What Linc Technologies does

Linc Technologies Limited, trading as Hero, operates a cloud-based school management platform built specifically for primary schools. Founded in 2019 in Christchurch, New Zealand by Paul and Aimie Sibson — a former Primary School Principal and Teacher respectively — the company consolidates four-to-five traditionally separate school systems (School Management System, Digital Portfolio, Communications, Online Payments, and Attendance) into a single SaaS platform accessed via web and native iOS and Android apps. Role-specific modules address Principals (analytics and Board reporting), Teachers (learning portfolios and planning), Families (updates, notices, permissions, payments), Students (goal-setting and agency tools), and Administrators (workflow automation), with integrations into Xero, Accessit, Kindo, Hail, and other adjacent school-side tools.

The business operates on an annual subscription model with quote-based pricing customised to each school's size and requirements; pricing is not publicly disclosed. GTM is sales-led, with direct outreach through the company's website, testimonial- and case-study-led credibility building, and content marketing via a blog ('The Hero Feed') and a podcast. The company claims 1,000+ primary schools as customers and reports operations across New Zealand and Australia, with named customers including Boggabri Public School, South New Brighton School, Queanbeyan West Public School, Netherton School, Korerū School, and Gunnedah Public School. The platform holds the 2024 Safer Technologies for Schools (ST4S) safety certification.

Linc Technologies is privately held with no recorded institutional venture funding; the only capital event disclosed is a small non-dilutive Callaghan Innovation grant in August 2023. The company has 11-50 employees and no subsidiaries, acquisitions, or parent-company relationships in the data. There is no disclosed AI or machine learning capability — product differentiation rests on workflow consolidation, educator-led design, and integration breadth rather than algorithmic intelligence.

Name

Linc Technologies

Legal name

LINC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

Website

https://linc-ed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Linc Technologies (Hero) is a New Zealand-based SaaS company providing a unified cloud school management platform for primary schools across New Zealand and Australia, consolidating learning portfolios, reporting, communications, and payments into a single system with native mobile apps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 School Management Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

School IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity for K–12 (Network, Identity, SSO) (EDAJAMAM)

Keywords

• School management software
• Primary education platform
• Learning portfolio system
• Family communication software
• Student reporting analytics

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

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. School Subscription Model: Hero operates on a subscription basis, charging schools for access to the platform. Pricing is customised based on school size and requirements. The platform is marketed as a replacement for multiple systems (School Management System, Digital Portfolio App, Communications App, Online Payments App), suggesting a consolidated pricing model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Linc Technologies sells Hero, a cloud-based, learner-centred school management platform for primary schools that consolidates learning portfolios, real-time analytics and reporting, family communications, online payments, attendance, and administrative workflows into one unified system accessible via web and mobile apps. The platform is marketed as a replacement for separate School Management Systems, Digital Portfolio Apps, School Communications Apps, and Online Payments Apps, and is offered to schools as a customised annual subscription.

Product overview

Linc Technologies offers Hero, a unified complete school management system designed for primary schools. The product portfolio consists of a core platform (Hero) with integrated role-specific modules including Hero for Principals (analytics and reporting), Hero for Teachers (portfolio and planning tools), Hero for Families (engagement and communications), Hero for Students (agency tools), and Hero for Administrators (administration toolkit). A companion mobile app (Hero App) extends access across iOS and Android devices. The platform integrates with third-party tools including Xero (accounting), Accessit (library), Kindo (online payments), and Hail (communications) to provide comprehensive functionality including learning portfolios, real-time reporting, school administration, and family engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hero Complete cloud-based school management system for primary schools that brings together learning portfolios, real-time reporting and analytics, family communications, online payments, attendance, permissions, and a comprehensive school administration toolkit into one intuitive platform, intended for primary schools and their principals, teachers, families and students.
• Hero App Mobile application available on iOS and Android that enables users (families, teachers, students) to access learning portfolios, receive learning updates, view reports, manage school notices, trip permissions, bookings, absences and online payments, and engage with the school community on the go.

Quantifiable outcome

• Replaces 4+ separate systems with one unified platform

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Seesaw: Seesaw is a learning portfolio and family communication platform built specifically for primary/elementary classrooms. It competes head-to-head with Hero on student portfolios, parent engagement and teacher workflows in primary schools globally.
• Storypark: Storypark delivers learning stories and portfolios for early childhood and primary settings, with strong family engagement tooling. It is a near-direct rival to Hero's learning portfolio and parent communication modules, particularly across Australia and New Zealand.
• Educa: Educa is a parent-teacher communication and learning documentation platform focused on early childhood and primary education. It overlaps directly with Hero's family engagement and portfolio functionality for primary-aged learners.
• ClassDojo: ClassDojo provides classroom management, portfolios and family communication tools for primary schools worldwide. It competes with Hero on the teacher-classroom workflow and parent communication layers used by primary educators.
• Compass School Manager: Compass is a leading Australian school management system covering attendance, reporting, communication and payments for K-12 schools. It is a direct competitor to Hero's school administration and parent communication modules across the ANZ market.
• SEQTA: SEQTA is an established K-12 learning management and school management platform widely used across Australian schools. It competes with Hero on reporting, analytics and learning management for primary schools in the same ANZ footprint.
• Skool Loop: Skool Loop is a school-to-home communication app widely adopted in Australian and New Zealand schools. It overlaps with Hero's family communications and notices modules, and is frequently displaced by consolidated platforms like Hero.

Emerging players

• Toddle: Toddle is a newer teaching, learning and portfolio platform with growing primary/IB school adoption. It overlaps with Hero's portfolio, reporting and parent engagement features and represents an emerging competitive threat in the broader K-8 segment.

Broad incumbents

• ManageBac: ManageBac (by Faria Education Group) is a broader curriculum, assessment and reporting platform widely used by IB and K-12 schools globally. It is an incumbent alternative to Hero for schools seeking integrated reporting and learner profile functionality.
• Canvas LMS: Canvas by Instructure is a leading global LMS used across K-12 and higher education. While broader than Hero, it increasingly bundles communication, analytics and parent-facing features that compete with Hero's portfolio and reporting stack in primary schools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LincEdhero
• Facebookfacebook.com/herosoftwareforschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herosoftwareforschools

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Linc Technologies