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Radar · EdTech in North Carolina

Best EdTech Companies in North Carolina, United States

The 143 best EdTech companies in North Carolina, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: College Ave.

143companies tracked
$161.7Mdisclosed funding
0unicorns
32have raised
Sector wealth & growth · validated company filings
$63Mmedian revenue
+0%median YoY growth
$1.0Bcombined revenue pool
9companies reporting

Biggest earners Skillsoft Corp. ($513M, -3% YoY), Instructure Inc ($156M, +12% YoY), Blackboard Inc ($119M), Capella Education Co ($112M, +0% YoY)

FLIAR INTELLIGENCE · EDTECH × NORTH CAROLINA

Our analysis of 88 EdTech companies

$7.3b in tracked funding; 99% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.

88companies analysed
99%cloud-native stacks
2025funding peak (by rounds)
12unicorns
2016median founding year
96kcombined LinkedIn audience
67%of audience held by top 3
2companies hiring publicly (12 mo)

Ranked: Best EdTech companies in North Carolina

#CompanyDisclosed fundingLast roundEmployeesFoundedFounderTech stackRecent signals
1College Ave
Student loans marketplace
$50M63 mo ago87
87 → 111 (+28%)
2014——2 job openings
23C Institute
Creator of products for helping people having mental health disorder
48Funding top 28%Growth top 35%Tech top 39%Market bottom 34%
All 5 signals ▾
Fundingtop 28%
Growthtop 35%
Techtop 39%
Marketbottom 34%
Globalbottom 29%
Funding: Raised $40.3M across 50 rounds · 50 rounds over 24 yrs (2.1/yr)
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 48/100
$40M16 mo ago492001—Master SliderPhotoSwipeCart Functionality+40—
3Terra Dotta
Provider of ERP solutions for higher educational institutes for managing study abroad programs
$14M85 mo ago64
64 → 105 (+64%)
2001—WordPressMySQLPHP+28—
4Zenph Online Education Network
Online marketplace for music tutors
$11M151 mo ago52002Richard Kirk Owen
CEO & President
——
5Zenph
World's finest high-resolution player pianos with intuitive technology and legendary library
$11M199 mo ago52002Kirk Owen
CEO
——
6LearnPlatform
Evidence-based education platform improving outcomes through data-driven insights and solutions
$10M76 mo ago702014Ben Gilman
Co-Founder & CTO
RubyRuby on RailsReact+8—
7Element451
Provider of an AI agent platform for higher education institutions
67Tech top 26%Product top 30%Innovation top 33%Funding top 35%
All 10 signals ▾
Techtop 26%
Producttop 30%
Innovationtop 33%
Fundingtop 35%
Growthtop 35%
Moattop 39%
Marketbottom 49%
Talentbottom 49%
Globalbottom 37%
Newsbottom 21%
Tech: 47 technologies across 6/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Alb, Amazon Cloudfront
Product: 12 distinct product lines · Company stage: Series B
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 67/100
$10M18 mo ago562017Ardis Kadiu
Founder & CEO
PrismicSentryApple iCloud Mail+331 award
8ProctorFree
Online platform providing proctoring solutions
$4M88 mo ago672012—HubSpot CMS HubAmazon Web Servicescore-js+16—
9Dropback
Platform offering software based solutions for colleges
$2M18 mo ago—2024Nick Siscoe
Co-Founder & CTO
——
10Centervention
Online games for students to improve social and emotional skills
$2M86 mo ago72015Tim Huntley
CEO
WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+15—
11MetaMetrics
Learning frameworks for integrating assessment with curriculum designing
$2M278 mo ago91
91 → 111 (+22%)
1984—WordPressMySQLPHP+26—
12Kidblog
Platform for developing writing skills of K-12 students
$1M93 mo ago—2010———
13Plum Print
Transforming children's art and photos into custom, lasting keepsakes
$1M139 mo ago152011Margit Ragland
President and Co-founder
Cart FunctionalityShopifySentry+29—
14NeuroPlus
Game-based application for training attention skills
$999K97 mo ago172011———
15Scribbles
Managaement software solutions provider for the student lifecycle
$800K117 mo ago432010—Intercom ArticlesNode.jsReact+11—
16Word Voyage
Platform for K-12 to learn Greek and Latin words
$570K196 mo ago—2010Whit Symmes
Founder & President
——
17Sandbox Learning
SaaS-driven platform offering eBooks for students
$498K189 mo ago72003———
18Trinket
Browser-based coding platform empowering users to learn, create, and share code
$425K153 mo ago62013Elliott Hauser
Co-Founder & CEO
AceUbuntuZURB Foundation+21—
19Real Tooth Fairies
Provider of online games, videos, and activities centered on tooth fairies
$400K125 mo ago—2004Marilyn Bollinger
CEO
PleskGoogle Font APISucuri+4—
20Scholarships360
Online platform offering scholarship discovery solutions for students
$250K56 mo ago62011Will Geiger
Co-Founder & CEO
TurbopackSentryNode.js+21—
21Toggle Book Factory
Internet first brand offering personalized children's books
$120K61 mo ago32019Marc Mailand
Founder & CEO
——
22SoleLife
Social eLearning platform professional coaches
$100K80 mo ago—2012Nichole Lowe
Founder & CEO
——
23Betabox
Online platform providing learning resources and supplies for students to make DIY projects
$100K145 mo ago—2015Sean Maroni
Founder
——
24Traderion
Cloud-based LMS platform for collaborative learning
$100K128 mo ago42012Florin Grosu
Co-founder
——

