2. On PenPal news students read, share and discuss relevant news and
educational content. The PenPal News platform is explicitly designed to
foster one-on-one interaction and learning.
3. Students read and write about news and educational content based on where
they live and where their penpal lives. They are guided through interactive
activities to do with each other.
4. Reading, writing, and thinking critically with a peer fosters an emotional
connection with content and creates student buy-in. PenPal News prompts and
activities are tied to the Common Core Standards.
5. 1. Teachers sign up for a fixed length session.
Students are matched with students from another
class domestically or internationally.
2. Each week, students read and discuss content
related to where they live, or where their penpal lives.
3. The exchange culminates with a group or
individual journalistic product that is shared with the
community.
6. PenPal News provides
• a prescribed interaction model
• automated systems and structures to support a well-run exchange
• curated, aggregated and relevant content targeted towards 7-12
graders
• a cool, simple, easy-to-use platform
7. Early success
• We’ve piloted a private beta with 2000+ students, 50
teachers in 15 countries
• Teachers love us: 76% referral rate, 60% would be very
disappointed to not use PenPal News again, some paying
customers already
8. Distribution Models:
• Integration with School.Me, Scholastic,
Pearson, Foreign Language Learning
platforms
• Stand-alone web app
• App for Edmodo other content distribution
systems
Revenue Models:
• Licensing ($100k+)
• Selling teacher and school session
subscriptions $40 (one class), $1500 (one
school, unlimited sessions for a year)
9. Our Team
• Michael Bernstein, Founder, CEO
• Anne Schanz, Product Manager/UX
• Jennifer Dopazo, Graphic Design
is seeking seed-stage investment.
• to support agile product development
• customer development
• marketing
