Skool Loop
Skool Loop is a New Zealand-based provider of a mobile school communication platform serving K-12 schools in New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji. The cloud-based app delivers push notifications, permission slips, calendars, absentee messaging, and interview booking to parents, monetized through monthly school subscriptions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersKaikoura, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Skool Loop does
Skool Loop is a New Zealand-based, founder-led provider of school-to-parent communication software, operating as Advert Media Limited (NZBN 9429032985733). The company delivers a cloud-based mobile platform — available on iOS and Android — that allows K-12 schools to send push notifications, newsletters, permission slips, absentee alerts, parent-teacher interview bookings, and school calendars to parents. The platform is built around a hub architecture integrating the core Skool Loop App, SkoolBooks (an online classroom journal), a Front Desk visitor check-in/check-out module, and a School Website Development service. All data is stored on New Zealand servers with regional compliance, and the platform holds Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S) accreditation.
The company monetizes primarily through monthly school subscriptions for the app, with the parent-facing app free to download. Additional revenue streams include project-based fees for custom school website development (500+ sites delivered) and optional invitation-based local business advertising within school apps. Skool Loop serves 1,500+ schools across New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji, with a "small monthly fee" pricing model and SkoolBooks positioned at approximately half the cost of overseas competitors Seesaw and ClassDojo. Distribution combines self-serve app store downloads for parents, direct sales to schools via website inquiry forms, and a dedicated onboarding/support team based in New Zealand.
The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding or acquisitions. Founder and CEO Sharlene Barnes, a Kaikōura mother, developed the app originally for parent-school communication during COVID-19 lockdowns, and the platform scaled rapidly during the pandemic by providing contact tracing and emergency notification capabilities. The product has since expanded into a hub offering for school digital presence, supported by integrations with Google Calendar, Microsoft Azure SSO, SMS, and payment portals.
Skool Loop firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skool Loop
- Legal name
- Advert Media Limited
- Website
- https://skoolloop.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Skool Loop is a New Zealand-based provider of a mobile school communication platform serving K-12 schools in New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji. The cloud-based app delivers push notifications, permission slips, calendars, absentee messaging, and interview booking to parents, monetized through monthly school subscriptions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skool Loop industry classification
Industry- Product category
- School Communication Software
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Communication & Family Engagement Platforms (Messaging, Portals, Translation) (EDAJAMAI)
Keywords
Where Skool Loop is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kaikoura
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Skool Loop business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- School App Subscription: Schools pay a small monthly subscription fee for access to the Skool Loop App. The app is free for parents to download.
- Advertising: Local businesses may advertise within the school app to support their local school community. Advertising is optional, by invitation only, and placement can be regular or exclusive for a fixed fee.
- School Website Development: Skool Loop provides fully funded or paid school websites with training and logins for school staff. Websites are custom designed and connect seamlessly with the Hub.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | School App - Monthly Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | SkoolBooks - Annual Subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Skool Loop product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skool Loop provides a cloud-based school communication platform centered on a mobile app (iOS/Android) that connects K-12 schools with parents through push notifications, digital permission slips, absentee messaging, parent-teacher interview booking, school calendars, newsletters, and multi-language translation. Schools pay a small monthly subscription, while parents download the app free. The platform is complemented by SkoolBooks (online classroom journal) and a custom school website development service, all integrated through the Skool Loop Hub.
Product overview
Skool Loop offers a hub-based product architecture combining a core mobile communication app (Skool Loop App), an online classroom journal (SkoolBooks), and school website development services. The Skool Loop App is the primary product for parent-teacher communication, providing newsletters, push notifications, permission slips, absentee messaging, parent-teacher interview booking, school calendar, and notices. SkoolBooks serves as a companion online classroom journal for sharing learning content with families. School websites are fully funded and integrate with the hub for unified communication. All products store data securely on New Zealand servers with regional compliance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SkoolBooks: An online classroom journal that enables teachers to share classroom moments, lessons, and homework with families, keeping everyone connected to student learning.
- School Website Development
- Front Desk Check In/Check Out
Products and services
- Skool Loop App
Quantifiable outcome
- Trusted by 1500+ schools globally, with 500+ school websites developed
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Skool Loop
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Skool Loop technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature8 records
Skool Loop partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Skool Loop competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bloomz: Parent-teacher communication and school engagement app for K-12. Overlaps with Skool Loop's permission slips, messaging, and calendar functionality.
- Seesaw: US-based online classroom journal and school-home communication platform. The direct global competitor to SkoolBooks, mentioned in Skool Loop's own pricing positioning as a benchmark they undercut by ~50%.
- ClassDojo: Global K-12 classroom communication and classroom management platform. Direct competitor to both the Skool Loop App and SkoolBooks, used as a pricing benchmark alongside Seesaw.
- ParentSquare: Unified school-home communication platform for K-12 districts, covering mass notifications, two-way messaging, and family engagement. Directly comparable feature set to the Skool Loop App.
- Remind: School-to-home messaging and communication platform serving K-12 districts primarily in North America. Competes directly with Skool Loop's push notification, messaging, and parent-engagement features.
Regional players
- Hero: New Zealand-based K-12 school communication and parent engagement platform. Most direct regional peer, competing for the same NZ/Australian school customers as Skool Loop.
Broad incumbents
- SchoolMessenger: Long-standing K-12 mass notification and parent communication platform owned by Intrado. Overlaps with Skool Loop's push notification and absentee messaging features as part of a broader suite.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Skool Loop social profiles
Digital presenceSkool Loop compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Skool Loop financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skool Loop leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Skool Loop funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skool Loop M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skool Loop
What does Skool Loop do?
Skool Loop provides a cloud-based school communication platform centered on a mobile app (iOS/Android) that connects K-12 schools with parents through push notifications, digital permission slips, absentee messaging, parent-teacher interview booking, school calendars, newsletters, and multi-language translation. Schools pay a small monthly subscription, while parents download the app free. The platform is complemented by SkoolBooks (online classroom journal) and a custom school website development service, all integrated through the Skool Loop Hub.
Is Skool Loop a public or private company?
Skool Loop is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Skool Loop founded?
Skool Loop was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Skool Loop based?
Skool Loop is headquartered in Kaikoura, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Skool Loop make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. School App Subscription is the primary driver. The others are advertising and school Website Development.
Who are Skool Loop's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bloomz, Seesaw, ClassDojo, ParentSquare and Remind. Hero is listed as a regional player. SchoolMessenger is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Skool Loop have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skool Loop.
What industry is Skool Loop in?
Skool Loop's product category is School Communication Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAMAI, Communication & Family Engagement Platforms (Messaging, Portals, Translation). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.