Top 12 EdTech companies in North Carolina

#1
Funding Raised · Cary, North Carolina · founded 2001 · 49 employees
$40.3Mraised
▾

3C Institute is a research and development company which provides mental health practitioners to put their practices into stepwise training and reach a larger number of people. Creates web-based training programs to train providers, monitor participant progress, and improve program adherence. Claims to be used by educators, clinicians, and parents in 37 states and 10 countries and improve social skills, character education, emotional literacy, cultural awareness, bullying, and parent and teacher education. Provides products for educators, Mental health providers, community agencies and parents. Has a partnership with Stanford University, Cornell University and others.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 48how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 28%
Growth
top 35%
Tech
top 39%
Market
bottom 34%
Global
bottom 29%
Funding: Raised $40.3M across 50 rounds · 50 rounds over 24 yrs (2.1/yr) · Last round Grant (prize money) (Feb 2025)
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Tech: 45 technologies across 4/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Ses, Amazon Web Services · Security: Cloudflare Bot Management, Http/3
Funding rounds
  • Feb 2025Grant (prize money)$866.3K
  • Aug 2024Grant (prize money)$1M
  • Jul 2024Grant (prize money)$295.2K
  • Aug 2023Grant (prize money)$275.7K
Investors
HHS, ED
Tech stack
AkismetAmazon SesAmazon Web ServicesApache Http ServerAtlassian StatuspageBabel
#2
Series B · Raleigh, North Carolina · founded 2017 · 56 employees
$9.9Mraised
▾

Provider of an AI agent platform for higher education institutions. The platform combines a unified CRM with AI agents. These agents perform tasks such as reading applications, guiding prospects, answering student questions, and personalizing campaigns. The AI agents work autonomously or alongside staff. The platform aims to increase yield, boost engagement, and give teams time to focus on human connection.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 67how this company ranks against its industry peers
Tech
top 26%
Product
top 30%
Innovation
top 33%
Funding
top 35%
Growth
top 35%
Moat
top 39%
Tech: 47 technologies across 6/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Alb, Amazon Cloudfront · Devops: Nginx
Product: 12 distinct product lines · Company stage: Series B
Innovation: 12 product lines
Audience (LinkedIn): 17k LinkedIn followers — 17.8% of this cohort's audience
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 awards announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Dec 2024Series B$175M
  • Oct 2023Series A$2M
  • Oct 2022Series A$3.5M
  • Apr 2021Series A$3.4M
Founders & team
Ardis KadiuFounder & CEO
Investors
Cultivation Capital, Cofounders Capital, Blueprint Equity, PSG
Tech stack
Amazon AlbAmazon CloudfrontAmazon S3Amazon Web ServicesApple Icloud MailCloudflare
#3
Seed · Raleigh, North Carolina · founded 2024
$1.6Mraised
▾

