Edtech Insiders

Kevin Leem is the CFO of Mathpresso, operator of the globally recognized AI-powered learning platform, QANDA, which serves over 90 million users. QANDA provides AI tutors that offer personalized support to students anytime, anywhere, enhancing their learning experiences. The platform also equips teachers with AI  teaching assistants to improve teaching efficacy and student tracking. Driven by the belief that personalized, high-quality 1:1 tutoring is the most effective form of education, Mathpresso is dedicated to making such experiences universally accessible through technology.

Kevin brings strategic and operational expertise from his roles at Morgan Stanley Private Equity and Credit Suisse, backed by a strong foundation in Finance and Accounting from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is deeply passionate about using technology to overcome educational inequalities, aiming to ensure that all students have access to top-tier educational resources, irrespective of their financial or geographical circumstances.

Recommended Resources:
📰 GSV: AI & Education by Claire Zau

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Joe Connor is the CEO & Founder of Odyssey, a company that partners with state agencies to administer school choice programs. Odyssey currently serves over 140,000 students by helping them access more than $400 million in state funding for education. Joe started his career as a teacher and school leader at the KIPP and Rocketship Education school networks. After working in schools for several years, Joe attended law school where he focused his research on private school choice and education policy. Joe practiced litigation while advocating for education choice, including working on Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, a landmark school choice case. Joe previously founded SchoolHouse, a private school network before founding Odyssey. He has also worked as legal counsel for Match Education, AltSchool, the Notre Dame Ace Academies, and Primer.

Recommended Resources:
💰 Odyssey resources on ESAs
🌐 Edchoice.org

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Join Alex Sarlin and guest host, Claire Zau, Partner at GSV Ventures, as they explore the most critical developments in the world of education technology this week

🎙️ Andrej Karpathy’s New Venture: AI assistants for education
🚀 Meta’s Largest Llama 3 Model Launch
🔍 Anthropic’s Push for Third-Party AI Evaluations
🍓 OpenAI’s new AI model under code name 'Strawberry'
💸 AI Investment Bubble: Navigating a $600B market shift
📉 LAUSD's $6M AI Chatbot Controversy
🤖 $2.3M Contract between the New Hampshire Department of Education and Khan Academy
📘 U.S. ED Issues Guidance for AI Edtech Developers
📊 Quizlet’s AI Survey: Higher education leads AI adoption
📈 Tyton Partners Report on Digital Learning Tools
🏫 KKR emerges as front-runner for Instructure Buyout
🎓 Salesforce AI Tools for HigherEd
💡 $20M Opportunity@Work Grant from MacKenzie Scott

Plus special guests, Chris Hess, Director of AI Product Management at Pearson and Mark Naufel, Founder/CEO of Axio AI

Upcoming Events:

📺 Live Webinar: Solving EdTEch Problems with a UX Mindset with Nicole Gallardo, Founder at Founders Who UX and Alex Sarlin (Thursday, August 1, 2024, 1-2pm ET / 10-11am PT)

📚 Book Club with FOHE: Discussion on Sal Khan’s new book Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

Stay updated with the latest Edtech news and innovations. Subscribe to Edtech Insiders podcast, newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn!

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Scott Kirkpatrick is CEO of BrainPOP, a leading brand in the U.S. edtech supplemental market whose learning solutions are beloved, trusted, and grounded in research and the science of learning. During his tenure, BrainPOP was acquired by KIRKBI A/S, the family-owned holding and investment company of the LEGO® brand. Scott joined BrainPOP from General Assembly, where he served as president and chief operating officer. Under his leadership, General Assembly experienced exponential growth and was subsequently acquired by The Adecco Group, the largest human capital company in the world. Prior to GA, Scott served as president of The Princeton Review and successfully facilitated its acquisition by IAC. He also served as executive vice president of strategy and marketing and president of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s technology division, Riverdeep. Prior to Houghton Mifflin, he was a strategy consultant at The Parthenon Group and The Callidon Group (now Oliver Wyman). Scott holds a BS in economics & management from the United States Coast Guard Academy. After graduation, he served as an officer in the Coast Guard as a ship navigator, financial analyst, and an aide to former U.S. President Bill Clinton. After his military career, he went on to earn an MBA from The MIT Sloan School of Management.

Recommended Resources:
📑 PISA Study
🧑‍💻 BrainPOP Blog

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

As Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS at PBS, Sara DeWitt is responsible for the strategic direction of a dynamic media service that supports the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including parents, teachers and the community.

Ms. DeWitt leads a cross-disciplinary team charged with content production, digital development, multi-platform asset distribution, educational product creation and marketing and communications for PBS KIDS, the #1 children's educational media brand.

DeWitt previously served as Vice President of PBS KIDS Digital, leading innovative strategies that built educational experiences for kids across media platforms. Having spent over 20 years in public media, she has played an integral role in the digital transformation of PBS KIDS. DeWitt has overseen the pbskids.org website, PBS KIDS streaming video services, and the PBS KIDS portfolio of educational apps for children and caregivers. 

Under her leadership, PBS KIDS has produced award-winning games and apps, AR experiences, podcasts and second screen technologies; developed a learning analytics platform to better understand children's learning gains through gameplay; and established itself as a gold standard in children’s digital privacy and security.

