Send us a text Andrew Sachs is a retired successful tech entrepreneur with a passion for wanting to make the world a better place for others. With three wonderful kids and a teacher-wife, Andrew saw how school and university were not preparing our youth with the needed technical, soft and leadership skills they needed to thrive in today’s quickly changing world. Having benefited from excellent teachers and continuous learning in the context of high-performing global project teams in his professi...
Mar 18, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Mar 13, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Alex and Ben discuss: 1. AI Claude 3 Opus by Anthropic Inside the Funding Frenzy at Anthropic, One of A.I.’s Hottest Start-Ups Google partners with Reddit in AI content licensing deal 2. Big Tech Nvidia reaches $2T market cap Nvidia Hardware Is Eating the World "Don't Learn to Code, But Study This Instead..." says NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Special Guests: Kelly Sia , President of Curriculum Associates Malia Burns , CEO of OpenSeat , ...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Tom Sayer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ello , the world's first virtual reading coach that works with real books. Before Ello, Tom was the head of impact and adoption programs at Google for Education, where his team was responsible for ensuring that Google tools were used effectively in classrooms worldwide. He is on the advisory board of Education Reimagined, the movement builder of learner centered education. He has also worked as an intelligence officer, a product manager,...
Mar 11, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Mar 06, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Max Azarov is an experienced entrepreneur in the IT industry. He graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) where he studied at the School of Physics and Mathematics, and he holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. Max built his career in IT product management and software development across Russia and the USA, working for Cyber Vision, Digital 5, Google and LG Electronics. As a product manager for Google, Max was responsible for the global prod...
Mar 04, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Feb 29, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI OpenAI Completes Deal That Values the Company at $80 Billion OpenAI’s Sora Rivals In The Works—Including From Google And Meta 2. Edtech Online course provider 2U faces doubts it can continue 3. PreK-12 Unleashed Brands to Acquire Sylvan Learning 4. Reports Reach Capital’s 2023 US EdTech Funding Report Oppenheimer Report Special Guest: Matt Sherman , Founder and CEO at LSAT Lab...
Feb 27, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Robyn Cook is the Chief Academic Officer for Aauti School , a online digital science curriculum powered by AI. She’s an experienced education professional who has served as served as a Director of Curriculum and Instructional Supports, a STEM and Science Content specialist, and a chemistry and biology teacher, dedicated to transforming K-12 education through innovative curriculum development and instructional leadership. Robyn is responsible for driving and communicating Aauti’s i...
Feb 26, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Feb 21, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI Google Launches AI Opportunity Initiative For Europe; Announces €25M Funding To Support AI Skills Development 2. Edtech India ASU GSV Emeritus Event in India PhysicsWallah’s FY23 Profit Tanks 91% To INR 90M Deborah Quazzo and Michael Moe on BYJU's Deborah Quazzo follow-on investments in India How Eruditus survived the evisceration of edtech Duolingo is largest language platform in the world 3. K-12 Tyton Partners’...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Mari Nazary is the Chief Experience Officer at Bloom Institute of Technology , formerly known as Lambda School, Mari has dedicated over 15 years to transforming the landscape of online education. She believes in making education a universal key, accessible and effective for all, without the financial burden often associated with higher learning. Mari's journey in EdTech began with her role at Rosetta Stone, where she developed the company’s first online classroom experience. ...
Feb 19, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Feb 15, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI OpenAI partners with Common Sense Media to collaborate on AI guidelines Edsafe AI Fellowships 2. Big Tech Senate blasts tech CEOs over child safety 3. Workforce upGrad To Open 100 Experience And Learning Centers, Commits INR 1,000M 4. PreK-12 Byju’s Says Investors Don’t Have Voting Right To Remove Founder From Edtech Group 5. K-12 Zum Raises $140M Instructure Completes Acquisition of Parchment 6. HigherEd Shaq is joini...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Nick Hernandez is the CEO and Founder of 360Learning , a leading advisor and investor in the SaaS technology industry, and the author of Collaborative Learning: How to Upskill from Within and Turn L&D into Your Competitive Advantage. Nick founded 360Learning in 2013 and has since grown the company into a leader in the EdTech sector. In late 2021, Nick and his team secured $200m in funding from Sumeru, SoftBank, and Silverlake for 360Learning to continue their mission of champi...
Feb 12, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Lydia Logan is the Vice President of Global Education and Workforce Development, Corporate Social Responsibility at IBM , where she leads IBM's community and university skilling initiatives that create more inclusive and effective schools and workforces. Her programs help fulfill IBM’s pledges to skill 30 million people worldwide by 2030, and to train two million learners in AI through 2026, particularly those from historically underresourced, underserved, and underrepresente...
Feb 05, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI Chegg, Duolingo, Coursera Stocks Swoon as Goldman Warns of Threat From AI Coursera’s CEO announced that Coursera users signed up for an AI course every minute of 2023 2. Edtech It’s a good time to invest in early-stage edtech, investors say Byju’s seeks new funding at less than $2 billion valuation, a 90% drop 3. K-12 National Ed-Tech Plan Outlines How Schools Can Tackle 3 Big Digital Inequities Michael Bloomberg donat...
