Edtech Insiders

Send us a text

This Week in Edtech, Alex Sarlin and guest host, Claire Zau  explore the latest developments in education technology, from AI breakthroughs to new VR tools and evolving strategies of tech giants.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:03:00] Preview of the ASU GSV Conference’s AI show and its impact on education innovation.
[00:05:00] OpenAI’s partnerships with California State University and Estonia to scale AI in education.
[00:09:00] ChatGPT reaches 400 million weekly active users, highlighting its growing role in education.
[00:12:00] Google’s Co-Scientist tool and Career Dreamer aim to personalize learning and career pathways.
[00:23:00] Chegg’s lawsuit against Google raises questions about AI’s impact on SEO and business models.
[00:27:00] Anthropic’s new 3.7 model introduces hybrid reasoning with implications for education.
[00:33:00] Meta’s renewed push to integrate VR in classrooms to boost engagement.
[00:36:00] Microsoft’s Muse model generates real-time gameplay environments for learning simulations.
[00:39:00] The potential of AI-driven simulations for personalized and immersive education.
[00:46:00] Claire’s advice for EdTech entrepreneurs on integrating AI effectively.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text

An organizational and leadership development expert, Bjorn Billhardt has designed leadership development programs and collaborated with world-class institutions for two decades. Since 2015, Bjorn has been CEO of Abilitie, a provider of leadership development & mini-MBA programs. Abilitie’s programs have educated over 100,000 learners worldwide. Prior to founding Abilitie, Bjorn was Co-founder and CEO of Enspire Learning, Inc. Bjorn holds a BA from the University of Texas & an MBA from Harvard Business School.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in this Episode:

1. How AI is transforming leadership training through real-time simulations.
2. Why business education should focus on judgment, not just knowledge.
3. The power of AI in social learning and group collaboration.
4. How AI can enhance professional skills like hiring and management.
5. The growing impact of mini MBAs in corporate education.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:37] Why leadership is about judgment and the future of MBA programs.
[00:05:43] AI-powered simulations and decision-making in training.
[00:10:38] Adaptive AI in professional development and business training.
[00:16:48] AI’s potential to enhance social learning and collaboration.
[00:22:20] AI as an assistant for hiring, management, and leadership.
[00:33:32] The rise of mini MBAs and alternative business education.
[00:36:00] Why transfer skills matter more than memorization.
[00:38:35] Final thoughts on AI’s future in leadership development.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text

This week in EdTech, Alex and Ben break down the latest trends in AI and EdTech.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:03:27] Key takeaways from the Bay Area EdTech Summit.
[00:04:55] BrainPop’s CEO change and what it signals for edtech.
[00:06:29] The decline of gamification and shifting user engagement.
[00:10:37] BrainPop’s business model and Lego’s long-term vision.
[00:13:50] AI’s next leap—deep reasoning and memory-driven models.
[00:17:56] Where edtech companies can still create real AI value.
[00:19:14] The rise of AI-powered learning companions.
[00:22:36] The edtech job market squeeze and hiring slowdowns.
[00:23:45] ASU GSV, AI in game development, and upcoming events.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text

Pierre Dubuc is the co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms, the leading online education platform with about 300k students a month. The school offers unlimited access to hundreds of free courses, as well as complete 100% online training programs for some of today’s most sought-after careers. OpenClassrooms' courses and learning content are produced in-house, and follow a unique pedagogy which relies on scenario-based projects and mentoring from experts in their respective fields.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How degree apprenticeships are replacing traditional internships.
2. Why AI is reshaping both education and job training.
3. What’s holding the U.S. back from scaling apprenticeships.
4. How OpenClassrooms integrates education with real jobs.
5. The future of career-focused learning and credentialing.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:18] Pierre Dubuc shares how OpenClassrooms evolved from an online coding hobby.
[00:04:22] The disconnect between higher ed and employment – and how to fix it.
[00:07:17] Why paid apprenticeships are more effective than internships.
[00:09:33] A real success story: From high school graduate to six-figure career.
[00:14:10] Breaking down the barriers to apprenticeship adoption in the U.S.
[00:21:36] How AI is accelerating job placement and training.
[00:29:41] AI-powered learning companions help students stay on track.
[00:34:37] OpenClassrooms is making job training count for college credit.
[00:37:18] Pierre’s vision for an integrated education-to-employment system.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text

