Online K-12 Education IPO In The Great Recession: Archipelago Learning Co-founders Cameron Chalmers, Dave Muzzo, And CEO Tim McEwen (Part 6)

SM: After you became CEO, did you have a different content strategy? TM: We introduced reading and math first, and then we followed with science and social studies. We also focused first on elementary schools and then on high schools. Two years ago we started addressing kindergarten, first, and second grade programs.

Online K-12 Education IPO In The Great Recession: Archipelago Learning Co-founders Cameron Chalmers, Dave Muzzo, And CEO Tim McEwen (Part 5)

SM: Let’s go over the terms of your transaction. I think that can be educational for a lot of people. TM: It was basically a $100 million sale, and then Dave and Cam each reinvested in the business.

Online K-12 Education IPO In The Great Recession: Archipelago Learning Co-founders Cameron Chalmers, Dave Muzzo, And CEO Tim McEwen (Part 4)

SM: Dave and Cam, what was going on in terms of your revenue ramp between 2000 and 2007? CC: In 2000 we started off with no revenue. In 2001 we made $250,000 in revenue. In 2002 that jumped to $550,000. In 2003 we broke the million-dollar mark with $1.4 million, and that jumped to $4

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Online K-12 Education IPO In The Great Recession: Archipelago Learning Co-founders Cameron Chalmers, Dave Muzzo, And CEO Tim McEwen (Part 3)

SM: Dave and Cam, when you initially started to sell, did you focus on a particular grade level or subject area? DM: We started with grades 4, 6, 9, and 12. The subjects we focused on were math, reading, science, and social studies. Those grade levels and subject areas were chosen because of Ohio standards

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Online K-12 Education IPO In The Great Recession: Archipelago Learning Co-founders Cameron Chalmers, Dave Muzzo, And CEO Tim McEwen (Part 2)

SM: What happened during the year and a half you were building the product? I assume you were able to put it online. What kind of customers were coming to you? DM: We got a few people to register for a free service, and those users input their study material. We quickly realized over the

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Online K-12 Education IPO In The Great Recession: Archipelago Learning Co-founders Cameron Chalmers, Dave Muzzo, And CEO Tim McEwen (Part 1)

David Muzzo and Cameron Chalmers cofounded Study Island in May 2000 and have been vice president and director, respectively, since January 2007. Both received a BS from Vanderbilt University. Prior to founding Study Island, Cameron served as a software engineering lead developer for Lucent Technologies, and David founded Captive Marketing Concepts, which he sold in

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Taking On Microsoft And Google From India: InstaColl Founders Sumanth Raghavendra, Kaushal Cavale, And Their Mentor Sabeer Bhatia (Part 7)

SM: VCs don’t offer what you are offering Sumanth and Kaushal. Having a bridge like the one you are providing is very helpful. SB: VCs dump companies and run away. I am now buying companies that VCs have dumped.

Taking On Microsoft And Google From India: InstaColl Founders Sumanth Raghavendra, Kaushal Cavale, And Their Mentor Sabeer Bhatia (Part 6)

SM: I really like to go-to-market strategy. Who developed it? SR and KC: The three of us together. SM: It seems that Sabeer’s role today is very active. Is that right? SR and KC: Absolutely. He has told us that the first phone call he makes when he wakes up and his last phone call

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