AllHere

About AllHere

AllHere, a Boston-based educational technology company founded in 2016, develops artificial intelligence-driven solutions for the K-12 education sector. The company's mission originated from the experiences of its founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, a former teacher and family engagement director who witnessed the direct impact of chronic absenteeism on student achievement. Her frustration with the limitations of traditional, high-effort outreach methods like phone calls and mail, inspired her to create a scalable technology solution to better support students and their families.

The company's core offering is an AI-powered platform centered around a conversational chatbot, named "Ed". This platform serves K-12 school districts by automating personalized, two-way text message communication with students and families to improve attendance and engagement. The business model is centered on providing this technology as a service to schools and districts. The system leverages behavioral science and interactive nudges to proactively engage families, provide 24/7 support, and offer guidance on academic progress, school resources, and even issues like IT troubleshooting and mental health support. Ed was designed to integrate with school data systems to provide personalized learning paths, progress monitoring on grades and attendance, and timely alerts in multiple languages to make the information accessible to all families.

Supported by the Harvard Innovation Lab, AllHere saw significant growth, particularly after the onset of the pandemic highlighted the need for robust remote engagement tools. The company raised a total of $12.1 million over several funding rounds, including a notable $8 million Series A round in June 2021 led by Spero Ventures, with participation from investors like Softbank's Opportunity Fund, Rethink Education, and others. However, in November 2024, the founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was arrested and charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Federal prosecutors allege she misrepresented the company's revenue and client contracts to investors, claiming millions in revenue when it was significantly less, and falsely listing major school districts like the New York City Department of Education as clients. The company subsequently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.