Startup Hopefuls Test Their Ideas with Educators

N

3

Educational Technology; School Business Relationship; Elementary Secondary Education; Social Networks; Feedback (Response); Entrepreneurship; Educational Needs; Financial Support; Investment

0277-4232

"Educator day" is one of the most important and nerve-racking for the people taking part in Imagine K12, the biggest incubator program in the United States specifically for education technology startups. Many entrepreneurs in K-12 believe technology can solve education's problems, but don't work to understand those problems before prescribing technology to solve them. That frustrates educators and can be a recipe for failure for fledgling companies. The founders of Imagine K12--Tim Brady, Alan Louie, and Geoff Ralston--made their fortunes working for some of Silicon Valley's star companies, like Yahoo and Google. But they're trying to change that dynamic by helping people who start education businesses understand what educators truly need and then create products to meet those needs. Twice a year, for three months, Imagine K12 offers a handful of companies seed money, business guidance, and connections to major investors. Some of those companies have gone on to raise millions of dollars in funding, riding an influx of venture capital into education that resembles, on a smaller scale, the consumer-technology boom that's produced such companies as Facebook and Twitter.

ERIC

2013

EJ998247