This Week in EdTech, Ben Kornell and special guest co-host Libby Hills from the Jacobs Foundation and the Ed-Technical podcast break down a week filled with major AI breakthroughs, troubling education policy shifts, and key trends shaping the future of edtech.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:04:53] 🔍 OpenAI launches Deep Research, a $200/month AI research tool.
[00:12:06] 🐋 DeepSeek AI challenges US models, raising concerns about China’s progress.
[00:17:24] 🏫 CSU offers 500K students free ChatGPT Pro access.
[00:24:29] 📉 NAEP data shows continued COVID learning loss, with state disparities.
[00:29:23] ⚖️ Trump administration cuts federal education research contracts.
[00:37:19] 💸 FEV Tutor shuts down due to ESSER funding cliff.
[00:41:56] 💡 BrightEye Ventures’ report highlights European edtech funding trends.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text

In this special episode, Alex sits down with Adam Franklin, our very first guest on EdTech Insiders, who returns three years later with an exciting new venture. 

Adam is a former high school history teacher turned edtech entrepreneur. He previously taught at YES Prep Brays Oaks HS in Houston, TX and coached the varsity soccer team. Adam earned a masters degree in Learning, Design, and Technology from Stanford GSE in 2016 where he also served as a researcher and writer for the Stanford History Education Group. In 2017, he joined Nearpod, then a Series A startup, to help lead the content arm of the business where he stayed through their $650M acquisition by Renaissance in 2021. In early 2024, Adam left Nearpod to join the Teaching Lab Studio as a fellow to build out innovative products at the intersection of AI and Education, with StudyBuds, a teachable agent practice platform, being his primary focus. 

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How AI-powered teachable agents help students learn by teaching.
2. Why AI can boost engagement and deeper learning in classrooms.
3. The limitations of multiple-choice assessments and AI’s role in fixing them.
4. How AI can co-create with students instead of just giving answers.
5. Why venture studios like Teaching Lab Studio are investing in AI-powered learning.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:01:18] Adam Franklin’s journey from teacher to edtech founder.
[00:06:46] How teachable agents create interactive student practice.
[00:12:39] Training AI to “not know” and learn from students.
[00:16:56] The Pokémon effect—why students love training AI characters.
[00:22:57] Why students outsource thinking and how AI can change that.
[00:31:23] StudyBuds aligns with curricula to support teachers.
[00:37:20] Inside Teaching Lab Studio’s unique edtech venture model.
[00:44:48] The future of AI in education and multimodal learning.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text

Jeff Maggioncalda served as the CEO of Coursera from June 2017 to January 2025, leading the company through remarkable growth to over 160 million learners and 7,000+ institutions, delivering high-quality learning content from top universities and industry leaders. Under his leadership, Coursera expanded its reach, navigated the pandemic, embraced AI-driven learning, and became a publicly traded company.

Since recording, Coursera announced that Jeff has retired from the role, and Greg Hart will succeed him as the CEO.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. How Coursera is evolving its AI-powered content to serve not just developers but also everyday professionals using AI in their jobs.
2. The role of generative AI in transforming the accessibility and personalization of online learning.
3. Insights into Coursera’s latest AI-driven initiatives, including personalized tutors and automated content creation.
4. The changing landscape of workforce upskilling and how Coursera is adapting to meet employer demands.
5. Jeff Maggioncalda’s vision for the future of online education and the integration of AI in learning.

