsela in June 2023.. Formative has raised $70 million across 3 funding rounds from investors including Newsela, Summit Partners and Emerson Collective. Formative operates in a competitive market with competitors including Renaissance, MasteryConnect, TagHive, Turnitin and Xello, among others.

  • Headquarter Santa Monica, United States
  • Founders Craig Jones, Daniel Cornell, Kevin McFarland
  • Sectors
    Education
  • Email
    ***********
  • Phone
    *********
  • Website
    *********
  • Social
    *********
Operational Areas
Education → Education Technology (EdTech)
Education → Education Technology (EdTech)
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
  • Net Profit
  • EBITDA
  • Total Equity Funding
    $70 M (USD)

    in 3 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
    $70 M (USD), Series A

    Jun 15, 2021

  • Investors
    Newsela

    & 6 more

  • Employee Count
    Employee Count
  • Acquired by
    Newsela

    (Jun 28, 2023)

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People of Formative
Headcount 10-50
Employee Profiles 6
Employee Profiles
People
Craig Jones
CEO & co-Founder
People
Carlo Schmidt
Director Of Product Management
People
Paul Mallin
Senior Product Manager
People
Kylie Cavanaugh
Csr/ Quality Manager

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Funding Insights of Formative

Formative has successfully raised a total of $70M across 3 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Series A round of $70 million completed in June 2021. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.

  • Total Funding
  • Total Rounds 3
  • Last Round Series A — $70.0M
  • First Round
  • Investors Count 6
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jun, 2021 Amount Series A - Formative Valuation Summit Partners
Nov, 2016 Amount Seed - Formative Valuation

investors

Nov, 2013 Amount Seed - Formative Valuation

investors

Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Investors in Formative

Formative has secured backing from 7 investors, including venture fund and institutional investors. Prominent investors backing the company include Newsela, Summit Partners and Emerson Collective. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.

All
Venture Fund
Institutional
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Summit Partners is recognized as a growth equity investment firm.
Founded Year Domain Location
Seed-stage tech-focused VC firm investing primarily in the US
Founded Year Domain Location
A seed-stage venture capital firm
Founded Year Domain Location
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
Founded Year Domain Location
Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
Founded Year Domain Location

Investments & Acquisitions by Formative

Investments
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016

Financial Statements - Formative

Tata Steel revenue growth over time
Tata Steel profit and loss trends over time
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Formative Comparisons

Employees
+
Add Comparison
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Competitors of Formative

Formative operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as Renaissance, MasteryConnect, TagHive, Turnitin and Xello, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.

Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Cloud-based K-12 assessments in reading, math, and writing are delivered.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Assessment and data solutions are developed for K-12 education.
domain founded_year HQ Location
AI-powered quiz application for educational engagement is provided.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Plagiarism detection and assessment platforms are provided for educators.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Provider of an online platform for developing technical and soft skills in students
domain founded_year HQ Location
Assessment-assistance solutions are provided to educators via online tools.
Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
domain founded_year HQ Location
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.

Latest news on Formative

Frequently Asked Questions about Formative

When was Formative founded?

Formative was founded in 2013.

Where is Formative located?

Formative is headquartered in Santa Monica, United States. It is registered at Santa Monica, California, United States.

Who is the current CEO of Formative?

Craig Jones is the current CEO of Formative. They have also founded this company.

Is Formative a funded company?

Formative is a funded company, having raised a total of $70M across 3 funding rounds to date.

What does Formative do?

Formative was founded in 2013 in Santa Monica, United States, as an online platform in the education technology sector. Assessments are created, edited, previewed, and assigned by teachers, with actionable data generated to support teaching and learning. Collaboration is facilitated among educators for sharing assessments, real-time edits, and roster synchronization. Operations focus on enhancing instructional efficiency for K-12 environments.

Who are the top competitors of Formative?

Formative's top competitors include Renaissance, Learnosity and MasteryConnect.

Who are Formative's investors?

Formative has 7 investors. Key investors include Newsela, Summit Partners, Emerson Collective, Fika Ventures, and MaC Venture Capital.

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