Jan 30, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Ryan Craig is a Managing Director at Achieve Partners and was formerly an MD at University Ventures. Ryan’s commentary on where the puck is going in education and workforce regularly appears in the biweekly Gap Letter , Forbes , and Inside Higher Education . He is the author of the book Apprentice Nation: How the "Earn and Learn" Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America (2023). He is also author of A New U: Faster + Cheaper Alternatives t...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI Duolingo Sheds Some Human Workers As AI Threatens To Upend The $65 Billion Translation Industry Moral Panic of “Will Chatbots teach your children” is starting up: “Will Chatbots Teach Your Children” Your Child’s Favorite Teacher May Soon Be a Chatbot Two of Your Predictions for 2024 and Why They Are Probably Not Correct 2. Edtech HolonIQ Removes 13 unicorns from its Edtech Unicorns list FETC is next week! 3. Workforce ...
Jan 23, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Lauren McCann is the head of Figma for Education. She started her career in the classroom, as a middle school English teacher in Hyderabad, India. Before joining Figma, Lauren led product marketing for Google’s core education products including Google Classroom, Google Meet, Google Workspace for Education (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Drive, Jamboard) Google Assignments, Read Along, and more. At Figma, Lauren and her education team are working to bring Figma into more classrooms g...
Jan 22, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI GPT Store Opened. What does this mean? South Korea's MathGPT Sets a New World Record in Mathematical Performance US Congress Introduces “AI Literacy” Bill 2. PreK12 As Enrollment Declines, Districts Consider Closing Schools 3. K12 Skipping School: America’s Hidden Education Crisis 4. Higher Education Claudine Gay & Higher Ed’s Crisis. Is it just PR & Politics or is it a deeper issue? The new FAFSA is meant...
Jan 16, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Dr. Maria Armstrong is the Executive Director of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) . Her career in education includes serving as a teacher, school counselor, assistant principal, principal, director of English Language Learners, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, superintendent, and as an educational consultant for the Puerto Rico Department of Education leading the department’s Hurricane Maria Recovery efforts. Prior to worki...
Jan 15, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Louise Baigelman is the founder and CEO of Storyshares , a mission-driven literacy organization focused on engaging and empowering readers and writers of all levels. Before starting Storyshares, Louise was a reading and writing teacher, middle school EL coordinator, and literacy specialist, working with students from preschool through high school. Louise was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list, the International Literacy Association’s 30 Under 30 list, and she has received awards...
Jan 08, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text 2023 was an amazing year for Edtech! In this super-sized episode, Ben and Alex review top trends from the year that was and make some predictions for 2024. Also, we asked some of our favorite guests (and Edtech C-suiters) to give their thoughts on what we can expect to see in 2024. Ian Chiu , Managing Director at Owl Ventures Jomayra Herrera , Partner at Reach Capital Sunil Gunderia , Chief Innovation Officer at Age of Learning Hanna Celina , Co-founder and CPO at Kinnu Amit Patel...
Jan 01, 2024•2 hr 38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Dr. Yenda Prado is an edtech researcher, educator, and author, whose work focuses on exploring the social uses of emerging edtech to support children’s inclusion across complex learning environments. She has written and advised on inclusive technology use in education and media for diverse organizations including the U.S. Department of Education, PBS Kids, and the University of California. Dr. Prado also serves as a Ready to Learn Consultant Advisor for the Corporation for Public ...
Dec 29, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Kai Frazier is a former educator and the founder and CEO of Kai XR , designed to close the opportunity gap in under-resourced communities. The KaiXR platform, which uses AI and metaverse technologies, is being used by kids in grades 5-8 in schools, as well as juvenile detention centers, to take virtual college tours, learn about advances in science like CRISPR , and teach kids about historical figures like the late Dr. Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party. Before creating Kai...
Dec 25, 2023•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text In this special episode of Edtech Insiders, Phuong Do interviews eight edtech companies at the Edtech Asia Summit 2023 held earlier last month in Bali, Indonesia. Adriel Yong from Ascend Angels John Tan from Doyobi Minsam Kim from RiiiD Raphael Nolden from Amy.app Ryan O'Hare from Keypath Education Ruby Nguyen from Curieous Sandeep and Gaurav from Kaizenvest Vu Van from ELSA...
Dec 22, 2023•3 hr 45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Kenzie Butera Davis is the CEO and founder of Maro , a pediatric mental healthcare and education app. She recently won the ASU+GSV Pitch competition. As a veteran of the startup industry, Kenzie has supported 70+ healthcare, consumer and B2B SaaS startups from launch to growth acceleration to funding. Prior to founding Maro, Kenzie spent 4+ years composing an academic thesis on the implementation of health education in the US while conducting customer discovery. Her current ventur...
Dec 20, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Todd Mahler is the Chief Product Officer at Edmentum . For over 25 years Todd has led the development of educational technology products for the nation’s leading publishers and is proud to have impacted the lives of millions of students. As Chief Product Officer for Edmentum, Todd drives product strategy for Edmentum, ensuring their solutions meet the needs of the educators and students they serve. Prior to Edmentum, Todd served as Chief Product Officer for Apex Learning and has h...
Dec 18, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Chris Parrish is Co-Founder and President of Partnerships at the leading experiential learning company, Podium Education . At Podium, Chris led the launch of The Global Tech Experience, an industry redefining digital program that enables students to build skills and experience by working on projects directly with organizations like Intel, The Grammy’s and charity:water. Podium currently partners with 55 universities across the world and will support 10,000 students in 2023. His wo...
Dec 15, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