DeWitt is a regular speaker on the subjects of digital privacy, games and learning, and has authored academic papers and editorials on children’s media and its educational impact. She gave a widely shared TED Talk debunking myths about screen time, and has presented at high-profile conferences such as SXSW, Games for Change, CES, the Grace Hopper Celebration and the Atlantic Education Summit. Through speaking engagements and panels, she has lent her voice to important conversations about career and family, and inspiring young girls to aim for careers in the sciences. In 2014, she was named one of the top 42 Women Leading in Education by the USC Rossier School of Education, and she also was recognized with Cynopsis Media’s Top Women in Digital Award in 2016 and 2017. Most recently, DeWitt was honored with the 2020 Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology.

Prior to joining PBS, DeWitt worked as a preschool teacher and as a field researcher studying media habits of children in rural areas. DeWitt holds an MA and a BA in English from Stanford University, as well as a certificate from the university’s Children Society and Public Policy Curriculum.

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Join Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the most critical developments in the world of education technology this week:

📈 Nvidia's stock buybacks expected and rumors on a French anti-trust suit
🔍 Instructure Acquires Scribbles acquisition impact
🤖 Apple joins OpenAI board
📰 TIME and OpenAI content collaboration
📊 LAUSD and AllHere whistleblower reports
🏛️ SCOTUS ruling impacts US Dept of Education
📋 TPS and regulatory updates from Phil Hill

Stay updated with the latest Edtech news and innovations. Subscribe to Edtech Insiders podcast, newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn!

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

In this episode, Steve Daly, CEO of Instructure, discusses the major announcements from InstructureCon 2024, including new developments in Canvas and other products, the integration of AI features like discussion summaries, multilingual support, and smart search, and Instructure’s plans to support lifelong learners through partnerships with Parchment and Scribbles, enhancing student mobility and demonstrating competencies with rich credentials.

Highlights:
📢 Major new developments in Canvas and Instructure products
🤖 AI features: discussion summaries, multilingual support, and smart search
🎓 Supporting lifelong learners with Parchment and Scribbles
🚀 Enhancing student mobility and reducing friction in education
📜 Rich credentials to demonstrate competencies and skills

Stay updated with the latest Edtech news and innovations. Subscribe to Edtech Insiders podcast, newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn!

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Dr. Ethan Mollick is an Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship, and also examines the effects of artificial intelligence on work and education. He is the Co-Director of the Generative AI Lab at Wharton. His academic papers have been published in top management journals and his research has been covered by CNN, The New York Times, and other leading publications. His newest book on AI, Co-Intelligence, is a NYT Bestseller.

Dr. Lilach Mollick is the Co-Director of the Generative AI Lab at Wharton. Her work focuses on the development of pedagogical strategies that include artificial intelligence and interactive methodologies. She has worked with Wharton to develop a wide range of educational tools and games used in classrooms worldwide. She has also written several papers on the uses of AI for teaching and training, and her work on AI has been discussed in publications including The New York Times and Vox. She advises companies and organizations on the advantages and risks of AI in teaching.

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Join Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the most critical developments in the world of education technology this week:

🤑 Prosus Zeroes Out Its 9.6% Stake In BYJU’s
📊 New LearnPlatform by Instructure Report Finds Increases in More Unique Digital Tools Accessed by K-12 Institutions, Students, and Teachers
🏫 LAUSD/Allhere issues
💬 Speak raises $20M - US, Language Learning - Buckley Startup Fund, OpenAI Startup Fund, Khosla Ventures
🧠 MEandMine raises $4.5M - US, Mental Health - K5 Global
📉 Chegg cuts 23% of workforce, 441 employees

Plus special guests, Elyas Felfoul of WISE, Arijit Raychowdhury of Georgia Institute of Technology, and Lindsay Jones of CAST

Don’t forget to subscribe to Edtech Insiders for more updates and insights from the forefront of educational technology!

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Rebecka Peterson, the 2023 National Teacher of the Year, is a math teacher who loves stories.

Rebecka has taught high school math classes ranging from intermediate algebra to Advanced Placement calculus, for 11 years at Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Amid a difficult first year of high school teaching, she found the “One Good Thing” blog. She credits daily posting there to helping her recognize the beautiful and positive experiences occurring in her classroom, which inspired her to stay in the profession. She has since contributed 1,400 posts to the blog. As Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, she has visited teachers across the state to highlight their important work through the Teachers of Oklahoma campaign. 

As National Teacher of the Year, Rebecka plans to use her platform to highlight teachers’ stories of the good that’s happening in education. Teaching is a profession that affords creativity, autonomy and purpose, and Rebecka believes that highlighting the stories of joy happening in classrooms across the country will help encourage current teachers and attract new educators to the profession.

Rebecka is a proud immigrant of Swedish-Iranian descent and lived in several countries around the world as her parents traveled as medical missionaries. Her own experience with supportive teachers who celebrated her diversity and math abilities informs Rebecka’s efforts to create a supportive and accessible classroom for students. She values listening to students’ stories as a way to better understand them and elevate their voice. 

Before joining the faculty at Union High School, Rebecka taught for three years at the collegiate level. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of South Dakota. She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her husband, Brett, and son, Jonas, and she enjoys reading, crafting and playing board games.

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.