Platform offering software based solutions for colleges. It provides revenue sharing infrastructure for colleges and universities, offering tools to create and monitor budgets, build data driven strategies and automate contracts and payroll. It also provides sports team and roster management solutions.

Funding rounds
  • Nov 2024Seed$1.6M
Founders & team
Nick SiscoeCo-Founder & CTOLuke BogusCo-Founder & CEO
Investors
Y Combinator, Reach Capital, Twenty Two Ventures
#4
Acquired · Wilmington, North Carolina · founded 2014 · 87 employees
$50Mraised
▾

It offers undergraduate and post graduate student loans. Student need not be a full time student to obtain loan form College Ave. The minimum amount you can borrow is $2,000 and maximum can be upto 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance i.e. like tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation and personal expenses. The College Ave Student Loan Product is made by Firstrust Bank, member FDIC.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 3k LinkedIn followers — 3.0% of this cohort's audience
Hiring: 2 hiring posts in 12 mo (public) · momentum +2 · hiring: Collections & Recovery Operations Manager, Director of Technology
Funding rounds
  • Mar 2021Conventional Debt$385M
  • Feb 2019Conventional Debt$65M
  • Apr 2017Series C$30M
  • Jan 2016Series B$20M
Investors
Comcast Ventures, Leading Edge Ventures, DW Partners, Fenway Summer Ventures, Guggenheim Investments, Pivot Investment Partners
#5
Acquired · Raleigh, North Carolina · founded 2014 · 70 employees
$10.3Mraised
▾

Evidence-based education platform improving outcomes through data-driven insights and solutions. This for-benefit research organization expands equitable access to effective teaching and technology. The integrated platform offers solutions, insights, and technologies for efficient evaluation and decision-making. It empowers educators, leaders, and solution providers to drive better outcomes. The platform modernizes learning environments by providing evidence at stakeholders' fingertips, improving instruction, outcomes, and budget management. It facilitates compliance with regulations requiring evidence, funding use, and data privacy. The platform offers rapid-cycle evaluation, research, and shareable badges to promote evidence-based practices. It serves school districts, state education agencies, education service agencies, and education solution providers, optimizing edtech ecosystems, simplifying compliance, identifying savings, and increasing visibility. The platform provides inventory dashboards, national edtech equity dashboards, and resources to support educators.

Funding rounds
  • Jan 2020Series A$2M
  • Jan 2018Series A$3.2M
  • Jul 2015Seed$800K
  • Jul 2014Seed$20K
Founders & team
Ben GilmanCo-Founder & CTO
Investors
New Markets Venture Partners, Emerson Collective, Kaplan, Edovate Capital, Techstars, AT&T
Tech stack
EmotionGodaddyGoogle AnalyticsGoogle WorkspaceJssNginx
#6
Series A · Chapel Hill, North Carolina · founded 2001 · 64 employees
$13.7Mraised
▾

Terra Dotta provides ERP solutions for higher educational institutes for managing study abroad programs. Its software manages enrollment and registration of international students in higher education. It provides both license and service options. It can be integrated with data information systems in college. It also provides hosting services for the software.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 5k LinkedIn followers — 4.8% of this cohort's audience
Funding rounds
  • May 2019Series A$3.4M
  • Dec 2018Series A$1M
  • Jul 2017Series A$3.3M
  • Dec 2015Series A$6M
Investors
LNC Partners
Tech stack
Amazon AlbAmazon Web ServicesAngularAtlassian StatuspageBootstrapCdnjs
#7
Series B · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2002 · 5 employees
$11.3Mraised
▾

Zenph Online Education Network, originally known as Zenph Sound Innovations, is an online marketplace of tutors for learning instruments. Instruments include guitar, cello, banjo, keyboard, Ukelele, violin and more. Works on the subscription-based pricing model. Parents can gift certificates to children based on their progress. Focusses on sourcing tutors from US.

