R

Renaissance

Education technology for assessments and practice

Overview

Renaissance builds education technology tools for pre K–12 schools to assess and support student learning. Its products include Accelerated Reader (tracks reading and quizzes to motivate and guide progress), Star Assessments (computer-adaptive tests for reading and math), and Freckle (personalized practice across subjects). The company stands out from competitors through its long history since 1986, wide reach (a large share of U.S. schools and international schools), and a data-rich platform that continually improves based on performance data and industry recognition such as ESSA Level II. Its goal is to help educators measure, monitor, and boost student learning at scale with a dependable subscription-based solution.

Significant Headcount Growth

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About Renaissance

Simplify's Rating
Why Renaissance is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Data & AnalyticsEnterprise SoftwareEducation

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Late Stage VC

Total Funding

$40M

Headquarters

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Founded

1984

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Simplify's take

What believers are saying

  • Discovery Education partnership on July 28, 2026 expands science assessment into DnA and SchoolCity.
  • McGraw Hill integration launches nationwide for back-to-school 2026, broadening curriculum-linked demand.
  • February 2026 Renaissance Intelligence launch gives sales a fresh AI narrative for districts.

What critics are saying

  • September 11, 2026 dismissal ends privacy litigation, but student-data scrutiny remains existential.
  • Core publishers like Carnegie Learning, McGraw Hill, and Innovamat can disintermediate standalone assessments.
  • State approval cycles, especially Texas 2027-28, create renewal dependence and procurement concentration.

What makes Renaissance unique

  • Renaissance Intelligence fuses assessment, instruction, practice, and curriculum into one workflow.
  • October 2026 Carnegie Learning and November 2026 Innovamat deals extend Star Math ecosystem breadth.
  • Texas approved Star Assessments for 2027-28 statewide initiatives, validating district-grade credibility.

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Funding

Total Funding

$40M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

1 Rounds

Late VC funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Late VC Funding Comparison Coming Soon

Benefits

  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Remote Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

14%

1 year growth

16%

2 year growth

16%
Yahoo Finance
Nov 10th, 2026
Renaissance and Innovamat link Star Math assessment to bilingual Thinking Math! curriculum

Renaissance and Innovamat announced a partnership on November 10, 2026, linking Innovamat's K–8 Thinking Math! curriculum with the Star Math assessment in Renaissance Intelligence. The aim is to give teachers instant, tailored instructional recommendations for each student. Star Math results will automatically map to specific next steps in the Thinking Math! scope and sequence. Teachers spend less time interpreting data and more time teaching. Thinking Math! was written natively in English and Spanish, not translated. Paired with the Star Matemáticas assessment, it offers a bilingual path from assessment to instruction. Innovamat joins Renaissance's Core Publisher Program. Founded in Barcelona in 2017, it serves more than 720,000 students across nine countries.

CXO Insiders
Nov 2nd, 2026
Buyers Edge Platform welcomes Sam Peterson, Chief Technology Officer, to accelerate ai-driven innovation.

Buyers Edge Platform welcomes Sam Peterson, Chief Technology Officer, to accelerate ai-driven innovation. * November 2, 2026 Buyers Edge Platform announced the strategic appointment of Sam Peterson as Chief Technology Officer today. The company operates as a leading digital procurement network for the foodservice industry. This move demonstrates that Buyers Edge Platform is dedicated to creating best-in-class technologies. Also, Buyers Edge Platform uses artificial intelligence to add more value for its market partners. This system helps distributors, operators, and food manufacturers across North America. As Buyers Edge Platform expands its product range, technology is key in catering to enterprise clients. Peterson's role will entail overseeing the engineering team and product innovation through AI. This will mean that his team will be in a position to bring software products to the market. Peterson brings extensive experience adopting leading-edge technology and building high-performing engineering teams. Moreover, he delivers measurable results faster while maintaining lower cost structures across global markets. "We are thrilled to welcome Sam Peterson as Buyers Edge Platform's Chief Technology Officer," said John Davie, CEO of BEP. "Technology is at the core of everything we do for our customers, and Sam brings a rare combination of deep engineering expertise, proven AI transformation experience, and a track record of building teams that deliver. His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to innovate across our platform and help the foodservice industry operate smarter." Executive leadership drives next-generation digital procurement. Most recently, Peterson served as Chief Technology Officer at Renaissance Inc. During his tenure, he rebuilt engineering teams around AI-first delivery frameworks. He also established an AI Governance Council to ensure responsible deployment at scale. Previously, he held executive technology leadership roles at Truckstop, Metrc, and Boats Group. At those firms, he directed major platform consolidations and international acquisition integrations. Earlier in his career, Peterson spent 14 years at Overstock.com. He rose from software developer to Senior Vice President and CTO of a 650-person technology organization. Peterson officially joined Buyers Edge Platform on October 12, 2026. He collaborates across all corporate divisions to shape the firm's long-term technology strategy. Thus, his leadership solidifies Buyers Edge Platform as a top industry innovator. "Technology and AI are reshaping every part of the foodservice industry," Sam stated. "Having built data products at Boats Group and Truckstop, I know what it takes to turn marketplace data into customer value, and Buyers Edge Platform's visibility into more than $100 billion in annual purchasing across 350,000 foodservice locations is the richest foundation I've had to work with. I look forward to building on it to drive innovation for our customers." Scaling AI capabilities for enterprise foodservice operations. Moreover, the enterprise platform handles enormous amounts of purchase information from thousands of operational sites. Peterson takes advantage of such a database to improve prediction analytics and procurement procedures. Also, his team works on the development of automation of purchases by commercial kitchens and suppliers. Buyers Edge Platform keeps building up its infrastructure as the demand on the market grows. This is how the appointment of the new executive helps Buyers Edge Platform stay ahead technologically and develop digitally. For more stories on technology leaders shaping the future of enterprise solutions, visit its CXO Insiders.

