# Zak Ringelstein

> Zak Ringelstein is the co-founder and CEO of Zigazoo, a moderated, kid-safe social network often described as the antidote to TikTok. A former public school teacher and Teach For America alum, he built and sold his first edtech company UClass to Renaissance Learning, ran a left-insurgent 2018 U.S. Senate campaign in Maine as the only DSA-endorsed major-party nominee, then launched Zigazoo with his wife Leah during the pandemic. The company has raised roughly $26M total, including a $17M celebrity-studded Series A, and made headlines when Australia exempted Zigazoo from its sweeping social media ban.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Zigazoo
- **Organizations:** Zigazoo, UClass, Renaissance Learning, Teach For America, Democratic Socialists of America
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A., Theory and Human Rights / History, Columbia University, M.Ed., Arizona State University, Ph.D., Politics and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
- **Known for:** Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Built and sold UClass to Renaissance Learning (2015), 2018 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine

## Career timeline

- **2008-2010** — Teach For America corps member, teaching at Isaac School District #5 in Arizona
- **2010s** — Taught at the International School of Tanganyika; researcher with the UN Millennium Villages Project
- **2013** — Co-founded UClass, an edtech platform for schools
- **2015** — UClass acquired by Renaissance Learning
- **2018** — Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine; only DSA dues-paying major-party Senate candidate that cycle
- **2020** — Co-founded Zigazoo with wife Leah Ringelstein during the pandemic
- **2022** — Zigazoo raises $17M Series A led by Liberty City Ventures; backers include NBA, Dapper Labs, Animoca Brands, Serena Williams
- **2025** — Zigazoo exempted from Australia's social media ban; climbs to #2 on the country's kids App Store chart

## Achievements

- Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree
- Built and sold UClass to Renaissance Learning (2015)
- 2018 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine
- Raised ~$26M total for Zigazoo, including a $17M Series A
- Built a kid-safe platform exempted from Australia's social media ban

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — Zigazoo exempted from Australia's sweeping social media ban and surged to #2 on the country's kids App Store chart.
- **2023** — Positioned Zigazoo as a brand-safe, U.S.-based TikTok alternative amid TikTok ban debates.

## Links

- Website: https://zigazoo.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zring/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/getzigazoo
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLgD-MvSPEU

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/zak-ringelstein
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-04