Curriculum Crafter Awarded Business Acceleration Services Through Grand Rapids Current For Expansion
(PRWEB) December 12, 2015 -- Latest Version of Educational Resource Platform Set to Debut
Curriculum Crafter, a one-of-a-kind web-based curriculum and plan management tool already improving learning at more than 300 Michigan schools, announced today that GR Current was awarded funds to provide Business Acceleration Services to Curriculum Crafter LLC to help launch its newest version throughout the Midwest.
“This is a significant achievement for Curriculum Crafter, as over the past 14 months we have made tremendous improvements to our platform,” Curriculum Crafter CEO Donn Smith said from CC’s headquarters in Grand Rapids, Mich. “and these services will enable us to spread our message well beyond our existing customer base, to thousands more schools.”
Noting that teachers have had tremendous demands placed upon their time due to increases in state and federal mandates, Smith emphasized that, “These services will be used to help raise awareness of how our latest version can reduce the time and energy required of educators to create and manage curriculum on their own. Our new platform allows educators to spend more time doing what they do best—teach.”
CC was awarded these services through GRCurrent’s Business Accelerator Fund (BAF), which provides capital in conjunction with services that focus on specific business milestones. GR Current manages the Grand Rapids SmartZone incubator program, providing space, tools and connections for West Michigan-based businesses seeking transformational growth.
“Curriculum Crafter has demonstrated that they have a product school districts need and teachers want, because it’s already being used in hundreds of schools across Michigan,” said Scot Dodd, an analyst with GRCurrent.
“The next step, or milestone, is to commercialize their product outside of the state. They were a great candidate for the BAF program because they demonstrated a very clear path of where they are now, and, with help, what they’ll be able to achieve in other states.
“What they’ve built so far has been through organic sales, with a minimum of marketing efforts. So it follows that with a sophisticated marketing plan, they could easily replicate in other states what they’ve already accomplished in Michigan.”
The services will update the company’s website, and develop new marketing tools that will allow the company to increase its scope, awareness and engagement of its platform throughout the Midwest.
“We’ve already made inroads into neighboring states, and the initial feedback has been incredible,” said Smith. “We’re discovering that teachers crave a rich, standards-aligned curriculum and content tool that is easy to use, intuitive and comprehensive—freeing them up to spend the bulk of their time with those who are the most deserving—their students.
“This award from GR Current not only allows us to hone and spread our message, but further validates us in the eyes of existing and potential customers as well as with the investment community.”
Dodd, on behalf of GRCurrent, added that “We’re excited to see what happens when Curriculum Crafter accesses these new states. We fully expect they’ll see the same sort of success they now enjoy in Michigan, only faster, because of a concentrated approach.”
CC already has signed contracts with third parties to upgrade its website and accelerate marketing strategies. The company also expects to announce partnerships with associations in neighboring states that will provide access to thousands more teachers in coming months.
To set up a demonstration or for more information, email: info(at)curriculumcrafter(dot)org or call (616) 219-0555. http://www.curriculumcrafter.com
Tom Rademacher, Curriculum Crafter, http://www.curriculumcrafter.com, +1 6164602115, [email protected]
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