The Natick, Mass. public schools’ blended learning transition has been going on for seven years and the results so far have been impressive. Teachers and students report that using computers more deeply improves their education. What ed-tech company wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
I was recently stopped in my tracks when I discovered that minority-owned companies receive just 3 percent of venture capital investments. That disparity is startling, given that more than half of k-12 students in this country are minorities.
The majority of classrooms are connected to the Internet, but that doesn’t mean they have the capabilities to use digital tools as intended. Slow broadband was impeding teachers’ use of our product, so we had to adapt.
New marketplaces allow K-12 educators to purchase digital content, creating new entry points for ed-tech startups to sell their products. But how do you know which marketplace will get your company’s content in the right hands?
Developing financial projections for your ed-tech startup as part of writing your business plan can be nerve-wracking. How are you supposed to know what your business will look like a year from now or five years from now?
Here’s why flipping professional development for teachers makes sense.
When you provide feedback to a teacher by coaching them virtually, new strategies come into play.
While ed-tech entrepreneurship may be less risky than other sectors, there are still many uncertainties to be aware of. Financial, technology, and market sectors are all areas for deep thought and caution.
Don’t undertake a name change for your company lightly, but if it’s the correct strategy, here’s how to do it.
I recently watched an interview with Sal Khan, founder of the extremely successful ed-tech non-profit Khan Academy, and he touched upon three ideas that should resonate with ed-tech startups.