Tulane Ventures Fuels Education Startup Hilight with $1M to Revolutionize Teacher Retention

Tulane Ventures has announced a $1 million investment in Hilight, a New Orleans-based education software startup. This funding round is led by Tulane's venture fund, with a direct investment of $250,000. Hilight, founded by former math teacher Claire Smith, has developed an app aimed at improving teacher evaluation and retention.

The Inspiration Behind Hilight

Claire Smith, witnessing the challenges teachers faced post-pandemic, including safety concerns and burnout, sought to create a solution. "After COVID, the profession felt impossibly difficult," Smith shared. Her vision was to highlight positive moments in education, rather than focusing solely on the problems.

From Idea to Impact

Starting as a tool for peer recognition in St. Bernard Parish, Hilight has grown into a comprehensive platform offering insights to school leaders. The app, now used in 135 schools across a dozen states, claims to save schools up to $25,000 in staff replacement costs.

Expansion Plans

With the new funding, Hilight plans to expand its sales team and aims to reach all 50 states within two years. The startup, previously in "bootstrap mode," is set for significant growth.

A Vote of Confidence

Kimberly Gramm, managing director of Tulane Ventures, praised Hilight's early traction and clear market need. The investment decision was also influenced by Tulane students, who conducted due diligence as part of their venture investing course.

Tulane's Commitment to Innovation

The Tulane Innovation Institute, established three years ago, continues to support entrepreneurship and innovation, with ambitions to raise $100 million for future investments.