Introduction
Curriculum Companion Suites is a small software development and consulting company that focuses on improving the education process for K-12 schools. CCS software acts as a virtual assistant to the educational process. Through a central computer terminal located in the classroom, students can follow the curriculum online.
The Company
CCS keys to success are the company’s commitment to market awareness and future potential direction of the educational process, and CCS’ relationships with a large number of educational institutions and districts.
Curriculum Companion Software is a startup company with six executives and 76 workers. They have combined 70 years of experience in the software industry. Andrew Christiansen & David Fields own 80%. A minority stake is held by other investors. The company has no plans to go public at the moment as the majority of its financing is internal. CSS is incorporated in the state of Oregon by the two majority shareholders.
Products
CCS offers a variety of educational software, from kindergarten through 12th grades. These educational software are created in collaboration with major curriculum publishing houses with whom CCS has formed strategic partnerships.
CCS provides full installation, initial and ongoing consulting support. These services come as part of every software package.
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 is mainly competing against traditional methods of education training and testing such as pencil and paper testing. In addition, CCS competes with other companies offering educational software products to schools, such as International Business Machines Corporation, Apple Computer, Inc., and Mattel, Inc.
Schools and educational institutions have not been actively involved in seeking out technological enhancements for the educational process. CCS, for example, has a more push-oriented marketing strategy. The educational community has had to be “educated” themselves on the opportunities of utilizing technical infrastructures to enhance learning processes.
Since only a handful of other companies are competing directly with CCS in this market, the company plans to develop a healthy level of market share, with a goal of 10% at the end of three years.
CCS targets the urban/metropolitan education market as it offers the greatest opportunity for revenue. Software customizations and software installation in this market are easier to do technical logistics and more efficient. Profitability is thus much more probable in this market.
Numerous educational institutions and school districts throughout the U.S. have established relationships. CCS has invested significant resources to study and understand the specific needs of current education.
Considerations for Financial Planning
CCS plans to raise substantial amounts of owner capital and borrow comparable amounts in a guaranteed SBA 10-year loan. This will provide the majority of the current financing.
CCS expects to generate large sales in the first year. The plan will continue to grow steadily in the second and third years.
1.1 Mission
Curriculum Companion Suites is a company that offers software curriculum suites to schools in K-12 across the U.S. CCS will offer solutions to schools that enhance their educational capabilities.
1.2 Keys to Success
These are the keys to success for CCS:
- The company’s commitment to being keenly alert to the current educational environment and future potential direction of the educational process.
- CCS has relationships with many educational institutions and districts.