Freshly-capitalized Sandpiper Ventures invests in Shoelace Learning

• Shoelace was co-founded in 2019 by technology entrepreneur Julia Rivard Dexter, a former Olympian
• The company’s product targets an audience of 1.6 million educators in North America
• Sandpiper earlier this year closed its inaugural fund at more than C$20 million

Sandpiper Ventures, a Canadian women-focused venture capital firm, has invested in Shoelace Learning, a Lakeside, Novia Scotia-based platform for delivering research-based and adaptive learning through popular mobile games. No financial terms were disclosed.

Other investors in the round included the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good and Samsung Next.

Shoelace was co-founded in 2019 by technology entrepreneur Julia Rivard Dexter, a former Olympian who co-founded Google’s first premier partner in North America and is ranked one of Canada’s Top 50 Women in STEM.

The company’s product targets players and an audience of 1.6 million educators in North America.

Rhiannon Davies, a co-founder and managing partner of Sandpiper Ventures, said in a statement, “Shoelace is the epitome of a purpose-driven company that presents a tremendous opportunity with its solution to modern learning needs. This is innovation at its finest, and we are very pleased to come in as lead investor and join forces with our other investors and the Shoelace team as they bring this incredible resource to players and educators.”

Sandpiper earlier this year closed its inaugural fund at more than C$20 million. Shoelace Learning marks its eighth investment, adding to the firm’s SaaS portfolio.