Lightspeed Systems

Lightspeed Systems is an educational software company based in Austin, Texas that builds and sells SaaS content-control software, mobile device management, alert software, and classroom management software to K–12 schools.

History
Founded in 1999 in Bakersfield, California, the company was ranked #1855 out of the Inc 5000 by Inc.com in 2012. However, Inc.com did not list the company as part of the Inc 5000 after 2012. In 2019, Lightspeed Systems received an investment from Madison Dearborn Partners. In January 2022, they acquired CatchOn, a real-time data analytics provider that helps with student engagement, and in March 2022, Lightspeed received another investment from Genstar Capital.

Mobile Device Management
In 2013, Lightspeed introduced a Mobile Learning Essentials package, which included Lightspeed Mobile Device Management. Mobile device management helps school IT staff to manage school devices more easily through the use of policies.

Filter
In 2017, Lightspeed announced the Relay Filter, which was later renamed to simply Lightspeed Filter. Lightspeed Systems advertises their Filter product as blocking inappropriate content, and a tool for CIPA compliance. It originally was only supported on Chromebooks, but in 2018 support for macOS, iOS, and Microsoft Windows was announced.

Classroom Management
In April 2018, Lightspeed released Classroom Management, software which the company claims can monitor and control content loaded on devices used by students during class.

Analytics
In March 2019, Lightspeed Systems released the Lightspeed Analytics software, designed for reporting on apps, applications, and web sites used on school-owned devices.

Alert
In 2021 Lightspeed announced Alert, a product the company says uses artificial intelligence as well as human review to identify threats of school violence or student self-harm.

Criticism
In 2012, Darryl LaGacé, head of IT in San Diego Unified School District, left to go work for Lightspeed Systems after previously procuring a $375,000 contract with them earlier that year. This brought up many concerns and scrutiny.

In 2012, Lightspeed Systems raised questionable behavior when directly mass emailing customers accounts to poach from partner accounts.