Yahoo Finance
Oct 22nd, 2026
Renaissance and Carnegie Learning link Star Math insights to ClearMath curriculum

Renaissance and Carnegie Learning have announced a partnership that links Renaissance's Star Math assessment to Carnegie Learning's ClearMath core curriculum. The link runs through Renaissance Intelligence and targets K–12 educators. Teachers now often match assessment results to teaching materials by hand, which takes time. The integration gives them personalised recommendations based on Star Math results, including ClearMath lessons, MATHia activities, and resources from Renaissance's Nearpod and Freckle. "Together with Carnegie Learning, we're creating a more coherent experience that helps educators move seamlessly from assessment data to instructional action," said Todd Brekhus, chief product officer at Renaissance. Carnegie Learning's chief product officer, Jessica Cubellis, said the deal should help shared customers spend less time searching for materials.

PR Newswire
Oct 8th, 2026
Renaissance named to 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Education & Training list.

Renaissance named to 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Education & Training list. Oct 08, 2026, 14:00 ET Edtech leader also earns its fourth consecutive Great Place To Work(R) Certification(TM), highlighting its mission-driven, people-first culture BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Renaissance, a global leader in pre-K-12 education technology, today announced its dual recognition as a 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Education & Training(TM) honoree and a Great Place To Work(R) Certified(TM) company. Based entirely on current employee feedback, this year's certification reveals that 78% of surveyed employees describe Renaissance as a great place to work, a year-over-year increase that sits 20 points higher than a typical US-based company. "Renaissance is committed to empowering K-12 educators, and that impact starts with our dedicated employees and the work they do each day," said Chris Bauleke, Chief Executive Officer at Renaissance. "By creating a supportive environment where everyone's contributions are valued, we empower our team to innovate and better equip educators with the resources to truly See Every Student." Fortune recognized Renaissance as one of the Best Workplaces in Education & Training, based on an analysis of responses from over 17,000 employees at Great Place To Work Certified companies in the industry. Honorees were selected based on their ability to offer welcoming, supportive environments and positive outcomes for employees regardless of job role, work status, or other demographic factors. Recognition on this prestigious list means employees view Renaissance as one of the best companies in its industry. The Great Place To Work survey results emphasized Renaissance's commitment to people and purpose, with employee comments most often referencing "people," "mission," and "support." Other insights include: * Renaissance fosters a supportive, people-centered environment, with 90% of respondents agreeing that colleagues genuinely care about one another. * Renaissance culture values inclusion, with over 90% of employees reporting that they feel welcome and are treated fairly regardless of their demographic background. Renaissance fosters a people-first culture designed to support employees both professionally and personally. From Employee Resource Groups like Women of Renaissance and the Alliance for Mental Wellness to open mentorship opportunities, flexible work schedules, and volunteer initiatives, employees are encouraged to build meaningful connections and make a positive impact. During the company's recent CoreGiving Day, over 50 employees volunteered at local food banks nationwide to support efforts to combat hunger. "We are honored that Fortune named Renaissance among the Best Workplaces in Education & Training and pleased to receive a fourth consecutive Great Place To Work Certification," said Kim Mitchell, Chief People Officer at Renaissance. "These distinctions reflect the collaborative nature of our teams, which enable us to support educators in accelerating learning for all." Employees at Great Place To Work Certified companies are 67% more likely to look forward to coming to work and 53% more likely to experience a sense of purpose at work, according to a Great Place To Work study. Certified companies also experience higher retention rates and greater employee trust. About Renaissance As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. Through our comprehensive suite of connected solutions, we deliver powerful, aligned tools that support teaching and learning at every stage. Renaissance Intelligence, our first-of-its-kind Education Intelligence System, unifies assessment, instruction, practice, and curriculum in one AI-powered workflow, turning real-time data into actionable guidance that helps educators personalize teaching and make informed decisions with confidence. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com. About Great Place To Work(R) Certification(TM) Great Place To Work(R) Certification(TM) is the most definitive "employer-of-choice" recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience - specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place To Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work Certified. About the Fortune Best Workplaces in Education & Training(TM) Great Place To Work selected the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Education & Training(TM) by analyzing more than 1.3 million confidential employee surveys, representing the experience of more than 7.3 million workers in the U.S. in 2025 and 2026. Of those responses, over 17,000 came from employees at Great Place To Work Certified companies in the education and training industry, and this ranking is based on that feedback. SOURCE Renaissance

PR Newswire
Sep 15th, 2026
Renaissance appoints AI and education leaders Rajen Sheth and MaryEllen Elia to board

Renaissance, a global education technology company, has appointed Rajen Sheth and MaryEllen Elia to its board of directors. The appointments strengthen the board's expertise in educational leadership and emerging technologies as Renaissance expands its Renaissance Intelligence platform. Sheth is CEO and founder of Kyron Learning and formerly spent 17 years at Google, most recently as vice president of Google Cloud AI and Industry Solutions. He helped develop products used by millions of organisations and hundreds of millions of students worldwide. Elia previously served for 10 years as superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida, the seventh-largest school district in the United States. She later became commissioner of the New York State Education Department. Renaissance operates in more than 110 countries providing pre-K–12 education technology.

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