Introduction
Curriculum Companion Suites (CSS), a medium-sized consulting and software development company, is focused on making education more efficient for K-12 schools. CCS software acts as a virtual assistant to the educational process. Students can follow along with curriculum electronically through a central computer terminal at the front of the classroom.
The Company
CCS’ key success factors are its commitment to market awareness as well future potential direction of education process. CCS also has relationships with a wide range of educational institutions.
Curriculum Companion suites is a start up company that consists of six executives with 76 employees. All functional areas of the company’s executives are represented, and each has 70 years combined experience in software development. Andrew Christiansen and David Fields hold 80% of the company. Other investors have a minority share. The company doesn’t plan to go public at this time, as most of the funding is raised internally. CSS was created in Oregon by two of its majority shareholders.
Products
CCS offers educational software to support every grade level, starting in kindergarten and ending in 12th grade. These suites are developed in collaboration with major curriculum publishers with whom CCS has established strategic partnerships.
CCS provides support for all aspects of software installation and maintenance. These services are provided as part of each software package purchase.
The Market
There are only a few competitors in the learning information system vendors segment. These companies provide software products, installation and systems integration services for schools from kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) in the United States. CCS competes mostly against more traditional methods for education, training, testing and such as pencil testing. CCS also competes against other educational software companies, including Mattel, Inc., Apple Computer, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, and Mattel, Inc.
Educational institutions and school districts are not active in finding technical improvements to the education process. Rather, companies such as CCS have often utilized a more “push” type of marketing strategy. It has been necessary for the educational community to be “educated” about the potential of technical infrastructures being used to enhance learning.
CCS is the only market in which CCS has direct competition. CCS intends to gain market share and aims to achieve 10% market share within three years.
The target market for CCS is the urban/metropolitan educational market, as this market presents the highest level of opportunity in terms of revenues. Additionally, software installations and customizations in this market are much more feasible in terms of technical logistics and efficiencies. This market is more likely to be profitable.
A large number of schools districts and educational institutions across the U.S. have formed relationships with CCS. CCS has made substantial investments in research and understanding the specific needs and potential improvements to the current educational process.
Financial Considerations
CCS hopes to raise significant owner capital and borrow the same amount in a SBA 10-year guarantee loan. This provides the bulk of the current financing required.
CCS intends for CCS to produce large sales in its first years, with steady growth in the second year and third.
1.1 Mission
Curriculum Companion Suites aims to offer software curriculum suites to K-12 schools within the U.S. market. CCS will concentrate on providing solutions that improve schools’ educational capabilities.
1.2 Keys for Success
Here are some key CCS keys for success:
- The company’s commitment to being keenly alert to the current educational environment and future potential direction of the educational process.
- CCS has strong relationships with many educational institutions.