Brett (CEO) and David Kopf (VP of Growth) – Co-Founders – Remind
Photo Source: School Communicators Network
Venture: Remind (formerly Remind101)- Founded in 2011 – has raised $59 million and counts 25 million users (LaPorte, 2015)
Primary Products/Services: Remind is a private mobile messaging platform that enables teachers to send reminders to students and parents through text or email. It works across a range of devices and teachers can initiate messages from the Remind website, iPhone or Android app. Messages can include attachments and media such as photos or videos and activities such a surveys.
Original Value Proposition: Unlike many platforms that are designed to connect parents and teachers, students and parents using Remind do not have to visit the website to register/participate. They sign up from their phone by sending a text message or email. This accommodates a wide range of possible users, including those without internet access/data. Additionally, the service is free to use, and because it is a private platform, student and parent cell phone data is not compromised.
When starting up their venture, the founders believed passionately that increased communication between teachers, students and parents would lead directly to better learning outcomes. They felt that there was gap in the market for effective tools to support this type of communication. In the words of Brett Kopf, “We live in an age where you can have an Uber cab show up in two minutes, …..But if your kid is failing school, you probably don’t know for three months” (LaPorte, 2015).
Bio(s)
Brett and David (28 years old and 30 years old) grew up in Skokie, Illinois. Brett was diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia in 5th grade. He experienced chronic issues with organization throughout his youth and his graduation from high school was facilitated greatly by exceptional support from one teacher in particular, along with his parents.
In college, as Brett continued to struggle with managing his study-related tasks, he shared with his brother David the idea that a reliable system of assignment reminders would help him with his work. David evolved this idea into a simple SMS notification program that would send text messages before an exam or an assignment was due.
While Brett and David grew their early version of the messaging system to a few thousand users, they felt that it wasn’t going places and decided to shut this version down. However, following graduation, Brett realized that a similar system might have great potential in the elementary and high school sector. In pursuit of this idea, Brett and David joined start-up incubator called ImagineK12 – out of which Remind grew.
In the early days of Remind, David would focus on coding, while Brett spent hours in person and online, learning from teachers about how they were communicating with students and parents and the tools/strategies that they were using to do so. This two-pronged approach of ongoing development and user consultation helped the Kopf brothers to refine their offering to effectively match their product to the genuine needs of teachers, students and parents.
As Remind has grown, it has attracted a great deal of attention and an interesting range of advisers. Teachers and educational administrators are encouraged to become “Remind Connected Educators or RCEs ”. These RCEs are in turn invited to participate in the Remind Advisory Board. Meanwhile, Remind has drawn the attention of prominent venture capitalists, such as Chamath Palihapitiya and John Doerr , who both sit on Remind’s Board of Directors.
The motivation of Remind’s founders seems to emerge partially from impactful personal experiences, along with genuine concern for the greater good, and has resonated with both users and investors alike. In many ways, the Kopf brothers, as a pair, brought to the table the best qualities of other successful, solo entrepreneurs. Brett had a deep personal desire to create change, which, when matched with his brother’s technical skills resulted in value for many.
References:
Forbes. (2012) 30 Under 30 –Education. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2012/30-under-30/30-under-30_education.html
Kim, Eugene. (2014). This 27-Year-Old CEO Struggled Through School — Now He’s Raised $59 Million To Change Education. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/remind-founder-brett-kopf-profile-2014-12
LaPorte, Nicole. (2015) Most Creative People 2015 – 98, 99 Brett Kopf and David Kopf – For Keeping Parents in the Know. Fast Company. Retrieved from http://www.fastcompany.com/3043981/most-creative-people-2015/brett-kopf-and-david-kopf
Reinstadler, Kym. (2015) Teachers don’t need a “Remind-er” about their favorite messaging app. School Communications Network. Retrieved from http://scnforyou.com/educators-need-remind-er-favorite-messaging-app/
Remind Website. (2015) Retrieved from https://www.remind.com/