Firefly Learning

Firefly Learning provides a virtual learning platform for K-12 schools, designed to connect teachers, students, and parents. The company’s story began in 1999 when co-founders Joe Mathewson and Simon Hay, then 15-year-old students at St. Paul's School in London, grew frustrated with their school's outdated internet system. They developed the initial version of Firefly to make it easier for their teachers to share materials online. What started as a project to solve their own problem soon attracted interest from other schools, and in 2009, Mathewson and Hay established the venture as a full-time business.

The company operates in the educational software market, serving primary and secondary schools worldwide. Its business model is based on providing its learning management system to schools, which generates revenue, though specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. Firefly's platform is designed to be a central hub for school life. For teachers, it offers tools to create and share resources, set homework, track student progress, and provide feedback through various formats, including audio and video. For students, it provides a portal to access assignments and learning materials, while the parent portal allows guardians to monitor their child's progress, view timetables, and communicate with teachers. The platform supports integrations with other major educational tools like Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams, aiming to streamline administrative tasks and give teachers more time to focus on teaching.

Firefly has marked several significant milestones, including securing a £4.5 million Series A funding round in 2016, which was the largest for a UK edtech company at the time. This was followed by a £5.5 million Series B round in early 2019. A key development in the company's journey was its acquisition by Veracross, a U.S.-based provider of School Information Systems (SIS), in February 2023. This merger was positioned as a strategic move to create a more integrated and comprehensive offering for schools globally, combining Firefly's engagement tools with Veracross's administrative systems. Despite the acquisition, Firefly continues to operate as a distinct brand and integrate with other MIS/SIS providers.

Keywords: educational technology, K-12 education, learning management system, parent portal, student portal, virtual learning environment, classroom management, homework management, teacher tools, parent engagement, Veracross, edtech software, school communication, progress tracking, resource sharing, online learning platform, Joe Mathewson, Simon Hay, school administration software, digital learning