Best Educational Supplies Companies in United States
The 188 best Educational Supplies companies in United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Capstone.
Among the Educational Supplies companies operating in the United States, this directory tracks 188 of them, ranked by disclosed equity funding and recent funding momentum. Total disclosed funding across the group sits at $94M, with Capstone leading at $49M and Backyard Brains pulling in $9M, which tells you where institutional conviction has concentrated. No unicorns yet, but the global market behind this sector hit roughly $12.5B in 2019 and is growing at ~12.2% CAGR, driven by connected devices, AI integration, and the expanding e-learning stack inside schools and universities. Data privacy pressure is real too, and you'll see that shaping how younger companies position their products.
So what's the underlying momentum signal? Median app install growth across educational software and supplies apps is running at about +19% YoY across 106 tracked apps. That's not noise. I'd also note the sector's editorial heat right now is clustering hard around college fees, tuition costs, and student expenses, which means the demand conversation is shifting from institutional buyers toward individual affordability. Investors like the National Science Foundation and Arc Capital Development are already in the mix here. The funding pool is still modest relative to the opportunity, and that gap is exactly what makes this directory worth a close read.
- ResearchAndMarkets.com
Ranked: Best Educational Supplies companies in United States
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Web popularity | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capstone Provider of eBook for students | $49M | 84 mo ago | 638 | Tom Ahern CEO | DrupalApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+18 | Top 5M | 3 patents Automated mail‑tray handling hardware and software for graphical display axis control. | 1 job opening |
| 2 | Barnes & Noble Education Operator of bookstores in college and university campuses | $15M | 65 mo ago | 4,250 4,250 → 5,046 (+19%) | Michael Huseby Chief Executive Officer | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+27 | Top 10M | — | 1 launch |
| 3 | Backyard Brains Developer of neuroscience educational kits and tools | $9M | 36 mo ago | 9 | Greg Gage Co-Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalityShopifyWordPress+29 | Top 5M | — | 2 launchs |
| 4 | Optimal Solutions Group Optimal Solutions Group is a nonpartisan public policy research and software development firm | $4M | 164 mo ago | 46 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+28 | Top 50M | 22 patents Electric vehicle chassis cradles, lighting headlamps, and crimp terminals for EV systems | — |
| 5 | Tiny Earth Toys Online platform offering toys for kids | $3M | 43 mo ago | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | 3Dmoleculardesigns Manufacturer of 3D-printed and injection-molded science education kits | $3M | 22 mo ago | 30 | — | Cart FunctionalityShopifyVisa+23 | Top 5M | — | — |
| 7 | Libertary Library providing books | $2M | 133 mo ago | — | Kenneth Shear CEO | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Full Fathom Five Developer of educational books, television shows, films, and video games | $1M | 157 mo ago | — | James Frey Founder & CEO | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | Chibitronics Provider art & craft products | $1M | 12 mo ago | 7 | — | Cart FunctionalityShopifyVisa+27 | Top 5M | 3 patents Modular flexible printed circuits and reusable electronic sticker power modules | — |
| 10 | Freedom Learning Group Developer of educational contents | $1M | 71 mo ago | 172 | Nate Ecelbarger Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | CrossBraining Developer of learning application intended to provide access to powerful learning opportunities | $750K | 80 mo ago | 5 | Josh Nichols Founder | — | — | 2 patents Multimedia-based skill reinforcement training systems for proficiency development | — |
| 12 | ICivics Provider of teaching resource for teachers through games and videos | $745K | 79 mo ago | 82 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+33 | Top 500k | — | 2 awards |
| 13 | Japanese Products Distributor of Japanese books and stationeries | $600K | 75 mo ago | 5 | — | Master SliderCart FunctionalityOpenCart+15 | Top 10M | — | — |
| 14 | TreeZero Manufacturer of fiber-based paper made from recycled sugarcane | $600K | 177 mo ago | — | Edward Kennedy Chairman-Co-founder | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | StarLab Provider of portable planetarium systems and educational programs | $446K | 121 mo ago | 24 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+27 | Top 5M | — | — |
| 16 | Secutor Solutions Provider of lessons learned database materials | $350K | 60 mo ago | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Sector 5 Supplier of laptops for educational institutions | $350K | 97 mo ago | 1 | Erick Kuvshinikov CEO | — | — | 19 patents Patents concentrated in health & consumer products | — |
| 18 | PETL Fluidics Provider of microfluidics-based science education kits | $256K | 51 mo ago | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | Slooh Provider of robotic telescope service that can be viewed through a web browser for educational purposes | $225K | 31 mo ago | 22 | — | SentryPHPLeaflet+29 | Top 5M | — | 1 partnership · 1 award |
| 20 | Evolution Alliance Developer of learning materials | $170K | 63 mo ago | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21 | DPLA Provider of digital library | $150K | 47 mo ago | — | — | SentryNode.jsExhibit+12 | Top 500k | — | 1 partnership |
| 22 | VR Training Solutions Provider of VR based classrooms | $100K | 44 mo ago | — | Wendy Morgan Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | 14 patents VR-based tactical training simulators with multi-configurable LED displays for projectile impact analysis | — |
Top 12 Educational Supplies companies in United States
#1
Funding Raised · Wilmington, Delaware · founded 2014 · 7 employees$1.4Mraised▾
Manufacturer of circuit stickers designed to offer peel-and-stick electronics. The company's platform blends circuit building and programming with arts and crafts, along with uses conductive circuit stickers, coin cell batteries and adhesive copper tape to integrate art with electronics, enabling artists, crafters, tinkerers, makers and students to create and design their own expressive electronics and experience the beauty of lights and circuitry.
