What is Clever?
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Clever operates as a critical software provider specializing in secure authentication and identity management for the distance learning ecosystem. By offering a sophisticated Single Sign-On portal, the company effectively bridges the gap between educational software providers and school districts. Its platform facilitates automated rostering and provides a centralized catalog of digital resources, which has become an essential utility for educators managing complex virtual classroom environments. Clever's market position is defined by its ability to reduce administrative friction, thereby allowing schools to focus on pedagogical outcomes rather than technical integration hurdles.
How much funding has Clever raised?
Clever has raised a total of $43.3M across 4 funding rounds:
Other Financing Round
$20K
Angel/Seed
$3M
Series A
$10.3M
Series B
$30M
Other Financing Round (2012): $20K with participation from Y Combinator and Start Fund
Angel/Seed (2012): $3M led by Ben Parr, Jessica Livingston, Alexis Ohanian, Mitchell Kapor, GV, Ashton Kutcher Network, SV Angel, GSV Acceleration, Uncork Capital, Y Combinator, Jeff Clavier, Floodgate, Yuri Milner, Paul Buchheit, and Kapor Capital
Series A (2014): $10.3M supported by Steamboat Ventures
Series B (2014): $30M featuring GSV Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Steamboat Ventures
Key Investors in Clever
Y Combinator
Established in 2005 and located in Mountain View, California, Y Combinator provides seed funding for startup businesses and to gauge investors for businesses.
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Lightspeed Venture Partners is a global multistage venture capital firm that invests in early and growth-stage technology companies across sectors such as enterprise software, consumer, fintech, and infrastructure.
Steamboat Ventures
Steamboat Ventures, founded in 2000, focuses on helping young companies become market leaders by investing in early to growth-stage companies within the technology, media, and consumer sectors.
What's next for Clever?
Looking ahead, Clever is well-positioned to leverage its recent capital injection to expand its suite of enterprise-level tools. As the demand for seamless, secure, and scalable EdTech solutions continues to rise, the company is expected to prioritize product innovation and market penetration. By maintaining its focus on interoperability and user-centric design, Clever aims to further entrench itself as the foundational layer for digital learning, potentially exploring new verticals within the broader education technology landscape to sustain its long-term growth and competitive advantage.
See full Clever company page
