Education Brands, formerly part of Community Brands, is now VenturEd Solutions; Nick Laird Appointed New CEO

VenturEd Solutions launches new entity, name, and brand identity focused exclusively on K-12 schools, helmed by new CEO

St. Petersburg, FL, October 10, 2024 – VenturEd Solutions, formerly part of Community Brands, a leading provider of cloud-based software, services, and payment solutions for schools, today announced its rebrand to VenturEd Solutions, a new education-focused entity led by CEO Nick Laird. The new name and brand identity reflect the company’s continued evolution and refined strategy, focused exclusively on serving the K-12 education market. VenturEd Solutions is backed by global software investors Insight Partners and Genstar Capital.   

Serving more than one million students globally, VenturEd’s suite of well-loved EdTech brands such as Ravenna, School and Student Services (SSS), TADS, Diamond Mind, and GroupCall supports a community of more than 24,000 schools, processing over 300,000 applications and awarding over $350 million in financial aid annually. 

“Nick Laird and the seasoned team at VenturEd Solutions are poised to support an exciting era of growth in the education sector,” said Byron Lichtenstein, Managing Director at Insight Partners.  “Nick’s deep expertise and success leading SaaS companies through periods of growth, including the UK VenturEd division, make him the ideal leader for VenturEd Solutions. We look forward to supporting him as he drives forward the company’s renewed vision and strategy for the K-12 market.” 

Marc Chardon, Strategic Advisor at Genstar and Board member also states, “The VenturEd portfolio includes market-leading products in both the US and UK markets. We are strategically reinvesting in product development and customer experience to further enhance value for our customers and drive revenue growth.”  

“It is a privilege to lead the VenturEd Solutions team during such an exciting time in the company’s growth,” said Laird. “VenturEd Solutions has a rich history of supporting school missions by expanding access to education, strengthening relationships with families, and enriching communities.  I look forward to further extending the company’s contributions to this vital sector and building on its track record of success in support of students, families, staff, and schools across the globe.” 

This new, refined focus allows VenturEd Solutions to harness the opportunity to accelerate both organic and inorganic growth, supporting the expansion of its solutions into K-12 markets across the globe.   

For over a decade, VenturEd Solutions’ products have served as a transformative partner for K-12 schools, enriching families, students, administrators, and their communities with innovative technologies synonymous with successful growth and EdTech sector leadership.