Meet the First Metaverse Integrated in a Public School System

Based in Dallas, TX, STEMuli is a modern learning platform empowering teachers in K-12 education with creator tools to bring education into the metaverse. In 2021, STEMuli was named the STOP Award’s most transformative app for students by Forbes and The Center for Education Reform.

Powerful early enterprise success

Founder Taylor Shead began working with the Dallas Independent School District back in 2016 to develop a platform that connected high school students to corporate virtual mentors and internships to better prepared them for life after high school. This program called PTECH connected high schools with industry partners from companies like American Airlines, Southwest, and IBM with students on the platform who went on to earn $1.7 million from summer internships.

After meticulously studying virtual worlds like Roblox and Minecraft, Taylor and Dallas ISD wanted to build a more encompassing digital space that enabled students, educators, textbook publishers, and corporate partners to unify within a metaverse. They did just that, and Stemuli became the first educational metaverse integrated in public schools. Following years of iteration and product development, STEMuli is now executing on a multi-million dollar annual contract with Dallas ISD. The U.S. learning market today is valued at $1.9 trillion, with nearly 51 million K-12 students in the U.S. alone.

Students at Dallas Hybrid Prep, the first hybrid school in Texas where the Metaverse was co-designed, are outpacing the rest of the district in test scores. “This investment will increase performance results worldwide, and make quality education a human right for all. We would not be here today without the guidance of Jack Kelanic, Dr. Usamah Rodgers, Angie Gaylord, and Dr. Olga Romero. Thank you for supporting our innovative efforts,” said Shead.

Valor, Slauson, & Draper

Valor co-led STEMuli’s $3.25M seed round with a $1.25M check. Other investors in the round include Bay Area based Draper Associates and L.A-based co-lead, Slauson & Co,  Renee Montgomery is appointed to Stemuli’s newly formed board for Valor. Montgomery says, “If you know me, you know ‘Moments equal Momentum!’ Each moment in the STEMuli metaverse brings momentum to personalized academic achievement of every student, regardless of background or socioeconomic status, whether students are college-bound or career track–STEMuli brings the momentum!”

CEO Taylor Shead – Image credits: Kathy Tran, Daniel Rockey, and Vicky Boudta

“STEMuli is reimagining teaching and learning at scale by integrating classrooms with the Metaverse. We at Draper Associates are thrilled to be part of their journey to disrupt traditional learning. It’s incredibly exciting!” said Tim Draper of Draper Associates.

Taylor is one of only 95 black women to raise more than $1 million, in a field where black women historically receive less than 0.30% of total venture capital investments.  Taylor wants little girls across the world to see her and say, “I can do that too; I can build technology the world needs and loves.”

Shead says, “We’re creating a world that is removing all the barriers to opportunity for people.”

Want to support this startup? Make an introduction to a large public school system you care about.