- May 2025Grant (prize money)$1.2M
- Jul 2021Grant (prize money)$255.9K
#2
Funding Raised · Milwaukee, Wisconsin · founded 2012 · 30 employees$3.2Mraised▾
Manufacturer of 3D-printed and injection-molded science education kits. These kits are designed for use in middle school through college-level science classes and focus on making complex scientific concepts more accessible through hands-on learning. The company also provides teacher guides, student handouts, videos, and animations to support classroom instruction. Professional development opportunities, including conferences, summer courses, and webinars, are offered to educators. The company's product line includes kits covering various scientific topics, such as DNA replication, protein synthesis, and cellular biology. They also produce custom models for researchers and institutions.
- Aug 2024Grant (prize money)$295.9K
- Aug 2022Grant (prize money)$743K
- Apr 2021Grant (prize money)$2M
- Sep 2013Grant (prize money)$200.5K
#3
Funding Raised · Ann Arbor, Michigan · founded 2009 · 9 employees$8.9Mraised▾
Developer of neuroscience educational kits and tools. These kits provide hands-on learning experiences for students, teachers, and hobbyists, enabling exploration of brain activity and nervous system functions. Products include devices for recording electrical signals from muscles, nerves, and neurons, along with accompanying lesson plans and experiments. The tools are designed to be accessible and engaging, bridging neuroscience with everyday experiences. The company also offers neuroengineering devices that allow users to control computers and robotics using their nervous systems. Kits are available for various age groups and educational levels, covering topics such as electromyography, electroencephalography, and invertebrate neurophysiology.
- Jun 2023Grant (prize money)$324.6K
- 2019Grant (prize money)—
- Sep 2018Grant (prize money)$3.5M
- May 2017Grant (prize money)$4.6M
#4
Funding Raised · Mankato, Minnesota · founded 1991 · 638 employees$49Mraised▾
Provider of eBook for students
- 2019Conventional Debt$19M
- 2014Conventional Debt$30M
#5
Series A · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2020 · 12 employees$3.4Mraised▾
Online platform offering toys for kids. The platform offers dressup tables, play structures, play kitchens, and more.
- Nov 2022Series A$1.6M
- Oct 2021Seed$1.5M
- Feb 2021Seed$275K
#6
Funding Raised · New York City, New York · founded 2016 · 22 employees$45.2Kraised▾
What will a sustainable world look like in 50 or 100 years from now? The next generation of design requires cross-disciplinary collaborations to rethink foods, materials, textiles, medicines, products, and infrastructures so that they serve not only individuals, but entire cultures, ecosystems, and ultimately the planet. To foster these collaborations, the Biodesign Challenge (BDC), partners university and high school students with artists, designers, and scientists to envision the future of biotechnology and engage the public about its deeper implications. Each June, students showcase their projects at Parsons School of Design and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
- Aug 2024Grant (prize money)$45.2K
#7
Public · Basking Ridge, New Jersey · founded 1873 · 4250 employees$15Mraised▾
Operator of bookstores in college and university campuses
- Dec 2020Post IPO$15M
#8
Seed · Litchfield, Connecticut · founded 2003 · 22 employees$224.8Kraised▾
Provider of robotic telescope service that can be viewed through a web browser for educational purposes
- Nov 2023Seed—
- Jan 2018Grant (prize money)$224.8K
#9
Funding Raised · College Park, Maryland · founded 2000 · 46 employees$3.6Mraised▾
Operator of a policy analysis research and consulting firm intended to aid in public policy decision-making. The company leverages technology to provide insightful program and policy evaluation, cost-benefit and effectiveness analyses, custom econometric modeling, big data analytics, and market analyses, enabling clients to make better data-driven decisions
- Sep 2012Grant (prize money)$1M
- Apr 2010Grant (prize money)$511.9K
- Mar 2009Grant (prize money)$20K
- Oct 2008Grant (prize money)$20K
#10
Seed · Lake Mary, Florida · founded 2017 · 172 employees$1Mraised▾
Provider of educational courseware, content and services designed to empower today's workforce for the future of work. The company offers a full-service eLearning curriculum development and education consultancy, which includes accessibility compliance, accuracy review, assessment authoring, content development and workforce training, enabling users to get effective services for large curriculum development projects while also providing military spouses and dependents with long-term, portable career opportunities.
- Jul 2020Seed$1M
#11
Deadpooled · Seattle, Washington · founded 2009$1.7Mraised▾
Library providing books
- Apr 2015Seed$1.2M
- Nov 2013Seed$450.3K
#12
Funding Raised · Rochester, New York · founded 2019 · 2 employees$256Kraised▾
Provider of microfluidics-based science education kits. These kits are designed for use in high school and engineering classrooms, offering hands-on learning experiences in microfluidics. The kits include all necessary materials and detailed instructions for various lab activities. They provide a next-generation approach to science education, making complex concepts accessible and engaging for students.
- Mar 2022Grant (prize money)$256K
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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.