EdTech Entrepreneurs

In this interview, Thomas Arnett shares his view on the need for more collaboration between EdTech developers and teachers.

Soundtrap, a cloud-based music and audio recording platform, has raised $6 million in Series A funding. Nordic VC firm Industrifonden led the round, with participation from an array of existing investors and other new backers, including Peter Sterky, former CFO and COO of Spotify. It brings total funding to $8.5 million.

Dr. Berger: Well, Barb, I get the opportunity to speak to people in education all over the world that are doing fascinating things. One of the components I find compelling is the way in which we’re looking at the future of education. We are changing the way we approach our interaction with students and the ways in which we look at funding. When I heard about the Big Ten Academic Alliance, I thought we should have more people who know about it, especially when looking at the size and scope of what you’re doing.

In this episode, Jess Gartner discusses how quality information can impact critical decisions related to school finances and districts.

 Adam Geller, Edthena co-founder and CEO, joined Dr. Berger to discuss the ongoing development and support for teachers needed for 21st century schools to succeed. 

Jeremy Rogoff, CEO of kickup, spent time with Dr. Berger at 2016 ASCD Annual Conference discussing how his own teaching experiences inspired him to launch kickup. Rogoff began his teaching career in Clarendon, Arkansas before moving to KIPP D.C.: College Preparatory where he was inspired to start his own venture. 

Adam Bellow shared a behind-the-scenes look at his career path and how he became one of the most desired thought leaders in education and educational technology. Bellow, now a Presidential Innovation Fellow, discusses where we are as an industry and how our perceptions have changed, over time, in education.

Barbara (Bobbi) Kurshan, Ed.D., the Executive Director of Academic Innovation and Senior Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education joined me for coffee (play interview below) to discuss entrepreneurship in education. Dr. Kurshan discusses the conundrum of when to seek investors and how the education ecosystem can access the most relevant resources. For additional perspective from Dr. Kurshan check out her blog on Forbes. 

Edtech startups succeed when they respect teachers’ expertise, avoid talking down to educators, and build solutions that truly support classroom needs.