Codon Learning

What Codon Learning does

Codon Learning is a STEM courseware company founded circa 2018 by biology educators to deliver evidence-based teaching and learning tools specifically for undergraduate biology. The company is headquartered in Golden, Colorado, operates as a private company with 11–50 employees, and serves college and university biology faculty and their students, with approximately 1,200 courses delivered at 280–300+ institutions.

The core product is the Codon Platform, a SaaS learning environment that integrates textbook replacement (Readiness Readings), backward-design course planning (Course Planner), in-class polling (TadPoll), and a personalized metacognitive study pathway (Study Path) into a single system aligned to NSF-validated lesson-level learning objectives. Codon offers several authored course modules — Introducing the Life Sciences (Scott Freeman), Biology for Real Life (Peggy Brickman and Cara Gormally), Principles of Genetics, Anatomy & Physiology, Life in the Universe, and Scientific Teaching — alongside a custom course creation tool. The platform integrates with all major LMS providers (Canvas, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace, Moodle) via the LTI standard, is hosted on AWS, and is FERPA-compliant.

Codon monetizes through subscriptions with three payment pathways: institution/department purchase orders on NET 30 terms, bookstore-distributed access codes, and student-direct credit card purchases. Pricing is positioned at roughly one-third the cost of traditional textbook-and-website bundles, with a 21-day free trial and four-year student access. To date, the company has raised approximately $1.675 million in disclosed capital, primarily through NSF SBIR grants ($225,000 Phase I in 2020 and $1,000,000 Phase II in 2022) and a 2023 securities offering in which $450,000 was sold against a $1.3M target.

Name

Codon Learning

Legal name

Codon Learning Inc.

Website

https://codonlearning.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Codon Learning is a Colorado-based STEM courseware company that builds an evidence-based SaaS platform for undergraduate biology, replacing textbooks, homework, and polling with NSF-aligned courses, metacognitive study tools, and LMS integrations used at 280+ institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Courseware

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Core Digital Curriculum & Courseware (Full Programs & Units) (EDAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Subject-Specific Courseware (Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies, etc.) (EDAFACAB), Live Polling, Quizzing & Formative Assessment Engagement Tools (EDAFAGAB), Survey, Formative Assessment & Classroom Response (Quizzes/Polls) Tools (EDAFADAN)

Keywords

• STEM learning platform
• Evidence-based teaching
• Higher education courseware
• Biology education software
• Metacognitive learning tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Golden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Student Subscription: Students purchase access codes or pay directly via credit card. Students receive 4-year access to courses. Retaking students do not need to purchase again.
2. Institution/Department Purchase: Institutions or departments submit purchase orders and receive invoices payable within 30 days (NET 30). Bookstores can also purchase codes to resell to students.
3. Bookstore Distribution: Codon sells codes to local bookstores for students who must purchase course materials from the bookstore. Recommended bookstores purchase codes covering approximately 20% of expected enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Codon Learning provides a SaaS courseware platform purpose-built for college biology education that combines lesson-level learning objectives, backward-design course planning, personalized self-testing (Study Path), in-class polling (TadPoll), and active-reading replacements (Readiness Readings). The platform is sold as a subscription that replaces traditional textbooks, online homework systems, and polling tools, with course content modules authored by leading biology educators and integrated with major LMSs via the LTI standard.

Product overview

Codon Learning offers a unified SaaS courseware platform (The Codon Platform) designed specifically for biology education, built around evidence-based teaching practices including high-structure course design, self-testing, spaced learning, and metacognition. The core platform delivers multiple purpose-built course content modules — Introducing the Life Sciences (for majors), Biology for Real Life (for nonmajors), Principles of Genetics, Anatomy and Physiology, Life in the Universe, and Scientific Teaching — each authored by leading biology educators and aligned to NSF-validated learning objectives. Key platform features include the Study Path (personalized student learning pathway), Readiness Readings (textbook replacements by Scott Freeman), TadPoll (in-class polling), Course Planner (backward design tool), and Custom Course Creation. The platform integrates with all major Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace, Moodle) via the LTI standard.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Codon Platform The primary SaaS courseware platform enabling high-structure course design through lesson-level learning objectives, backward design alignment, the personalized Study Path for student self-testing and metacognition, TadPoll in-class polling, and Readiness Readings. Serves as the unified hub for all course content, assessments, and analytics for biology faculty and students at colleges and universities.
• Introducing the Life Sciences (for majors) Introductory biology course for majors developed by Scott Freeman (University of Washington). Replaces traditional textbooks, online homework, and polling systems with NSF-validated lesson-level learning objectives, Readiness Readings, the personalized Study Path, and in-class active-learning activities. Organized around 216 nationally endorsed learning objectives across 72 instructional sessions.
• Biology for Real Life (for nonmajors) Biology course designed for nonmajors, authored by Peggy Brickman (University of Georgia) and Cara Gormally (Gallaudet University). Guides students to learn biology through current issues and project-based learning, with eight customizable stand-alone units covering topics such as genetic testing, vaccines, ocean ecosystems, and antibiotic resistance.
• Principles of Genetics Genetics course authored by Jennifer Knight and Christy Fillman (University of Colorado Boulder) exploring eukaryotic molecular and classical genetics, biotechnology techniques, and human applications. Includes 600 auto-graded interactive assessment questions and 100+ open-response questions for self-assessment.
• Anatomy and Physiology Anatomy and physiology course designed for pre-health and biology students, authored by Justin Shaffer (Colorado School of Mines). Features over 1,900 auto-graded interactive assessment questions, 600+ field-tested in-class activities, and customizable alignment to the OpenStax A&P textbook.
• Life in the Universe Astrobiology course supporting the textbook Life in the Universe, 5th edition, by Jeffrey Bennett, Seth Shostak, Nicholas Schneider, and Meredith MacGregor (published by Princeton University Press). Covers topics in astronomy, planetary science, and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Quantifiable outcome

