// startup autopsy

Academy123

An early K-12 online learning platform absorbed before it could prove itself.

acquisition gone wrongAcqui-hire

Fatal mistake: Academy123 was acquired too early before establishing product-market fit, meaning the acquirer captured the asset before it could realize its full independent potential.

Founded	2004
Closed	2005
Country	USA
Sector	Edtech

50%

Key Events Timeline

2004-01-01

FOUNDING

Academy123 founded in the USA as an online K-12 educational content and learning platform.

2004-06-01

FUNDING

Academy123 raised $2M in its only known funding round to build out its digital curriculum platform.

2004-11-01

PRODUCT LAUNCH

Academy123 launched its online learning platform targeting K-12 students and school districts.

2005-06-01

SHUTDOWN

Academy123 was acquired by an undisclosed buyer, ceasing independent operations approximately 18 months after founding.

Full Analysis

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Documented cause

Academy123 was an early online K-12 educational content platform founded around 2004 that failed to establish sustainable operations. The startup was acquired shortly after its 2004 funding round, indicating a ...

very short runway of less than one year before exit. The acquisition appears to have been an acqui-hire rather than a successful product acquisition, driven primarily by the company's intellectual pro

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€3.6M

Peak valuation

HypeCycle · MoatType · ResearchTags

Academy123 raised €2M before academy123 was acquired too early before establishing product-market fit, meaning the acquirer captured the asset before it could realize its full independent potential. ended it. See the documented cause, verified lesson and all failure signals.

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Key Events Timeline

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