EdTech startup Pressto is proud to announce its Pre-Seed Capital raise of $1.5 million led by Tidal Venture Partners and with participation by Copper Wire Ventures as well as angels including Isa Watson (Lightspeed Ventures Scout Fund), Wray Thorn (Clear Heights Capital), Dan Carroll (Clever), Ann Berry (Threadneedle Ventures), Jacob Zachs (former Newsela), Chris Yeh (Blitzscaling Ventures) and Alex Rappaport (Flocabulary).
Pressto’s proprietary technology makes learning to write fun for kids and easy for teachers. The platform is designed to transform the way youth create and understand media by helping students develop a healthy relationship with what they consume and create, and ultimately, the narrative that they then put out into the world. Pressto also begins to prepare students for a future of work where “creator skills” like publishing, sharing and audience development are critical to success.
“Tidal takes great pride in seeking out and investing in transformational founding teams, with audacious goals, building deeply impactful products,” says Ian Whytock, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Tidal Venture Partners. “We’ve seen great strides in the progress and velocity of the Pressto team – incubated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an early global reach – and we are genuinely excited to be partnering with such an innovative and needed EdTech platform.”
Pressto’s primary focus is engaging with schools as a supplemental tool that fits any curriculum, and can be implemented across any subject area. The platform is currently part of a pilot program with the New York Department of Education reaching over 30,000 students throughout the city and also extends beyond the classroom so that parents and children can utilize Pressto on their own.
“We are beyond appreciative of the incredible support that we’ve received from all of our investors, which goes well beyond just financial and more significantly into the partnership and mentorship realm,” says Pressto Founder, Daniel Stedman. “It’s an incredible feeling to see an idea come to life, while also gaining the support of those that have been in the industry for such a long time. Their expertise and guidance is priceless, and we are thrilled to be on this journey with each and everyone one of them.”