CottageClass

CottageClass operates as a community marketplace designed for PreK-12th grade education, positioning itself at the forefront of the microschooling movement. The company was founded in 2015 by Manisha Snoyer, an experienced educator who sought to address the frustrations with inflexible and expensive traditional education systems. Snoyer's background as a teacher in three countries and her experience running a foreign language school, where administrative tasks consumed the majority of her time, directly informed the creation of CottageClass. She aimed to build a platform that would empower fellow educators, whom she calls "teacherpreneurs," by handling the business aspects of running a small school.

The firm's business model is structured similarly to a marketplace like Airbnb, providing a platform for educators, artists, and local experts to connect with families seeking personalized learning experiences. CottageClass provides essential back-end support, including marketing, secure payment processing, insurance, and enrollment logistics. In exchange for these services, the company takes a 10% fee from all class enrollments, with the remaining 90% going to the teacher. This structure allows educators to focus on creating and delivering quality in-person, group-based learning experiences without the high overhead of starting a school independently.

The platform serves families looking for alternatives or supplements to conventional schooling. Its offerings are diverse, ranging from homeschool cooperatives and bilingual playgroups to afterschool programs and specialized camps. All learning opportunities on the platform are required to be in-person and for groups, distinguishing it from online-only platforms or private tutoring services. By facilitating the creation of these small, community-based learning environments, known as microschools, CottageClass addresses a growing demand from parents for more tailored and flexible educational options for their children. The company has successfully supported numerous microschools, particularly in areas with high private school costs and significant homeschooling populations. As of early 2018, the company had raised $240,000 and completed the Techstars accelerator program. Keywords: microschooling, education marketplace, teacherpreneur, homeschool support, alternative education, community learning, PreK-12 education, learning pods, personalized learning, educational administration