• DFW rates decreased by 23% at Eastern Michigan University when using high-structure course design
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Scott Freeman (University of Washington)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2023Scott Freeman, leading biology education researcher and textbook author, partnered with Codon Learning to develop Introducing the Life Sciences course. Freeman's Readiness Readings serve as the content foundation for the platform, aligned to NSF-funded learning objectives.
• Jennifer Knight and Christy Fillman (University of Colorado Boulder)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authors of Principles of Genetics course on the Codon platform. Jennifer Knight also serves as Chief Academic Advisor to Codon Learning.
• Peggy Brickman (University of Georgia) and Cara Gormally (Gallaudet University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authors of Biology for Real Life course for nonmajors, based on NSF consensus study learning objectives.
• Justin Shaffer (Colorado School of Mines)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthor of Anatomy and Physiology course on the platform, designed for pre-health and biology students with real-world examples and interactive assessments.
• Princeton University PressmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher of Life in the Universe textbook by Jeffrey Bennett et al. Codon course available through Princeton Press digital bundle.
• Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, Moodle (LMS)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnerships with all major learning management systems via LTI standard, enabling automatic enrollment, single sign-on, and grade sync.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary cloud infrastructure provider for secure data storage and processing. Canadian user data stored on separate Canadian servers for FIPPA compliance.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationPCI-DSS compliant payment processor handling student and institutional payments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Learning: Major higher-education publisher offering digital courseware, homework, and adaptive learning tools across STEM and humanities. Highly comparable to Codon as the acquirer of CEO Ben Roberts' prior STEM publisher and as a broad incumbent serving overlapping faculty buyers with similar LMS-integrated platforms.
• Pearson Education: Global education publisher with extensive higher-ed courseware, eTextbooks, and Mastering/REVEL-style platforms. Comparable to Codon as the largest incumbent in U.S. higher-ed courseware and former employer of CTO Vance Allen; competes for the same biology and STEM faculty adoption budgets.
• McGraw-Hill Education: Higher-education and K-12 publisher with Connect, ALEKS, and similar digital learning platforms. Comparable to Codon as a major incumbent competing for STEM courseware budgets and as former employer of CTO Vance Allen and acquirer of Codon's competitor Actively Learn.
• Cengage Group: Higher-education and workforce publisher offering digital courseware, eTextbooks, and homework platforms (e.g., MindTap, WebAssign). Comparable to Codon as a broad incumbent with overlapping STEM courseware offerings and as a former employer of Codon's National Sales Manager.
• Wiley Plus / Knewton Alta: Wiley's higher-ed courseware portfolio including adaptive learning platforms (formerly Knewton) and WileyPLUS. Comparable to Codon as a broad STEM courseware incumbent competing for adoption in the same biology, genetics, and A&P courses at U.S. universities.

Direct peers

• Top Hat: Higher-ed active learning and courseware platform used by 75%+ of Canadian and many U.S. universities, with in-class polling, homework, and textbook replacement. Comparable to Codon as a directly competing active learning and courseware platform serving the same faculty buyer; previously an employer of Codon's Senior Sales Specialist.
• Sapling Learning: STEM-focused online homework and assessment platform acquired by Macmillan Learning. Comparable to Codon as a STEM homework and assessment product; competes head-to-head for STEM courseware budgets at the same institutions and was a former employer of Codon's Director of Engineering.

Emerging players

• Actively Learn: Higher-ed active reading and formative assessment platform acquired by McGraw Hill in 2021. Comparable to Codon as a focused, evidence-based reading and engagement tool for college courses; competes for overlapping faculty budgets and was a prior employer of Codon's Director of Content.
• OpenStax: Rice University-based provider of free, peer-reviewed textbooks widely adopted in U.S. higher-ed, including the A&P textbook referenced by Codon. Comparable to Codon as a competing or complementary course-materials option in the same biology and A&P courses; represents the free-textbook threat to Codon's paid courseware.
• Carnegie Mellon OLI: Open Learning Initiative providing research-based, intelligent tutoring and courseware for college STEM courses, with published outcome data. Comparable to Codon as an evidence-based STEM courseware platform with similar learning-science roots and emphasis on measurable learning gains.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CodonLearning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/codon-learning-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 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 Codon Learning