London-based tiney, a startup specializing in early childhood education, has raised £7.2 million (approximately €8.3 million) in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Mustard Seed Partners and included participation from PortfoLion, Sparkmind, and Rubio.
This new funding brings tiney’s total investment to £19 million (approximately €22 million) and will help the company strengthen its position as the nation’s largest recruiter of childminders. tiney is on a mission to address the declining number of childminders in the UK by offering more affordable, local care in a nurturing, home-like environment.
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Foundation and Mission
Founded by Brett Wigdortz, who previously led the charity Teach First, tiney was born out of his firsthand struggles to find quality, flexible, and affordable childcare. His experiences as a father of three highlighted the critical early years in children’s development, inspiring him to impact the educational trajectory of children at a larger scale.
Empowering Childminders
The company trains and supports individuals to become ‘micro-entrepreneurs’ as childminders. By providing over 50 hours of comprehensive online training, the firm ensures that all childminders are well-prepared in early-year curriculum, pediatric first aid, and safeguarding, along with undergoing enhanced DBS checks. This initiative has led to over 1,000 registered childminders with tiney, and the platform is currently used by more than 5,400 children, making it the seventh-largest nursery chain in the country.
Recruitment and Diversity
In just the latter half of 2023, tiney recruited over 40% of all new childminders in England, with 42% of its recruits coming from diverse non-educational backgrounds such as law, dentistry, retail, design, and finance. This approach not only diversifies the talent pool but also enriches the childminding profession with a variety of skills and experiences.
Investor Confidence and Future Plans
Mustard Seed Partners expressed strong support for the startup’s vision, citing the significant societal and economic benefits of solving the childcare crisis. Stanislas de Joussineau, Co-Managing Partner at Mustard Seed Partners, emphasized the potential of tiney’s cutting-edge technology and passionate approach to improving early years education. They are enthusiastic about partnering with tiney as it continues to scale and drive up childminder numbers across England.
With this investment, the startup is well-positioned to further its impact on early childhood education in the UK, supporting the next generation of children and empowering those who care for them.
