ASU+GSV Summit

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Kaiz Alarakyia, Senior Product Manager at Google DeepMind; Ben Caulfield, CEO at Eedi Labs; and Dr. Owen Henkel, Co-Founder and Research Director at EdTechnical.

The speakers explored how Google DeepMind and Eedi approached gold-standard classroom research through a rigorous UK Randomized Control Trial, moving beyond headline findings to examine the operational lessons behind executing one of the few studies to meet the highest standards of research quality. They discussed the technical, logistical, and pedagogical frameworks that enabled this highly rigorous evaluation, offering practical insights into how evidence-based educational research can be designed and implemented at scale. The session highlighted how data-driven partnerships have not only measured impact, but also established a stronger global standard for developing, evaluating, and scaling evidence-based learning tools across regions.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Beth Hollenberg, CEO at Everspring; Richard Weiqi Zhang, Co-Founder at Solvely.ai; Mick Hewitt, CEO at Ednition; Greg Hart, CEO at Coursera; and Jennifer Lee, Partner at GSV Ventures.

The speakers explored how the shift to AI answer engines, algorithmic feeds, and embedded assistants has fundamentally transformed EdTech discoverability, rendering many traditional search and paid funnel strategies less effective. They discussed the emerging growth strategies defining this new era, including Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), freemium models that meaningfully convert, community-led growth, product-embedded virality, and brand loops that compound over time. The session examined how leading builders are designing products and brands that earn discovery across AI platforms, workflows, and networks, while addressing the defining challenge of an AI-first world: how EdTech companies can get found—and scale—when traditional search is no longer the primary starting point.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Anada Lakra, CEO at BoldVoice; Julie Walbaum, Co-founder & Co-CEO at Wilgo.ai; Hilah Barbot, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Playlab; Benjamin Somers, CEO at Recess.GG; and Amanda Nolen, NED, Advisor, and Investor at Amanda Nolen & Partners.

The speakers explored how the assumptions that shaped the last generation of startups have shifted dramatically in the AI era, where capital efficiency now matters more than headcount and AI has redefined what small teams can build. They discussed how founders are rethinking company-building around leaner structures, AI-native talent stacks, and strategic hiring in an environment where talent is scarce, expensive, and increasingly selective. The session examined how startups can win exceptional talent without overextending resources, what roles matter most in modern company architecture, and which milestones signal true durability to investors beyond short-term momentum. The conversation reframed company-building for 2026, emphasizing that success is no longer about scaling fastest, but about building intentionally and building right.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Rhys Spence, Head of Platform and Research at Brighteye Ventures; Ardis Kadiu, CEO & Co-founder at Andi AI, Inc.; Stephen Laster, CEO at Panopto; Jason Brein, Co-President at Francisco Partners; and Nate Laverriere, Managing Director at Moelis.

The speakers explored how the M&A playbook for EdTech has fundamentally changed, with profitability, distribution, and defensibility now carrying greater weight than growth at all costs. They discussed how valuations have reset even as acquisition activity has accelerated, particularly as incumbents increasingly choose to buy rather than build AI-forward capabilities—seeking not only products, but also teams, technical talent, and speed to market. Drawing on firsthand experience from founders, acquirers, and market analysts, the session unpacked the metrics that drive valuations, the strategic advantages that command premium outcomes, and the common missteps founders make when preparing for an exit. The conversation highlighted the practical lessons and hard-earned insights that distinguish good outcomes from great ones in today’s evolving acquisition landscape.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Rajen Sheth, CEO and Co-founder at Kyron Learning; Darren Person, EVP and Chief Digital Officer at Cengage Group; France Hoang, CEO & Founder at BoodleBox; Melva K. Wallace, President and CEO at Huston-Tillotson University; and C. Edward Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities.

