Clark raises $2.2m to expand its tutor-parent connection service
Edtech start-up Clark has raised $2.2m in a seed round led by Lightspeed Ventures – one of Snapchat's early investors – alongside Rethink Education, Flatworld Partners and Winklevoss Capital. Clark's app is a virtual tool that connects tutors and families, and features session reminders, scheduling assistance, weekly progress reports and more. Funding was secured after Clark's founders presented a 60-second "elevator pitch" to Jessica Alba, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gary Vaynerchuck, and will.i.am, who were among the celebrity judges of Apple’s first original series, "Planet of the Apps." Vaynerchuk, an angel investor in firms including Facebook and Uber, will guide the company forward.

TUTOR TAKEOVER: Clark, an online tool for tutors and the families they work with, has raised $2.2 million in a seed round led by Lightspeed Ventures, an early investor of Snapchat. Rethink Education, Flatworld Partners and Winkelvoss Capital also participated. Parents can find and pay tutors through the mobile app, which also offers features such as session reminders, scheduling assistance and weekly progress reports.

Clark secured its seed round last month after appearing on Apple’s first original series, “Planet of The Apps.” The company had to deliver a 60-second elevator pitch—while actually riding an elevator—to celebrity judges including Jessica Alba, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gary Vaynerchuk, and will.i.am. The team was later paired with Vaynerchuck, an angel investor in companies such as Uber and Facebook, who will be mentoring the company going forward.