✨ Episode Highlights

[00:00:37] Coursera’s evolving role in edtech.
[00:04:21] How Coursera expanded to over 1,000 AI-related courses and the shift toward workplace AI adoption.
[00:10:45] The role of generative AI in democratizing education and personalizing learning at scale.
[00:15:22] The challenge of balancing AI innovation with academic rigor and credibility.
[00:22:30] How AI-driven career certificates are helping professionals transition into new roles.
[00:29:50] Predictions on the future of AI in education—Jeff’s perspective on what’s coming next.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text

Matt Kennard is the CEO of BetterLesson (which offers High-quality K-12 professional development for educators and administrators, ensuring successful districtwide implementation of HQIM.) and former CFO & Head of Operations for LearnZillion, a K-12 digital core curriculum provider. At LearnZillion, he oversaw the expansion of curricular offerings through partnerships with leading OER curriculum providers and led the company's sale to Weld North Education. Previously, Matt led strategic M&A activity for iHeartMedia as the Director of Liquidity and Corporate Development. With a background in finance, strategy, and technology, Matt has held roles at Banc of America Securities, Investcorp Technology Partners, Rackspace, and TJX Companies. He holds a B.A. from Yale University in History and Political Science. Matt found his way into edtech in 2017 based on his desire to utilize his hard-earned expertise to build incredible businesses that make a difference in the lives of students and educators.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. The impact of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) on K-12 education.
2. How structured professional learning improves teacher retention and student success.
3. The role of AI and data-driven decision-making in optimizing education systems.
4. Why schools must embrace Career and Technical Education (CTE) and skills-based learning.
5. How educators are regaining control in shaping the future of EdTech.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:28] Matt’s journey from finance to leading Better Lesson in professional learning.
[00:05:47] How Better Lesson helps schools implement effective teacher development.
[00:09:03] The HQIM movement and its role in improving curriculum quality.
[00:11:42] The shift towards skills-based learning and Career and Technical Education.
[00:16:36] Better Lesson’s acquisition of ABLE to enhance scheduling and resource use.
[00:24:21] Why data-driven decision-making is critical for education leaders.
[00:30:01] How AI and machine learning can improve education without increasing workload.
[00:36:52] The growing influence of educators in shaping the future of EdTech.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text

Tigran Sloyan is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of CodeSignal, the leading skills platform empowering teams and individuals to discover and develop the skills that will shape the future. Tigran is a recognized voice in the industry—a TED speaker, active Forbes Technology Council member, frequent keynote, and contributor to major publications. He is passionate about the intersections of technology, education, and talent acquisition, and his innovative insights are regularly featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Morning Brew, and more. Before co-founding CodeSignal, Tigran was part of the technology management team at Google, where he spearheaded initiatives like Google Hangouts for Education and Google Login for sectors like Travel and Publishing. 

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How AI and simulations are transforming skills-based hiring and eliminating resume bias.
2. Why resumes are outdated and how companies can move toward more accurate and fair assessments.
3. The role of Bloom’s Two Sigma Problem in shaping CodeSignal’s AI tutoring innovations.
4. How Generative AI is enabling real-world, high-fidelity skill simulations for non-technical roles like sales and leadership.
5. Why universities struggle to keep up with fast-changing skills and how private sector partnerships can fill the gap.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:10] From Google to CodeSignal, Tigran Sloyan’s journey into skills-based hiring.
[00:05:42] Why resumes are a poor hiring signal and what should replace them.
[00:11:38] Hands-on learning vs. passive learning and the power of AI-driven practice.
[00:15:16] AI-powered simulations for training sales, leadership, and technical roles.
[00:24:11] Can AI replace executive coaches and leadership mentors?
[00:30:15] Why traditional universities struggle to keep up with changing skill demands.
[00:41:17] AI-driven skills assessments as an alternative to applicant tracking systems.
[00:49:46] The need for collaboration in solving the global skills gap.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.