TalkingPoints

TalkingPoints operates as a nonprofit education technology organization focused on improving student outcomes by enhancing family-school partnerships, particularly in under-resourced communities. The organization was founded in 2015 by Heejae Lim, whose personal experience as a Korean immigrant student shaped the company's mission. Lim observed that her mother's ability to engage with her school was a critical factor in her academic success, a resource not available to many of her peers. This insight led her to create a scalable technology solution to bridge this gap. Lim's background includes work in education reform in the Middle East, a role as Chief of Staff to an advisor for the UK Secretary of Education, and consulting for the Gates Foundation at McKinsey. She holds degrees from Oxford University, the London School of Economics, and an MBA from Stanford Business School.

The organization's core offering is a multilingual communication platform designed for the K-12 education market. It enables two-way conversations between teachers and families, automatically translating messages into more than 150 languages. This service is delivered through web and mobile applications, as well as standard SMS, ensuring accessibility for families with varying levels of technological access. The platform leverages a combination of AI and human translators to ensure accuracy and context in communication. Beyond translation, TalkingPoints provides educators with data analytics dashboards and coaching on effective family engagement strategies. Research has shown the platform's use is linked to decreased student absenteeism and improved academic performance.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, TalkingPoints operates on a mixed-revenue model. While a basic version is available for free to individual teachers, the organization generates revenue through premium subscription services offered to schools and entire school districts. These premium tiers provide additional features like school-wide messaging capabilities, SIS integration, and personalized coaching. The business model is further supported by substantial grants and contributions from foundations and philanthropic organizations, including Google.org, the Carnegie Corporation, and MacKenzie Scott. This funding structure allows the organization to pursue its social mission while scaling its operations, which now serve millions of users across the United States.

Keywords: family engagement, education technology, multilingual communication, K-12 education, nonprofit, parent-teacher communication, student success, AI translation, school partnerships, academic outcomes