Catalyst portfolio company PresenceLearning, the leading provider of online therapy solutions for schools and clinicians, unveiled a new strategic partnership with Highlights, the children’s media brand known for their beloved Highlights magazine. The collaboration marks Highlights’ first entry into online therapy in support of children with special needs.
Catalyst portfolio company PresenceLearning, the leading provider of online therapy solutions for schools and clinicians, partnered with Hasbro to bring some of the most-beloved characters and classic games to the PresenceLearning therapy platform. Speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and behavioral and mental health professionals will now be able to use PresenceLearning’s exclusive digital adaptations of Potato Head, Candy Land, and Clue Jr. with students during online therapy sessions conducted on the company’s award-winning therapy platform. PresenceLearning has modified the traditional games to facilitate cooperative play, problem-solving skills, and visual perception skills.
Catalyst portfolio company PresenceLearning acquired Global Teletherapy, the leading teletherapy service provider to virtual K-12 schools, and signed a definitive agreement for Spectrum Equity, a leading growth equity firm, and The Rise Fund, TPG’s multi-sector global impact investing strategy, to acquire a majority stake in the company. Bain Capital Double Impact and Catalyst Investors will retain minority stakes and Bain will continue to have representation on the company’s Board of Directors.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) announced that Catalyst portfolio company PresenceLearning, a provider of live online special education–related services for grades preK–12, has become an ASHA Corporate Partner. ASHA’s partnership with PresenceLearning will help speech-language pathologists (SLPs) access teletherapy at a time when online education tools have proven to be critical to connecting to students and clients.
Catalyst-backed PresenceLearning, the leading provider of live online special education related services for K-12 schools, partnered with the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE). PresenceLearning will support the professional development of CASE members by providing access to its clinical experts and influential partners, as well as offering exclusive webinars, presentations, and other programming.
Catalyst portfolio company PresenceLearning, the leading provider of live online behavioral and mental health services for K-12 schools, partnered with iOpening Enterprises to develop Finding Your Power in Uncertain Times, a 6-week trauma-informed group therapy program designed to help students who are struggling with life’s current stressors including social, emotional, and economic impacts from COVID-19 and civil unrest in their communities.
CEO of Catalyst-backed PresenceLearning, Kate Eberle Walker, discusses her company’s recent $27 million Series D. The pandemic accelerated the completion of the funding round, which helps the company’s expansion of online therapy and assessment services to meet growing school needs.
PresenceLearning, the leading provider of live online special education related services for K-12 schools, received a $27 million Series D investment led by Bain Capital Double Impact. Existing investors Catalyst Investors, New Markets Venture Partners and Catamount Ventures also participated in the round. The latest funding positions the company to accelerate its expansion of online therapy and assessment services to meet growing school needs.
The idea of continuing to serve students with disabilities paralyzed many school leaders in recent weeks, and even led some to cancel school for everyone rather than tackle the challenge of providing special education online. But Kristin Martinez, the clinical director at Catalyst-backed PresenceLearning, which provides online special education services, said school leaders should take heart.
“As schools urgently seek solutions to move services online, we want to make sure that students with special education needs are prioritized,” said Kate Eberle Walker, CEO of Catalyst-backed PresenceLearning. “Over the past ten years we’ve developed a specific expertise in conducting teletherapy sessions for K-12 students and we have a purpose-built platform that is designed by and for clinicians. We realized that the best way we can help right now is to make our platform available more broadly, and to teach school-based clinicians how to approach teletherapy.”