What Tandem does

Tandem is a US-based, privately held childcare staffing marketplace founded in 2019 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company operates a cloud-based, two-sided platform connecting licensed childcare centers with vetted substitute teachers, supported by iOS and Android mobile applications for the worker side. Its core technology combines a self-serve web portal (portal.join-tandem.com) with a compliance verification engine that runs background checks, credential validation (CDA, CPR, state-specific licensing), and digital compliance folder management across the jurisdictions it serves. The platform additionally surfaces compliance documentation to centers ahead of shifts for licensing inspections.

Tandem monetizes primarily through a 35% transaction fee layered on top of the hourly rate set by each childcare center, billed only for completed shifts with no subscriptions, contracts, or minimum commitments. It has expanded the product surface with Tandem Recruit, a permanent-hiring add-on that converts substitutes after a 120-hour trial at zero placement fee, and TandemPay, a daily-pay mobile banking product for workers. Enterprise/multi-site customers receive dedicated account management in addition to self-serve onboarding.

The company serves two primary segments: childcare centers (SMBs, multi-site operators, and franchises such as YMCA, Learning Care Group, Goddard School, and Primrose Schools) and individual childcare workers seeking flexible substitute shifts. Tandem distributes through direct self-serve sign-up, mobile apps, and a regional channel partnership model anchored by Early Learning Coalition relationships in Florida (Escambia, Orange, Flagler & Volusia, IRMO, Manatee). The company reports 1,500+ partner centers, 5,400+ qualified substitutes, 180,000+ cumulative matches, and operations across five states (Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania).

Name

Tandem

Legal name

Join Tandem Inc

Website

https://join-tandem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tandem is a US-based two-sided marketplace, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, that connects licensed childcare centers with vetted, state-compliant substitute teachers across five states, monetizing via a 35% transaction fee on completed shifts and offering add-on hiring (Tandem Recruit) and daily-pay (TandemPay) products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare Staffing Marketplace

NAICS

Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Childcare & Eldercare Caregiving Platforms (BPAMAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Part-Time Nanny Placement Agencies (HSAAALAC)

Keywords

• Childcare staffing platform
• Substitute teacher marketplace
• Workforce management software
• Compliance credentialing services
• Daily pay solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Substitute Staffing Service Fee: Tandem charges a 35% service fee on top of the substitute's hourly rate set by the childcare center. Centers are only billed for completed shifts. No upfront costs, no subscriptions, no contracts.
2. Permanent Placement (After 120 Hours): After a substitute works 120 hours at a center through Tandem, the center can hire them to permanent payroll with zero buy-out or placement fees. This serves as a trial period before commitment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tandem operates a cloud-based staffing marketplace that connects licensed childcare centers with vetted, state-compliant substitute educators. The platform enables centers to post shifts, get matched with qualified substitutes, manage compliance documentation, and access daily-pay and permanent-hiring tools through web and mobile applications.

Product overview

Tandem operates as a unified staffing platform with two primary user-facing products: the core Tandem staffing platform for connecting child care centers with vetted substitutes, and Tandem Recruit as an add-on hiring module for permanent placements. The platform also includes TandemPay as a financial feature enabling daily payments to workers. The core platform and hiring module serve child care centers, while TandemPay targets the substitute workforce. Centers can book substitutes for same-day shifts, hire favorites permanently through Tandem Recruit after a 120-hour trial period, and access compliance documentation through the portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TandemPay: Mobile banking app providing immediate access to earnings and daily pay for child care workers.
• Tandem Recruit

Products and services

• Tandem Core Platform Cloud-based staffing platform connecting licensed child care centers with vetted, state-compliant substitute educators. Enables centers to post shifts, get matched with qualified substitutes, and manage compliance documentation digitally.
• Tandem Recruit Hiring tool built for child care centers to find and hire permanent staff. Allows centers to evaluate substitutes over 120 working hours before converting them to permanent payroll with no placement fees.
• TandemPay Mobile banking app providing daily pay access for child care workers. Allows substitutes to access earnings immediately after completing shifts via a Tandem debit card.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% shift fill rate for some centers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ELC EscambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly Learning Coalition partnership providing vetted, state-compliant substitutes to Manatee County childcare programs. ELC covers Tandem's administrative fee, with providers only paying the substitute's hourly rate.
• ELC OrangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce partnership for Central Florida providers. ELC Orange and Tandem launched joint initiative to expand substitute pool access for childcare providers in the region.
• ELC Flagler & VolusiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch substitute pool for Flagler & Volusia County providers, expanding reliable staffing access in Northwest Florida.
• ELC IRMOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Early Learning Coalition of Indian River County, Martin County, and Okeechobee for childcare workforce support.
• ELC ManateecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing affordable access to substitute pool for Manatee County providers. ELC covers administrative costs, with providers paying only hourly rates.
• ECS4KidssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner supporting early childhood workforce initiatives in the ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swing Education: Swing Education operates a substitute teacher staffing marketplace primarily serving K-12 schools. It is the closest analog to Tandem in business model (two-sided marketplace, take-rate monetization, credential verification), differing mainly in serving K-12 vs. licensed childcare centers.
• Scoot Education: Scoot Education is a substitute and permanent teacher staffing platform for K-12 schools. It uses a similar marketplace model with vetted substitutes and credential management, making it directly comparable in product architecture and GTM motion.

Broad incumbents

• Brightwheel: Brightwheel is a leading childcare management software platform serving centers and parents with attendance, billing, and communication tools. It is a broader incumbent in the same vertical with potential to add staffing modules that would compete directly with Tandem.
• Procare Solutions: Procare Solutions is a long-established childcare management software provider offering center administration, billing, and family engagement tools. As a broad incumbent in the same vertical, it could extend into staffing workflows and become a competitor.
• Care.com: Care.com is a large, generalist caregiving marketplace connecting families with nannies, sitters, and senior caregivers. While its model skews toward in-home care rather than center-based substitute staffing, it represents an adjacent platform that could expand into Tandem's vertical.
• Frontline Education: Frontline Education provides K-12 workforce management software including substitute placement. While focused on K-12, its incumbent position in school staffing technology and adjacent compliance workflows makes it a relevant comparable and potential competitor.
• Kelly Education: Kelly Education, a division of Kelly Services, is a large-scale substitute teacher and education staffing provider for K-12 schools. Its incumbent scale and staffing expertise make it a structural comparable even though its focus is K-12 rather than licensed childcare.
• ESS: ESS is a large substitute teacher staffing and workforce solutions provider serving K-12 districts. Its scale, compliance infrastructure, and education-focused staffing model make it a comparable incumbent that could expand into licensed childcare.

Emerging players

• Famly: Famly is a childcare management software platform popular among European and US childcare centers. As an emerging player in the same vertical with strong center-side relationships, it could potentially integrate staffing workflows that compete with Tandem.
• ECEjobs: ECEjobs is an early childhood education job board and recruitment platform connecting educators with centers. While less mature as a marketplace, it targets the same substitute and permanent hiring use case and represents an emerging player in Tandem's vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Join__Tandem
• Facebookfacebook.com/jointandem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tandem