Trading the Classroom for a Startup with Mike Cronley

Trading the Classroom for a Startup with Mike Cronley

From EdTech Startup Showcase by BE Podcast Network

February 12, 2026 · 29 min · Episode 28

About this episode

Mike Cronley shares his journey from being a third-grade teacher to co-founding Class Composer, a software solution for creating balanced classroom rosters.

In this episode of the EdTech Startup Podcast, host Jeff Bradbury interviews Mike Cronley, co-founder and CEO of Class Composer and former third-grade teacher. Mike shares his journey from the classroom to entrepreneurship, sparked by a casual conversation with his school's music teacher about students being incorrectly placed together. This "aha moment" led him to develop Class Composer, a software solution that helps elementary schools create balanced, equitable classroom rosters. Over seven years, Mike transitioned from teaching while developing his idea as a side project to fully committing to his startup. The conversation explores the challenges of the traditional paper-based class placement process, the importance of listening to customers, and advice for educators considering entrepreneurship.

People in this episode

Host: Jeff Bradbury

Guest: Mike Cronley

Topics covered

  • entrepreneurship
  • education technology
  • classroom management
  • software development
  • teacher experiences

Keywords

  • EdTech
  • Class Composer
  • entrepreneurship
  • classroom placement
  • education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Class Composer, BE Podcast Network

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