Accelerators and Investors

Accelerators and Investors

New Schools Venture Fund: As a nonprofit venture philanthropy firm, they raise philanthropic capital from both individual and institutional investors, and then use those funds to support education entrepreneurs who are transforming public education. Launched their Seed Fund  (Jan 2012 ) helping early stage edu startups raise seed funding and introduce them to potential follow-on investors.

Rethink Education: Investing in Technology for Learning, based in NYC and launched a $50M fund (May 2012) to expand their portfolio.

Learn Capital:  venture capital firm focused exclusively on funding entrepreneurs with a vision for better and smarter learning. (Pearson is their largest limited partner.)

Imagine K-12: Referred to as “The Y Combinator for Education (by TechCrunch),” this for-profit enterprise is looking to invest time, experience, energy and resources in entrepreneurs who have a passion for education and the technical know-how to create their vision.

StartUp Weekend Edu: weekend-long, hands-on experiences where entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs can find out if startup ideas are viable. Ongoing weekend events all over the world.

SIIA Innovation Incubator: Applications are due Sept 26th for the Edtech Business Forum conference in New York, Nov 26th & 27th. Now in its 11th cycle, the SIIA Innovation Incubator program offers access to funding, distribution, and other commercialization opportunities for developers of innovative ed tech products and services. (The program is especially interested in products/services that support initiatives in elementary, secondary, and/or postsecondary institutions.) (Courtesy of EdSurge)

TechStars: Participants get up to $18,000 in seed funding for your company and the opportunity to pitch to hundreds of angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. TechStars companies build amazing relationships with the mentors and top executives of major Internet companies. The program is offered in Boston, NYC, Boulder, Seattle and you can find out more about applications here.

KauffmanLabs Program: Twenty-three entrepreneurs spent four months immersed in an intensive, hands-on program designed to catalyze the creation of high-growth companies to generate thousands of jobs with dramatic economic benefits in the education sector.

Longer List of High Quality Incubators (not just edtech)