The Minnesota Technology Corridor is frequently lauded for its MedTech investments; however, it's impossible to overlook the 200,000-square-foot facility in Blaine that is home to Infinite Campus, an EdTech leader with more than 30 years of growth.
Infinite Campus currently employs 600 professionals, more than half of which are software developers. Charlie Kratsch, Founder and CEO of Infinite Campus, plans to expand his staff to 800 in the coming years.
Infinite Campus has seen an exceptional amount of growth and currently supports more than 10 million students – accounting for 20% of the K-12 student market in the United States. Its student information system (SIS) is used by more than 3,000 school districts, including 672 that contracted to use it in just the past 15 months – making Infinite Campus the number one trended SIS in the U.S.
“When we started 30 years ago, we were the first district-wide, web-based solution that offered software-as-a-service (SaaS) on a per-student, per-year basis,” says Kratsch. “Today, that’s all obvious. Every system does that. But not 30 years ago.”
Learn more about this powerhouse company located in Blaine, a MN Tech Corridor partner city, and how it is advancing the EdTech industry as a whole.
Infinite Campus Challenges Schools to Rethink Education
This company is changing how districts operate from the statewide level down to individual classrooms. The Infinite Campus business model is focused on working with state education departments, which allows for easier investment and implementation. This has allowed the company to grow rapidly in recent years.
The company’s SIS and integrated, supporting products promote the concept of agile learning, where students collaborate in small groups to complete projects. where students collaborate in small groups to complete projects. This is based on agile project management, which turns teachers into project managers to guide students.
Through agile learning, students build small core competencies that they can apply throughout their lives. Instead of asking educators to predict what skills will be in demand by the time elementary students graduate, the focus is on developing lifelong tools that can be applied to any job.
Infinite Campus also uses AI to complete rudimentary tasks for teachers so they can spend more time interacting, engaging with, and supporting students. This is done through the development of Infinite Loop, which uses AI to increase feedback and boost productivity.
Infinite Campus works with public and private partners to develop its tools and systems, with input coming from organizations ranging from Amazon and The Gates Foundation to local school districts.
“It is incredibly exciting, and ground zero for all of this is in Blaine,” says Kratsch.
Infinite Campus Employees Thrive In People-Centric Workplace
Supporting 20% of the American student population requires a dedicated team of employees who are eager to push the boundaries of technology and challenge the future of education. Kratsch has developed one of the most unique campuses in Minnesota – if not the country – to recruit workers and create an environment for them to thrive.
“While we are a software company and an EdTech company, it’s all about people,” says Kratsch. “We believe the best work is done face-to-face.”
Infinite Campus boasts an on-site restaurant that offers free meals to employees daily, matching Governor Tim Walz’s program to offer free lunches to Minnesota students. There is a 53-foot koi pond, a 36-foot rock climbing wall, and an on-site clinic with doctors, mental health professionals, and physical therapists.
Outside of the company perks, Infinite Campus also strives to create an environment where people want to come to work. Its company culture is built so more advanced team members mentor younger workers and help them grow. Infinite Campus is also an employee-owned company that isn’t funded by venture capital or private equity firms. The employees guide the big-picture vision.
The Infinite Campus Foundation Supports Youth Mental Health
Kratsch also developed the Infinite Campus Foundation, a 501(c)(3) which supports mental health in K-12 students.
“We all understand – especially coming out of Covid – the importance of mental health,” says Kratsch. “And we’re seeing that in kids.”
Most mental health and substance abuse begins between ages 13 to 17, when kids are reaching middle school and high school. The Infinite Campus Foundation strives to bring mental health professionals to every school so students have the resources to get the help they need. Instead of being reactive, this foundation promotes regular screenings so educators and counselors can be proactive in supporting students when they are vulnerable.
Infinite Campus Reflects the Development Goals of the MN Tech Corridor
Infinite Campus is more than a technology company, it is an innovator that is built on sustainable growth and supporting its employees. The company is a leader in Blaine and the global EdTech field. When Infinite Campus expands and attracts more quality talent, the Minnesota Technology Corridor will benefit as a whole. It is an important part of our overall technology ecosystem.
Learn more about the Minnesota Tech Corridor and how it bolsters growth in both Anoka County and Washington County.
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