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School Places gets $2 million boost to help you get your kids into private school (with a discounted seat!)

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Like many parents, you might want your kids to attend private school.

But, private schools can be expensive.

Really, really, wallet-breaking expensive.

Ding! Game changer!

School Places is an online marketplace that helps independent, private schools maximise student numbers and optimise revenue by connecting them with families searching for discounted school vacancies.

The idea for the business was conceived by 25 year old Jeremy Wein, who was using an online travel site while his father discussed a friend’s struggle with rising school fees.

School Places helps you find a discounted place in a private school via a transparent and simple online enrolment process. At the same time, it benefits schools and their communities by helping them optimise student numbers and revenue, and minimise the need to increase fees.

School Places team includes Chairman Paul Sheahan AM, whose education credentials include Housemaster of Geelong Grammar, Principal of Geelong College from 1986-1995, and Headmaster of Melbourne Grammar School from 1995-2009.

What’s more, School Spaces has recently received $2M in investment support led by Square Peg Capital, Tank Stream Ventures and rampersand.

School Places CEO Natalie Mactier recently stated, “We are delighted to have the support of rampersand and Tank Stream Ventures, who have joined cornerstone investor Square Peg Capital. This injection of capital will allow us to accelerate School Places’ expansion plans, and we see it as proof of the momentum of our business.”

Positive reactions

Mactier added that School Places is receiving upwards of 35,000 website searches on the company’s official launch day.

“The number of enquiries and applications for vacant school places we received in our first six weeks far exceeded our expectations. Over that short time we estimate we have delivered more than $1M in school fees to our partner schools, while the parents who have taken up these offers will save a total of almost $200,000 over their lifetime.”

“These results are driving additional schools in Victoria to come on board, as well as hundreds of parents to register for alerts when new school vacancies are listed.”

“Our next step will be launching in New South Wales mid-year, before expanding around the country by the end of the year,” Mactier said.

Markus Kahlbetzer from Tank Stream Ventures said: “We see education as one of the key sectors where plenty of disruption is yet to come. School Places’ platform solves a critical issue parents face when deciding to send their children to a private school, and we look forward to changing the way parents approach their child’s school placement.”

Big money backing

rampersand co-founder Paul Naphtali is highly optimistic about School Places’ prospects.

“School Places has shown terrific early traction, which is not surprising given it’s a great idea, backed by a strong team. We think they have uncovered a massive opportunity and have built a model that adds value to both parents and schools, and we look forward to helping School Places further accelerate its growth,” he said.

David Liberman from Square Peg Capital added, “We know that online engagement between parents and schools for enrolments is the future, while private schools have an urgent need to optimise their revenue right now. School Places solves two market needs in a simple and compelling online model.”