# Kelly Smith

> Kelly Smith is the founder and CEO of Prenda, a Mesa, Arizona education company that helps ordinary adults run microschools - small groups of 5 to 10 kids who take ownership of their own learning. An MIT-trained nuclear fusion engineer who once sold a clean-energy software business, Smith stumbled into education by volunteering at a library code club, watching kids light up when they wanted to learn. In January 2018 he started a microschool around his kitchen table with his son and six neighborhood kids. Since then Prenda has helped more than 1,000 adults launch microschools and nearly 10,000 K-8 students learn to lead their own education.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Prenda
- **Organizations:** Prenda, Code Clubs of Arizona, WegoWise, WattStopper, Johnson Controls
- **From:** Phoenix area, Arizona, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Master's degree in nuclear fusion, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Founded Prenda and grew it to power 1,000+ microschools across the U.S., Enabled nearly 10,000 K-8 students to learn in student-led microschools, Built and sold a clean-energy software business before entering education

## Career timeline

- **pre-2013** — Earns a master's in nuclear fusion from MIT; works in engineering and marketing roles at technology companies including Johnson Controls, WattStopper and WegoWise; sells a small clean-energy software business.
- **2013** — Begins volunteering at a public library teaching after-school computer programming; Prenda Code Club is born and spreads to libraries.
- **2017** — Watching Code Club kids fully engaged, asks himself: 'What if all of school was like this?'
- **2018** — Launches the first Prenda microschool around his kitchen table in January with his son and six neighborhood kids; founds Prenda.
- **2022** — Prenda raises a $20M Series B (June 2022), part of roughly $45.7M total funding.
- **present** — Leads Prenda as Founder & CEO; company has helped 1,000+ adults start microschools serving nearly 10,000 K-8 students.

## Achievements

- Founded Prenda and grew it to power 1,000+ microschools across the U.S.
- Enabled nearly 10,000 K-8 students to learn in student-led microschools
- Built and sold a clean-energy software business before entering education
- Created Prenda Code Club, a volunteer coding program that spread to public libraries
- Raised roughly $45.7M in venture funding, including a $20M Series B in 2022
- Recognized speaker on the future of learning (ASU GSV Summit, Pioneer Institute's Learning Curve)

## Latest updates

- **2022-06** — Prenda raised a $20M Series B, bringing total funding to roughly $45.7M.
- **2024** — Prenda continues expanding its microschool model nationally, partnering with state ESA and school-choice programs; company reports 1,000+ microschools and nearly 10,000 students.

## Links

- Website: https://prenda.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellysmith35/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/prendalearn
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GBrgFw5Q2E
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prendalearn

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kelly-smith
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-01