Sing Out and READ

What Sing Out and READ does

Sing Out and READ (SOAR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 by Carlo Franzblau and Beth Franzblau and headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. The organization delivers a tablet-based sing-to-read literacy intervention targeting at-risk children ages 6-12, with priority enrollment for third-grade readers. Its core product, the SOAR Program (also known historically as the Family Literacy Project or FLiP), wraps a gamified karaoke-style reading curriculum around pitch-detection software originally developed by the founder in 2006 for vocal training; children sing along to songs while reading lyrics, practicing vocabulary, and completing quizzes, progressing through eight grade levels of twenty lessons each over a 12-week, 900-minute engagement, after which they earn their tablet. The program is delivered through two channels: a direct-to-family home-tablet program (cellular-enabled devices loaned to families during the program and earned upon completion) and after-school/site-based deployments through partner schools and Boys & Girls Clubs.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded. Qualifying families (those eligible for free/reduced-price lunch) receive the program at no cost; non-qualifying families and schools can purchase it. Revenue is sourced from individual donors, monthly sustaining donors, major-gift sponsorships structured as "Literacy Hero" tiers from $2,500 to $50,000 annually, and institutional grants. Notable funding partners include the Hough Family Foundation (three-year $1-for-$1 match up to $200K per year, 2024-2026), Raymond James (multi-year Ready for School initiative grant), and the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Foundation ($25K Racial Equity Grant in 2024). As of 2025, the organization is running a $1.25 million expansion initiative, has roughly 1-10 employees, serves approximately 1,000 children per year across Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, and has publicly stated intent to expand nationally. Founder Carlo Franzblau retired as Executive Director in 2025, with Jay Graham assuming the role.

Name

Sing Out and READ

Legal name

Sing Out and READ, Inc.

Website

https://singoutandread.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sing Out and READ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a tablet-based sing-to-read literacy program helping at-risk children ages 6-12 gain one full reading grade level in three months, serving low-income families in Tampa Bay with national expansion plans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Literacy Education

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Literacy & Reading Intervention Technology (EDAJAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

K–12 Remedial Reading & Literacy Intervention (EDANAJAA)

Keywords

• Childhood literacy programs
• Reading intervention software
• Tablet-based learning
• Nonprofit education services
• Sing-to-read methodology

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, monthly sustaining donors, and major gift sponsors. Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) organization.
2. Corporate Grants and Sponsorships: Multi-year grants from foundations (Hough Family Foundation, Raymond James), corporate sponsorships at various levels ($2,500-$50,000 Literacy Hero tiers), and racial equity grants from Tampa Bay Rays.
3. Program Revenue: Program available for purchase by families who do not qualify for free service, and by schools/organizations seeking to implement the SOAR methodology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sing Out and READ delivers the SOAR Program, a 12-week tablet-based, gamified reading intervention that uses a karaoke-style sing-to-read methodology to help at-risk children ages 6-12 gain one full reading grade level in three months. Qualifying families receive a cellular-enabled tablet bundle (tablet, headset, microphone, case) loaded with the program and earn the tablet to keep after 900 minutes of usage, with monitoring and support from SOAR coaches. The program can also be implemented through after-school and partner-organization channels.

Product overview

Sing Out and READ offers a single unified product called the SOAR Program (also known as Family Literacy Project or FLiP), a tablet-based, gamified reading intervention for at-risk children ages 6-12. The program delivers a sing-to-read methodology through pre-loaded software on cellular-enabled tablets, combined with coaching support. Children progress through five interactive experience modules (Song Folder, Listen, Vocabulary, Sing, Quiz) as they practice reading by singing popular songs. The program can be delivered via home tablets or through After School programs. Upon completing 900 minutes of instruction, children earn their tablet to keep.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOAR Program: A 12-week tablet-based sing-to-read program that helps at-risk children ages 6-12 improve their reading one full grade level in 3 months through the power of singing.
• Family Literacy Project (FLiP)

