Maintaining Children’s Activity Levels in the Post-Pandemic Era

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, schools transitioned to online learning, leaving parents concerned about how to maintain their children’s activity levels in the absence of mandatory physical education classes and sports. Joe Titus and Paul Suhr, two friends, were among those who sought a solution.

A Solution in Hiveclass

The two friends’ solution was Hiveclass, a New York-based edtech platform that hosts online courses for K-12 students to learn about fitness, sports, dance, yoga, nutrition, and mindfulness, among other things. The platform also offers a self-defense course. Hiveclass has gained popularity due to a confluence of trends, including the increasing disengagement of students from P.E. classes in schools and the high cost of youth sports expenses.

The Problem of Disengagement and Cost

Many students dread P.E. for its highly competitive environment, where bullying occurs often. Additionally, parents across the U.S. are struggling to pay youth sports expenses. Titus and Suhr, who bonded over second-grade baseball, want their kids to experience the same enjoyment in sports that they once did, but many of these experiences are becoming unattainable.

A CEO’s Perspective

As a parent in New York City, Titus said, "The inequities of the cost of sports were beyond me. I was my son’s first soccer coach, and the cost of it was just so high. I wondered, ‘How does a family that lives in low-income housing afford soccer?’"

Investor Recognition

Investors also recognize the value of online P.E. courses. Hiveclass, where Titus is CEO and Suhr is chief product officer, just raised $1.5 million seed funding. The funding will be allocated to product development, enhancing the teacher portal, and introducing new services for students with special needs.

A Unique Approach

Instead of offering subscriptions directly to parents, Hiveclass markets its services to public schools and libraries. The platform offers a collection of short-form videos that teach children various skills, such as how to dribble a basketball. Quizzes in between clips help keep kids focused and engaged. Educators can access the teacher portal to view student progress and ensure everyone is completing their work.

Alignment with National Standards

Hiveclass believes it stands out from other edtech platforms and educational YouTube channels by emphasizing the P.E. and wellness field. The company claims to align with national standards set forth by SHAPE America, the Society of Health and Physical Educators organization that governs physical education in the U.S.

Partnerships and Revenue

The company currently partners with over 80 educational institutions and has over 13,000 students and teachers on the platform. Hiveclass doesn’t publicly disclose pricing, but it says it’s tailored for each client based on their specific requirements. The outfit has generated more than $2 million in revenue and hopes to hit an additional $1 million by next month. The recent round was led by Spring Mountain Capital, with other investors including Georgetown Angel Investor Network (GAIN), New York State Venture Fund, Rethink Education, and Techstars.

Total Capital Raised

The funding brings the startup’s total capital raised to over $3 million altogether.