Presence is a growth-stage technology company founded in 2009 that provides teletherapy services and software for K-12 schools, specializing in speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral and mental health support for students with special needs.[1][3][4] It serves over 10,000 schools nationwide through a network of 2,000+ clinicians and has delivered 7M+ sessions using a clinician-designed digital platform that includes tools for scheduling, documentation, customizable activities, and assessments.[3][4] The company addresses critical shortages in school-based therapy by enabling remote delivery, helping districts manage caseloads, backlogs, and staffing gaps while empowering clinicians with flexible, remote work opportunities.[1][4] Backed by investors like Spectrum Equity, TPG’s The Rise Fund, Bain Capital’s Double Impact Fund, and Catalyst Investors, Presence operates as a remote-first organization with ~250-165 U.S.-based employees headquartered in New York City.[1][5]
Presence was founded in 2009 with the core belief that remote work could empower clinicians to build careers on their own terms, starting as a provider of online speech and occupational therapy for PreK-12 students.[1][3] The idea emerged from recognizing gaps in special education services, leading to the development of teletherapy tools and software to connect schools with licensed providers nationwide.[3][4] Early traction came from scaling to serve districts across the U.S., evolving beyond core teletherapy to include mental health counseling, behavioral services, digital therapy tools, and intervention solutions.[3] Pivotal moments include growth to 250+ employees and 2,000+ clinicians, securing major investments, and launching products like the Virtual Field Experience during the pandemic, which generated over $1M in revenue under leadership like Jessica (a key executive).[1][3] Today, led by CEO Kate Eberle Walker, it remains mission-driven to close service gaps for children with diverse needs.[4]
Presence stands out in the edtech and telehealth space through clinician-centric innovation and scalability:
(Note: A separate, unrelated "Presence Technology" from 2001 focused on contact center software and was acquired by Enghouse in 2016; this profile centers on the active edtech firm.[2])
Presence rides the convergence of edtech, telehealth, and AI-driven personalization in K-12 education, accelerated by pandemic-era remote learning and ongoing clinician shortages in special education.[1][3][4] Timing is ideal amid rising student mental health needs (post-COVID) and U.S. school staffing crises, where districts struggle with 20-30% vacancies for therapists—Presence's model deploys nationwide talent pools instantly.[4] Market forces like federal ESSER funds for tele-services, state telehealth expansions, and edtech investments (~$10B in 2024) favor scalable platforms over in-person hiring.[3] It influences the ecosystem by normalizing teletherapy in schools, boosting clinician flexibility (remote work boom), and providing data-rich tools that could integrate AI for personalized interventions, setting standards for human-centered edtech.[3][5]
Presence is poised for accelerated growth by deepening AI enhancements in its platform (e.g., predictive scheduling, adaptive therapy content) and expanding into adjacent K-12 wellness markets amid surging demand for mental health support.[3][4] Trends like AI-edtech integration, hybrid learning persistence, and clinician burnout will propel it, potentially doubling its clinician network and school partnerships in 2-3 years. Its influence may evolve from service provider to ecosystem enabler, partnering with LMS giants or influencing policy on tele-ed standards—cementing its role as the go-to for equitable special education access, much like its founding vision to empower clinicians and students nationwide.[1][3]
Presence has raised $60.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Presence's investors include Bonsal Capital, New Markets Venture Partners, Obvious Ventures, Owl Ventures.
Presence has raised $60.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $27.0M Series D in May 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2020 | $27.0M Series D | Bonsal Capital, New Markets Venture Partners | |
| Nov 1, 2015 | $25.0M Series C | Bonsal Capital, New Markets Venture Partners, Obvious Ventures, Owl Ventures | |
| Apr 1, 2013 | $8.0M Series B | Bonsal Capital, New Markets Venture Partners, Obvious Ventures, Owl Ventures |