Funding rounds
  • Nov 2013Conventional Debt$103K
  • Mar 2013Conventional Debt$512.3K
  • Jul 2012Series B$450K
  • Feb 2011Series B$107K
Founders & team
Richard Kirk OwenCEO & President
Investors
Intersouth Partners, Capitol Broadcasting Company
Tech stack
WordpressMysqlPhpAmp For WordpressAmpApache Http Server
#8
Acqui-Hired · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2002 · 5 employees
$10.9Mraised
▾

World's finest high-resolution player pianos with intuitive technology and legendary library. Spirio offers high-resolution player pianos that seamlessly blend artistry, craftsmanship, and technology. These pianos provide access to a vast library of music, offering performances by renowned artists. The intuitive app allows users to control and enjoy exquisite piano music in their homes. Spirio pianos are fully functioning instruments, meticulously crafted to deliver exceptional beauty and performance. The high-resolution playback system captures the subtlety and passion of original performances, reproducing them with unparalleled accuracy. The ever-expanding content library and high-resolution technology are easily accessible through the intuitive app, offering a gateway to world-class music and artistry.

Funding rounds
  • Nov 2009Series A$10.7M
  • Jul 2009Seed$10.2K
  • Feb 2009Seed$150K
Founders & team
Kirk OwenCEO
Investors
Intersouth Partners, Capitol Broadcasting Company
#9
Seed · Huntersville, North Carolina · founded 2012 · 67 employees
$3.9Mraised
▾

Online platform providing proctoring solutions. It provides an automated service that uses biometric and machine learning technologies to provide proctoring solutions for examination. Offers full-service test proctoring and exam delivery to schools, businesses, and organizations seeking secure solutions and continuous identity verification for online learning and testing.

Funding rounds
  • Jan 2019Seed$675K
  • Sep 2017Seed$2M
  • Jan 2016Seed$1.3M
  • May 2014Grant (prize money)$12.5K
Investors
Charlotte Venture Challenge, Real Ventures, TFX Capital, NC IDEA, VentureSouth, RevTech Labs
Tech stack
Amazon SesAmazon Web ServicesBootstrapCdnjsCloudflareCloudflare Bot Management
#10
Seed · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2015 · 7 employees
$1.5Mraised
▾

Centervention (formerly Personalized Learning Games) provides online games for students to improve social and emotional skills. Targets at kids in grades 2 to 8. Stories in Motion is a game specially designed for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Operates on a freemium and annual subscription model. Also caters to schools. Enables educators to monitor progress and include supplemental lessons to reinforce learning.

Funding rounds
  • Apr 2019Grant (prize money)$1.1M
  • Jan 2018Grant (prize money)$225K
  • Jun 2015Seed$165.2K
Founders & team
Tim HuntleyCEO
Investors
National Science Foundation, NewSchools Venture Fund
Tech stack
Amazon SesAmazon Web ServicesCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementGenerateblocksGeneratepress
#11
Series A · Richfield, North Carolina · founded 2010
$1.4Mraised
▾

Kidblog is a platform for K-12 students to develop their writing skills by practicing in kidblog which is examined by teachers. Teachers create an account for the class and monitor all activities within their classroom blogging community. Kibdlog provides authenticated and well-secured blogs. Works on a freemium model. Premium model accounts have a leverage to integrate their files with google drive and also can have personalized templates. 5 million+ product users.

