Tinkergarten is an early childhood education company providing research-backed, play-based outdoor learning experiences for children six months to eight years of age. The company trains and certifies local leaders to deliver its proprietary curriculum in parks and natural spaces across the United States, and also offers digital activities, an app, and on-demand resources for parents. Founded in 2012 by Meghan and Brian Fitzgerald, the company raised approximately $28.6M across seed, Series A, and Series B rounds from investors including Omidyar Network, Owl Ventures, Reach Capital, and WndrCo. In March/April 2023, Tinkergarten was acquired by Highlights for Children, the long-standing children's media publisher, and continues to operate as part of Highlights, with founders Meghan and Brian Fitzgerald continuing to lead the team.
Tinkergarten has been acquired
This company is no longer available on our private secondary market.
Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Founded
2012
Employees
11–50
Total Funding
$26.4M
2 rounds
Total raised $26.4M across 2 rounds
Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Last updated 06-25-2026
Latest Round
Type
Strategic Investment (WndrCo)
Date
March 25, 2019
Amount
$21M
Valuation
—
Lead Investors
| Date | Round | Amount Raised | Valuation | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 25, 2019 | Strategic Investment (WndrCo) | $21M | — | WndrCo |
| August 8, 2017 | Series A | $5.4M | — | Owl Ventures |
Meghan Fitzgerald
Co-Founder & Head of Tinkergarten
Brian Fitzgerald
Co-Founder & CEO
Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.
Outschool
Online and in-person small-group enrichment classes for kids, including outdoor and nature-themed offerings, overlapping Tinkergarten's parent-pay early-learning market.
KiwiCo
Subscription kits delivering hands-on learning projects for children, competing for parent spend on enrichment for ages 0-8.
Lovevery
Stage-based play kits and curriculum for early childhood development, competing in the 0-5 parent-led learning category.
Sawyer
Marketplace and software platform for kids' classes and activities, including outdoor and nature programs, with operator tools overlapping Tinkergarten's leader-led model.
Access live market data
Sign UpData collected with AI, which can make mistakes. Please double-check this information.