Kindo has secured $15 million in Series A funding from leading New Zealand growth investor Movac - a major milestone for our team, and an exciting step forward for the schools and families we support every day.

This investment allows us to move faster on what matters most: building smarter tools, forming stronger partnerships, and continuing to reduce the administrative load that sits behind everyday school life.

In short, it helps us do more of the things schools and parents are asking for - sooner.

From a home-grown idea to a national platform

Kindo began back in 2010 as a small, home-based project started by our founder, Sandra Maclean, to solve a very real problem she faced as a parent: managing school lunches for children with dietary requirements.

Fifteen years on, Kindo has grown into New Zealand’s leading school payment, e-commerce, forms and fundraising platform, now used by more than 500 schools nationwide, supporting around 300,000 students and their families.

Two years ago, Sandra formally handed the CEO role to her brother, Chris Maclean. This brought his experience in fast-growth software businesses into the fold as Kindo entered its next phase of growth, while allowing Sandra to stay focused on building what schools and families need most.

This latest investment marks another significant chapter in that journey.

Why this matters for schools

For schools, the Movac investment means greater confidence and faster delivery.

We’ll be accelerating development across the platform, with a strong focus on:

• More automation to reduce admin time
• Better reporting and payment insights to support financial decision-making
• Smarter notifications and allocation of funds
• Deeper sponsorship and fundraising capabilities
• Tighter integration with other school systems

Schools using Kindo already see tangible benefits. Across New Zealand state schools, average parent contributions are around 30% higher for schools using Kindo compared with those that don’t - improving clarity, convenience, and outcomes for everyone involved.

Just as importantly, this investment reinforces that Kindo is here for the long haul as a trusted, well-backed partner for New Zealand schools.

What it means for parents

Parents will also feel the impact.

This funding allows us to build and release improvements faster than ever, including:

• Clearer views for parents with children across multiple schools
• Improved notifications, so important deadlines don’t slip through the cracks
• Less form-filling and admin
• Better access to the right school information at the right time

Our goal is simple: make managing school life feel less like a juggling act, and more like something that just… works.

Supporting families and communities

Kindo’s growth is about more than payments.

In 2025 alone, more than $300,000 has been raised through Kindo for families in need via our partnership with KidsCan and school-specific gifting programmes. We’re incredibly proud to help parents support other parents, and to play a small role in strengthening school communities across Aotearoa.

A strong partner for the next chapter

We’re thrilled to be partnering with Movac, New Zealand’s most experienced venture capital firm, with a long history of backing iconic Kiwi companies including Trade Me, Vend, Timely, Crimson Education, Auror and Dawn Aerospace.

Movac Partner Mark Stuart says:

“We were really impressed by what Sandra, Chris and the Kindo team have built. They’ve been quietly flying under the radar creating a product that customers love - making life easier for parents and helping schools access the resources that make such a difference.”

Being part of Movac’s Growth Fund 6 alongside companies like LawVu, Re-Leased and Hnry is something we’re immensely proud of.

Looking ahead

The timing of this investment also comes as open banking legislation has recently come into force in New Zealand, creating new opportunities across the fintech landscape. While it’s still early days, we see this as an important shift that will help shape how financial services can better support families in the future.

Most importantly, this funding allows us to keep backing our people. We’ll be growing the Kindo team significantly in 2026 and are excited to welcome more great humans who want to help build something that genuinely matters.

As CEO Chris Maclean puts it:

“This investment allows us to move faster, build smarter, and continue backing our people as we grow. With Movac alongside us, we’re confident we can scale our impact for schools and families over the long term.”

Thank you to the schools, parents, partners and team members who’ve helped get us here.

We’re just getting started.

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