BEGiN

BEGiN is the early education media company behind HOMER Learn & Grow, HOMER Learn & Play, and HOMER Explore Kits. HOMER products focus on playful learning through Learn & Grow, which offers digital reading activities for children aged 2 to 8, and Learn & Play, which provides games, stories, and songs that introduce foundational skills to children up to the age of 3. HOMER was founded by Neal Shenoy, Stephanie Dua, and Noelle Millholt in 2008 and was acquired by BEGiN in 2017. 

In May 2021, BEGiN acquired codeSpark, a learn-to-code program (codeSpark Academy) with a community of young creators. The acquisition is aligned with BEGiN’s mission to create a comprehensive early learning program and allows it to serve children up to the age of 10 through its HOMER products. The foundational skills taught in HOMER programs covering literacy, math, social and emotional awareness, and critical thinking form a stepping stone to codeSpark’s STEM-based curriculum that promotes critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative learning. In August 2021, the firm acquired KidPass, an online marketplace for children's books and activities, allowing HOMER to expand its program to include online classes, in-person classes, and tutoring. In December 2021, BEGiN acquired Little Passports, an activity kit subscription service, for an undisclosed amount. BEGiN plans to leverage Little Passport's recent launch in over 1,000 Target stores to expand its own consumer distribution footprint in the US. 

Funding and financials

In September and October 2020, BEGiN raised USD 55 million in a Series C financing round. The company used the funding to expand its HOMER Learn & Grow curriculum to include math, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning, which it launched in early October 2020. The funding was also used to send home activity kits tailored to children’s interests. One of its investors will also be the company’s principal strategic partner for the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, helping to drive business expansion in the area.