The Learning Company
The company logo used from 2007 to 2012
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| Subsidiary | |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
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Key people
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Warren Robinett (co-founder) |
| Parent | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
| Website | www |
The Learning Company (TLC) known briefly as Mattel Interactive is an American educational software company, currently owned by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. It produced a grade-based system of learning software and tools to improve productivity. Products for preschoolers through second graders include Reader Rabbit, and software for more advanced students include The ClueFinders. The company is also known for publishing licensed educational titles featuring characters such as Arthur Read, Scooby-Doo and Caillou.
The original TLC was founded in 1980 by Ann McCormick, Leslie Grimm and Teri Perl, three PhD educators who, along with Warren Robinett, a former Atari employee who had programmed the popular game Adventure, saw the Apple II as an opportunity to enhance the ability to teach young children concepts of math, reading, science, problem solving and thinking skills. Part of the original funding for the company came from a National Science Foundation grant. Additional funding was provided by Jack Melchor and Melchor Venture Partners, among others.
TLC was among the four companies IBM contacted to produce launch titles for the PCjr, announced in late 1983. From 1980 through 1984 it created a line of 15 widely acclaimed children's educational software products, which were sold through the newly evolving U.S. retail and school computer software channels.
During the first four years, the founding board of directors hired and replaced four CEOs as the company incurred significant losses attempting to develop a sustainable business. In the first half of the 1985 fiscal year, the Board hired as CEO Bill Dinsmore, a former McKinsey & Company consultant with a 15-year track record turning around and building high quality consumer product lines. In the second half of 1985, the product line was consolidated from 15 products down to 5 products. Additionally, an improved and focused new product development process was instituted to identify subjects that parents and teachers named as highest priority for children ages 3–14.
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