# Odyssey

> Odyssey is a New York-based education technology company that builds the software states use to run school-choice programs. Its platform administers education savings accounts (ESAs) and microgrant programs end-to-end - guiding parents through eligibility and applications, verifying identity in real time, disbursing state funds into digital wallets, and running regulated e-commerce marketplaces where families can spend on tuition, tutoring, curriculum, and technology. Founded in 2021 by former teacher and school-choice attorney Joseph Connor, Odyssey administers programs across states including Iowa, Idaho, Missouri, Georgia, Louisiana, Utah, Wyoming, and Texas, and has helped families access hundreds of millions of dollars in education funding.

- **Founded:** 2021
- **Headquarters:** New York, New York, United States
- **Founders:** Joseph Connor (Founder & CEO)
- **Team size:** ~71 employees
- **Products:** ESA & Microgrant Administration Platform, Real-Time Identity & Enrollment Verification, Education Marketplace (E-commerce), Payments & Fund Disbursement, State Audit & Data Analytics
- **Notable:** Built what it describes as the first technology platform designed exclusively for ESA and microgrant administration., Processed 42,500+ applications from 19,000 parents within 30 days of launching Idaho's Empowering Parents program., Reported helping 140,000+ students access $400M+ in state education funding.

## Products & services

- **ESA & Microgrant Administration Platform** — An end-to-end platform that lets states administer education savings accounts and microgrant programs - covering parent education, eligibility, application management, fund disbursement, and audit/reporting.
- **Real-Time Identity & Enrollment Verification** — Verification technology the company describes as the first real-time identity verification for these programs, determining eligibility in under one second versus a traditional 30-60 day timeline.
- **Education Marketplace (E-commerce)** — A state-regulated marketplace and digital wallet where families spend approved funds on tuition, tutoring, curriculum, technology, and enrichment, with vetted vendor onboarding.
- **Payments & Fund Disbursement** — Payment processing and disbursement rails that route state-approved funds to schools and vendors, with transaction-level tracking.
- **State Audit & Data Analytics** — Compliance, reporting, and data-analysis tools that give state agencies visibility into spending and program outcomes.

## Achievements

- Built what it describes as the first technology platform designed exclusively for ESA and microgrant administration.
- Processed 42,500+ applications from 19,000 parents within 30 days of launching Idaho's Empowering Parents program.
- Reported helping 140,000+ students access $400M+ in state education funding.
- Raised $14.75M total across seed and Series A from a16z, Tusk Venture Partners, and Bling Capital.
- Selected in 2025 to administer Texas' Education Freedom Accounts program tied to a ~$1B allocation.

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Texas Comptroller's office selected Odyssey to administer the state's new Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, tied to a roughly $1B allocation.
- **2024-05** — Odyssey raised a $10M Series A led by Tusk Venture Partners to expand school-choice technology nationwide.
- **2023-05** — Named administrator for Iowa's Students First ESA program.
- **2022-10** — Raised $4.75M seed round led by a16z's American Dynamism practice.

## Links

- Website: https://withodyssey.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/withodyssey
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/WithOdyssey_
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/478148920758105/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/odyssey
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-18