The speakers explored how autonomous, agentic AI systems have created a transformational moment for higher education as these technologies move from novelty to ubiquity. They examined how agentic AI—capable of interpreting instructions, navigating complex tasks, and completing academic assignments in seconds—has reshaped debates around learning, mastery, and academic integrity. The session focused on how institutions can move from reactive responses to intentional readiness by rethinking coursework, assessment design, faculty expectations, and departmental support. The conversation highlighted what it takes to prepare educators and institutions for AI-enabled learning in ways that preserve academic standards, strengthen integrity, and align institutional policy with rapidly emerging realities.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Tom Dretler, CEO & Co-Founder at Shorelight, LLC; Clare Rawlins, Senior Vice President of Student Recruitment, Marketing and Partnerships at Kaplan International Pathways; Julia Rosen, Vice President of Global Academic Initiatives at Arizona State University; Martin Basiri, Founder & CEO at Passage.com; Alejandro Caballero, Principal Education Specialist at International Finance Corporation / The World Bank Group; and Fionnuala Duggan, Board Director and Partner at Folens Group / Cairneagle Ltd.

The speakers explored how international degree pathways have evolved amid mounting immigration pressures, visa constraints, and the growing strength of higher education providers in emerging markets. They discussed how institutions across the U.S. higher education spectrum—including public, private, global, and online providers—have responded to declining international enrollments and shifting geopolitical realities by developing high-return, lower-cost strategies to sustain and grow international student participation. The session focused on durable approaches to international engagement, examining how institutions can adapt recruitment, partnerships, and pathway models to remain competitive in a more constrained, bordered world.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Ken Eisner, Managing Director at ETS; Marjorie Hass, President at Council of Independent Colleges; Jonathan Koppell, President at Montclair State University; Frank Shushok, President & CEO at Roanoke College; and moderator Eloy Oakley, President & CEO at College Futures Foundation.

The speakers explored how the liberal arts have become an essential line of defense for critical thinking in an era shaped by AI, misinformation, and polarization. They examined the paradox facing liberal arts education: being more necessary than ever while increasingly questioned in terms of value. The conversation challenged higher education leaders to reassert the strategic and societal return on investment of the liberal arts—not as a nostalgic ideal, but as a competitive differentiator for students entering an AI-enabled workforce. The session also explored how liberal arts education must evolve to remain relevant within an emerging, integrated workforce environment, while continuing to strengthen critical thinking, adaptability, and informed civic engagement.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Fernando Bleichmar, CEO at Risepoint; Susan Burns, President at University of Mount Saint Vincent; Thillainat Sivakumaran, Vice President at Texas State University; and moderator Eloy Oakley, President & CEO at College Futures Foundation.

The speakers explored how regional universities have evolved to meet the changing needs of today’s learners amid demographic shifts, enrollment pressures, and financial constraints. They discussed how these institutions—often serving ambitious first-generation, financially constrained, and adult learners—have adapted programs to align with community workforce needs while creating greater flexibility, relevance, and career mobility. The session examined emerging practices in online and hybrid learning, degree and nondegree pathways, and the full student lifecycle from recruitment to graduation. The conversation highlighted how institutions with deep community roots and digitally enabled models can strengthen engagement, retention, and completion while continuing to deliver strong returns for students and regional economies.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this Early Childhood Education Summit session presented by Valhalla Foundation featured Dana Suskind, Co-Founder and Director at the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, University of Chicago.

Dana Suskind explored how protecting human connection has remained essential in early childhood development amid the rapid rise of AI. She discussed the foundational role of human relationships, language, and interaction in shaping children’s cognitive and emotional growth, while examining how technology can support—but not replace—the critical importance of human-centered development. The session highlighted the need to safeguard meaningful connection as innovation advances, ensuring that early learning remains rooted in the relationships that help children thrive.

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Arun Ramanathan, CEO at PowerMyLearning; Deborah Stipek, Emeriti Professor and Dean at Stanford University; Joanna Bruno, CAO at the Colorado Department of Education; and Dana Nunn, Managing Director at Valhalla Foundation.

The speakers explored how early numeracy develops through the interconnected roles of counting, curiosity, and meaningful learning experiences. They discussed how children build strong mathematical foundations from an early age, emphasizing the importance of research-informed practice, supportive instruction, and systems that nurture both confidence and conceptual understanding. The session highlighted how fostering curiosity and coherence in early math education can create stronger long-term academic outcomes and more equitable opportunities for young learners.