Eduporium, a STEM education reseller and start-up in Newton, MA, has received capital from The Boston Foundation. After applying for the funding about 18 months ago, the final steps have provided the company with additional capital. They worked with two advisers for a year-long period as part of the Business Equity Initiative program. Subsequently, they selected Eduporium as one of the only recent recipients of this funding.
“There are certainly a lot of organizations that help move the needle on business equity," said Eduporium CEO, Rick Fredkin. "The team from the BEI really gets their hands dirty and helps businesses on the ground, though."
Fredkin began this process some 18 months ago, approaching the Boston Foundation and applying for the BEI program. Throughout that period, they provided business support for Eduporium, which included regular sessions with advisors, specifically. These meetings allowed the team to create a strategic development plan within all departments of the company.
“What the team at The Boston Foundation actually did to get us set up with a strategic plan, working with us in-depth, and following up with the critical funding needed to execute our collective goals is something we believe we will really be able to benefit from,” said Fredkin.
Through the Business Equity Fund, The Boston Foundation will be providing Eduporium with long-term patient capital so they are able to execute their strategic plans. After completing the application process and advisory period, the entire Eduporium team feels their mission of ‘Empowering the Future with Technology’ has been further validated. That mission also aligns with The Boston Foundation’s commitment to increasing the participation of people of color in STEM fields. This is something the Eduporium team certainly remains committed to by providing all students with equitable learning opportunities.
“The Boston Foundation has really helped us reorganize our business profile in the face of the changing education landscape of the last year,” said Fredkin. “They certainly bought in to our mission of helping all students and teachers access real-world learning technologies and opportunities."
“There’s also the pandemic perspective and how challenging this environment has been for minority-owned businesses both in the Commonwealth and nationwide,” he added. “The funding will also help us advance our goal of providing support and equity for STEM opportunities among all students.”
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About Eduporium
Eduporium is a mission-driven start-up company located just outside of Boston in Newton, Massachusetts. Above all, they work with educators, administrators, librarians, and technology specialists to provide one-stop online shopping with an Educator Discount. Home to hundreds of STEM and makerspace tools, Eduporium helps eliminate barriers and expand equity in 21st century learning opportunities. Additional Eduporium services include customizable EdTech bundles, professional development, training, and a grant program, in particular. All of these programs help inspire a lifelong commitment to STEAM learning for educators and future generations of students. To learn more about Eduporium, explore the rest of our website.