Doctors, therapists, yoga teachers have gone virtual. Why not special education teachers? Heldfond’s New York–based edtech startup, Parallel Learning, uses its software to connect more than 100 school districts with 150 licensed special ed professionals including speech pathologists, social workers and therapists. “We tailor our services for students to reach their goals. It’s a very personalized approach,” says Heldfond, who was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at 7 years old. Her software helps schools save time and money by automating assessment tests and tedious state-mandated paperwork. Heldfond launched the company in 2021 and has since raised $22.8 million in funding from investors including Tiger Global and Obvious Ventures.