Funding rounds
  • Sep 2018Series A$1.4M
  • Sep 2012Venture Debt$400K
Investors
500 Global, Marc Bell Capital
Tech stack
FirebaseHstsHttp/3
#12
Acquired · Durham, North Carolina · founded 1984 · 91 employees
$1.5Mraised
▾

MetaMetrics is an educational measurement and research organization developing objective measuring parameters for student achievement. It provides modules and learning frameworks for integrating assessment with curriculum designing. Its offering includes the Lexile Framework for Reading - evaluates reading ability and text complexity based on assessments to match readers with texts, the Quantile Framework for Mathematics - uses a common scale to assess a student’s mathematical achievement level and the difficulty of the skills and concepts being taught, and the Lexile Framework for Writing - tool for differentiating writing instruction and monitoring growth in writing ability on the similar Lexile scale as reading ability. The company endorses the Common Core State Standards Initiative, with its Lexile measures supporting the ELA Standards, and the Quantile measures supporting the Mathematics Standards.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 5k LinkedIn followers — 5.5% of this cohort's audience
Funding rounds
  • Apr 2003Series A$1.5M
Investors
CPP Investments, Pamlico Capital, CIG

Funding & investor landscape

$161.7Mtotal disclosed funding
27companies funded
106disclosed rounds
0rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
RevTech Labs3 rounds
StartEd3 rounds
VentureSouth3 rounds
AWS EdStart2 rounds
Capitol Broadcasting Company2 rounds
ED2 rounds
Intersouth Partners2 rounds
Launch Chapel Hill2 rounds
NC IDEA2 rounds
NewSchools Venture Fund2 rounds

Notable founders

Ardis Kadiu
Founder & CEO · Element451
Nick Siscoe
Co-Founder & CTO · Dropback
Luke Bogus
Co-Founder & CEO · Dropback
Ben Gilman
Co-Founder & CTO · LearnPlatform
Richard Kirk Owen
CEO & President · Zenph Online Education Network
Kirk Owen
CEO · Zenph
Tim Huntley
CEO · Centervention
Margit Ragland
President and Co-founder · Plum Print
Will Geiger
Co-Founder & CEO · Scholarships360
Brian Geiger
Co-Founder · Scholarships360
Whit Symmes
Founder & President · Word Voyage
Elliott Hauser
Co-Founder & CEO · Trinket
Prism market signals · United States · country-scoped Prism corpus, 1,661,750 docs

Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage

Share of EdTech coverage by sub-theme.

Regulatory-risk over time rising

Funding & growth over time

funding rising · growth rising

RESEARCH SIGNALS · United States

How research on Education Technology is moving in the United States

A read on the academic research around Education Technology — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 4,451 United States-affiliated papers.

research sentiment over time
200820172026
enthusiastic · positive · guarded tone
Tone is overwhelmingly optimistic and intensifying — the enthusiastic (strongly-positive) share moved 48% → 65% across 2008–2026.
top research entities
  • Purdue University West Lafayette107
  • North Carolina State University61
  • Michigan State University61
  • University of Florida57
  • Carnegie Mellon University56
leading researchers
E Mahiban Ross · D Beula Jeba Malar · Freederia AI Researcher · Charles R. Graham · Wordly Knowledge Publishing Centre · Richard E. Mayer · Vincent Aleven · Florence Martin
▲ Breakthroughs487 · 11%
▲ 4%→12% share
▲3.0× share momentum0 median citations93% since 2021mostly methods-led
Reinforcement learning newly emerged with 63 papers, while Adaptive learning surged 3→51, signaling intensifying AI-driven personalization research.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • Adaptive learning3→51
  • Analytics2→42
  • Learning analytics6→44
  • Educational technology6→37
  • Artificial neural network1→27
Newly emergingReinforcement learning 0→63 · Scalability 0→43 · Personalized learning 0→26
Landmark What is Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)? · 1,481 cites
◆ Advancements2,156 · 48%
▲ 43%→50% share
▲1.2× share momentum0 median citations84% since 2021mostly empirical
Transformative learning newly emerged at 112 papers as Educational technology advanced 84→423, reflecting rapidly broadening pedagogical scope.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • Educational technology84→423
  • Experiential learning13→154
  • Higher education4→126
  • Curriculum23→137
  • Learning analytics28→135
Newly emergingTransformative learning 0→112 · Generative grammar 0→72 · Digital learning 0→71
Landmark The Relative Effectiveness of Human Tutoring, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, and Other Tutoring Systems · 1,829 cites
▼ Concerns1,162 · 26%
▼ 30%→25% share
▼0.8× share momentum0 median citations79% since 2021mostly empirical
Higher education concern papers rose 7→109 even as Concerns segment share shrank 30→25%, suggesting concentrated institutional stress points.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • Educational technology79→257
  • Higher education7→109
  • Professional development11→74
  • Curriculum19→74
  • Transformative learning2→55
Newly emergingGenerative grammar 0→63 · Digital learning 0→38 · Thematic analysis 0→32
Landmark Teacher Technology Change · 2,249 cites
RESEARCH HOTSPOTS · United States

