ESPARK LEARNING: $5.7 million Series A to Chicago, IL-based eSpark Learning from NewSchools Venture Fund, Learn Capital, MK Capital, 500 Startups, and angels. The eSpark program creates learning profiles for students at schools that deploy iPads, and recommends an individualized series of apps to help them address problem areas. Notes CEO David Vinca, "the number of educational apps we've had to curate has grown from 27,000 to over 100,000. The whole community of educational apps is much richer, and the experience we can provide kids is also better." (The team of reviewers has grown as well, from 4 to 12.) eSpark's first move with the new cash in hand: redesigning its UI/UX, and plenty of hiring. One big catch: Luke Shepard, who has spent 5 years working on Facebook's mobile platform.