How Much Did SmileDirectClub Raise? Headquarters, Funding & Key Investors

SmileDirectClub raised $440 million across multiple funding rounds, including a major $350M Post-IPO round in 2021 and a $380M Series C in 2018, backed by firms like Clayton Dubilier & Rice, Kleiner Perkins, and Align Technology. Once valued as a fast-growing disruptor in the orthodontics market, the company achieved unicorn status in under five years. Despite strong investor confidence and rapid market expansion, SmileDirectClub later faced financial and operational challenges that contributed to its deadpooled status. Its funding history reflects one of the largest capital aggregations in the direct-to-consumer dental tech space.

How Much Did SmileDirectClub Raise? Funding & Key Investors

SmileDirectClub operated as a direct-to-consumer dental aligner platform that enabled users to order clear aligners online through at-home impression kits or retail scan locations. The company streamlined orthodontic treatment by connecting customers with state-licensed doctors who reviewed cases remotely and prescribed customized invisible aligners.

With a strong digital model, SmileDirectClub expanded rapidly across the U.S. and international markets, offering more affordable alternatives to traditional orthodontic treatment.

What Is SmileDirectClub and What Does It Do?

SmileDirectClub, founded in 2014 by Alex Fenkell and Jordan Katzman, is headquartered in Nashville, United States. The company operated as a developer of customized clear dental aligners delivered through a remote, online-enabled orthodontic model.

SmileDirectClub employs 1,360 people and offers at-home impression kits, 3D-printed aligners, and virtual dental monitoring through licensed orthodontists and dentists.

Its platform focused on making teeth-straightening more accessible and cost-effective compared to in-office treatments. Although the company grew rapidly and achieved unicorn status, it eventually ceased operations due to financial challenges.

How Much Funding Has SmileDirectClub Raised?

1. Post IPO

Amount Raised: $350M
Date: February 2021
Motivation: To strengthen liquidity, expand operations, and support ongoing product development.

2. Series C

Amount Raised: $380M
Date: October 2018
Lead Investors: Clayton Dubilier & Rice, Kleiner Perkins, Spark Capital
Motivation: To accelerate global expansion and advance aligner manufacturing capabilities.

3. Series B

Amount Raised: $12.8M
Date: July 2017
Lead Investors: Align Technology
Motivation: To scale production, expand SmileShops, and enhance digital scanning infrastructure.

Total Funding Raised: $440 Million

Latest Funding Date: February 2021

Key Investors

1. Align Technology

Details: Global medical device company known for its Invisalign clear aligner system.
Investment Focus Areas: Orthodontics, dental technology, and medical devices.
Notable Investments: Invisalign, exocad.

2. Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R)

Details: A leading private equity firm investing in large-scale, high-impact businesses across sectors.
Investment Focus Areas: Healthcare, consumer, and industrial services.
Notable Investments: Beacon Roofing Supply, Veolia North America.

3. Kleiner Perkins

Details: Silicon Valley venture capital firm backing industry-defining technology and healthcare companies.
Investment Focus Areas: Technology, healthcare, and consumer.
Notable Investments: Amazon, Google, Genentech.

4. Spark Capital

Details: Venture capital firm investing in early and growth-stage startups across software and consumer sectors.
Investment Focus Areas: Consumer internet, marketplaces, software.
Notable Investments: Slack, Twitter, Oculus.

Where Is SmileDirectClub’s Headquarters?

SmileDirectClub was headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, a growing healthcare innovation hub offering strong operational infrastructure and access to a skilled workforce in medical and digital health services.

What’s Next for SmileDirectClub?

Following its shutdown, SmileDirectClub’s remaining assets and intellectual property may be repurposed, acquired, or integrated by future dental-tech players. The company’s technology, particularly its remote orthodontic model and 3D-printing expertise, still holds industry value. While SmileDirectClub itself is no longer operating, its innovations helped advance tele-dentistry and consumer-driven orthodontic care, shaping the competitive landscape for future entrants.

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