Where edtech is researched across United States

Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.

Boston105 · +0.37
Hot · Educational technologyAdvancing · Student engagementOpportunity · Key (lock)Concern · Mathematics education
New York92 · +0.31
Hot · Medical educationAdvancing · Key (lock)Opportunity · Generative grammarConcern · Data science
Pittsburgh82 · +0.48
Hot · Intervention (counseling)Advancing · Learning analyticsOpportunity · Higher educationConcern · Generative grammar
SF Bay Area76 · +0.41
Hot · Reflection (computer programming)Advancing · Embodied cognitionOpportunity · LiteracyConcern · Generative grammar
Philadelphia52 · +0.32
Hot · Social mediaAdvancing · Science educationOpportunity · PedagogyConcern · Emerging technologies
Atlanta46 · +0.51
Hot · PersonalizationAdvancing · Adaptation (eye)Opportunity · Educational technology
Los Angeles44 · +0.24
Hot · PerceptionAdvancing · Test (biology)Opportunity · Active learning (machine learning)Concern · Higher education
Chicago42 · +0.29
Hot · Higher educationAdvancing · Bridge (graph theory)Opportunity · LiteracyConcern · Engineering ethics
Ann Arbor35 · +0.30
Hot · Teacher educationAdvancing · Sociotechnical systemOpportunity · Teaching method
Seattle34 · +0.44
Hot · Formative assessmentAdvancing · UsabilityOpportunity · Reinforcement learning
PATENT SIGNAL · United States

Who's filing edtech patents in the United States

United States edtech patent filing is accelerating — 2,649 filings from 804 assignees (2016–2025), led by Google, Microsoft, Adobe; annual filings 32→533.

2,649 filings804 assigneespeak 533/yr2016–2025
filing momentum (YoY 2016–2025)
top patent filers
  • Google131
  • Microsoft123
  • Adobe110
  • Equifax107
  • IBM94
  • Oracle64
  • Capital One Services58
  • Qualcomm55

Common questions

How many EdTech companies are there in North Carolina, United States?
Radar tracks 143 indexable EdTech companies headquartered in North Carolina, United States that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by EdTech companies in North Carolina, United States?
The EdTech companies in North Carolina, United States on this list have raised a combined $161.7M in disclosed equity funding across 27 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded EdTech company in North Carolina, United States?
College Ave is the highest-funded EdTech company in North Carolina, United States, with $50M in disclosed equity funding.
How many EdTech companies in North Carolina, United States are funded?
27 of the 143 EdTech companies in North Carolina, United States on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many EdTech unicorns are there in North Carolina, United States?
None of the EdTech companies in North Carolina, United States on this list currently has a disclosed valuation of $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in North Carolina, United States EdTech companies?
The most active investors in North Carolina, United States EdTech companies on this list include RevTech Labs, StartEd, VentureSouth, AWS EdStart, Capitol Broadcasting Company.
Rohit KhannaTrends & Stories

Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.

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