Products and services

• SOAR Program (Sing Out and READ) A tablet-based, gamified reading improvement program that uses singing to help at-risk children ages 6-12 improve reading proficiency by one full grade level in 12 weeks. Children sing along to lyrics on a tablet while software tracks progress and coaches provide support; qualifying families receive the tablet bundle (tablet, headset, microphone, case) at no cost and earn the tablet upon completing 900 minutes of usage.
• After School Programs In-school or after-school implementation of the SOAR sing-to-read program for partner elementary schools and community organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs. Children use the sing-to-read program on facility computers or tablets during scheduled program time with teacher or SOAR coach supervision.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children gain 1 full reading grade level in 3 months of program use (when used as directed for 30 minutes, 3x per week)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• St. Petersburg Midtown Rotary ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2021Sing Out and READ, the St. Petersburg Midtown Rotary Club, and Eckerd Connects joined together to celebrate the achievement of elementary children who completed the 12-week FLiP program. The Rotary Club supports the mission and participates in recognition events.
• Eckerd ConnectsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2021Partnership with Eckerd Connects to celebrate students completing the Family Literacy Project (FLiP) program. Eckerd Connects is a community organization working on youth development and educational initiatives.
• Urban LeaguemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020During summer 2020, SOAR partnered with the Urban League to help children within public housing. The partnership aimed to address educational equity and provide literacy support to underserved communities during the pandemic when virtual learning became essential.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Boys & Girls Clubs partner with SOAR to provide the program to income-eligible families through their facilities. Funding through the Boys & Girls Club enabled families to participate in The SOAR Program. The Club setting provides a structured environment for children to use the program.
• United Way SuncoastmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner supporting SOAR's mission in the Suncoast region, representing a key alliance in the Tampa Bay area for addressing literacy and educational equity.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Nessy Learning: Specialist reading/dyslexia intervention platform with gamified, multisensory content for struggling readers. Comparable to SOAR's multisensory engagement approach and reading-intervention focus, but commercially licensed and primarily parent/educator purchased.

Direct peers

• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): National nonprofit focused on children's literacy and reading engagement for underserved K-12 populations. Directly comparable to SOAR in mission, target demographic (at-risk young readers), and nonprofit distribution model, though RIF emphasizes book access rather than direct reading instruction.
• First Book: Nonprofit that distributes books and educational resources to programs serving low-income children, including schools and community organizations. Comparable in serving the same at-risk youth literacy mission through a partner-distribution, philanthropy-funded model.
• Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit leveraging pediatric care settings to promote early literacy in low-income families. Comparable in mission orientation (literacy for at-risk children) and nonprofit delivery model, though anchored in pediatric clinics rather than school/home delivery.
• Really Great Reading: Edtech company providing explicit phonics and decoding intervention tools for at-risk readers in K-12 schools. Directly comparable to SOAR's reading-intervention category and similar K-12 buyer persona, although commercially sold rather than subsidized.
• Wilson Language Training: Provider of structured literacy curriculum and teacher training for students with dyslexia and reading difficulties (Wilson Reading System). Comparable as a specialist reading-intervention solution targeting struggling K-12 readers, though delivered as curriculum/licensing rather than a tablet software bundle.
• Raising A Reader: Nonprofit delivering family-literacy programming to underserved communities through partner organizations, including school and community-based distribution. Closely parallels SOAR's family-engagement, partner-delivered approach to early reading intervention.

Broad incumbents

• Lexia Learning (Lexia Core5): Established K-12 reading-intervention edtech platform owned by Cambium Learning, widely adopted across U.S. school districts. Comparable in target use case (reading intervention for at-risk students) but is a broad incumbent with district-wide licensing rather than a tablet-distributed nonprofit model.
• Amplify Education (mClass): Major K-12 edtech publisher whose mClass product is a widely deployed reading-assessment and intervention suite. Comparable reading-intervention category and school-buyer focus, but is a broad incumbent offering across multiple subjects.
• Imagine Learning: Large K-12 supplemental edtech provider with a literacy/reading intervention product line sold to school districts. Comparable target customer (schools serving at-risk readers) but is a broad incumbent with a portfolio rather than a focused tablet-based intervention.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/singoutandread
• Instagraminstagram.com/singoutandread
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sing-out-and-read

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Sing Out and READ