Edtech Insiders

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Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the latest developments in education technology, from AI breakthroughs to high-stakes funding rounds and institutional shifts in AI strategy.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:45] OpenAI’s $10B Annual Run Rate: ChatGPT drives unprecedented growth
[00:05:12] Anthropic CEO criticizes proposed 10-year ban on state AI regulation
[00:08:04] Google.org Accelerator: New cohort tackling generative AI for good
[00:10:17] News Sites Struggle as Google AI Summarizes Content
[00:13:33] Zuckerberg’s Meta Bets Big: $14B stake in Scale AI and ‘Superintelligence’ team
[00:17:02] Microsoft’s Plan to Rank AI Models by Safety
[00:19:20] Apple Research Paper Questions AI’s Reasoning Power
[00:21:46] Harvard Gets Backing in DEI Lawsuit from Ivies, Alumni
[00:24:09] Education Secretary Suggests Harvard May Regain Federal Grants
[00:26:48] Ohio State Requires AI Fluency Across All Students
[00:30:20] IXL Learning Acquires MyTutor to Expand Global Tutoring Reach
[00:32:55] CodeHS Acquires Tynker to Bolster K-12 CS Content
[00:35:30] Grammarly Secures $1B in Non-Dilutive Funding for M&A

Plus, special guests:

[00:38:12] Rod Danan, Founder of Prentus, on bridging bootcamps to careers with community and coaching
[00:46:10] Lars-Petter Kjos, Co-founder and CPO of We Are Learning, on building generative AI tools for educators to create custom video content at scale

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

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🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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

Dr. Mike McKenna is the Senior Advisor at Tuck Advisors and also serves as the Chief Academic Officer for one of the largest school districts in Pennsylvania.  With deep expertise in curriculum development, special education, and teaching and learning, Mike brings a proven track record of building inclusive, high-impact academic programs. In addition to his work in K-12 education, Mike has extensive experience in higher education and has also served as an advisory board member for multiple edtech startups and non-profits.  At Tuck Advisors, Mike applies his diverse expertise to support education-focused M&A.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why 2025 may be a defining year for EdTech mergers and acquisitions
2. Key trends driving K-12 district purchasing decisions in today’s uncertain funding climate
3. How small AI companies can strategically position themselves for acquisition
4. What districts really need from AI tools—and why usability is everything
5. How Tuck Advisors supports EdTech founders in mapping their growth and exit strategies

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:01:11] Mike McKenna shares his background in education and M&A
[00:03:37] K-12 districts face funding uncertainty and demand for innovation
[00:06:12] Tuck Advisors focuses on long-term client relationships and timing
[00:10:41] EdTech founders weigh bootstrapping vs. M&A for market access
[00:12:33] AI usage in classrooms is rising but remains mostly surface-level
[00:15:24] Integration and workflow impact are key for AI adoption in schools
[00:17:17] Many AI startups are better suited for acquisition than solo growth
[00:20:28] Access to student data is crucial for impactful AI solutions
[00:22:41] School districts seek data convergence and AI-enhanced insights

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

• Follow our Podcast on:
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• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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

Juan Zavala joined New Markets Venture Partners in 2019 and is a Partner. He is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and executing new investment opportunities as well as supporting existing portfolio companies and firm operations. He serves as a Board Director for Brains and Motion Education, Nexford University, and CreatorUp, and as a Board Observer for App Academy, BetterLesson, Censia, Climb Credit, Concentric Educational Solutions, Datapeople, Motimatic, and Regent Education. He is also actively involved with Mantra Health and Acceleration Academies. 

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why sustainable, capital-efficient growth beats flashy valuations in education technology.
2. How NMVP evaluates impact and efficacy before making investments.
3. The challenges and strategies of scaling edtech companies within slow-moving educational systems.
4. Why aligning incentives across stakeholders—from district leaders to entrepreneurs—is key to success.
5. How AI fits into edtech’s future and why infrastructure partnerships may outlast flashy standalone tools.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:18] From private equity to impact investing in edtech
[00:04:52] Only 15% of the U.S. is well-served by education—huge market gap
[00:05:51] Balancing mission and money in edtech investing
[00:11:30] Why VC might not be right for every founder
[00:16:36] Insights from NMVP portfolio companies like Nexford and BetterLesson
[00:27:22] CreatorUp as a case study in workforce and content innovation
[00:36:37] The importance of aligning with existing school infrastructure
[00:42:54] AI in edtech: picks and shovels, not gold rushes
[00:48:12] Why most edtech exits fall below $300M
[00:54:23] Creating shared success across founders and investors

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

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

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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

Dr. Margaret Honey joined the Scratch Foundation as the organization’s President & CEO in January 2024. She is widely recognized for her work using digital technologies to support children’s learning and brings decades of non-profit leadership experience and expertise to the Scratch Foundation. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Honey led the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) for 15 years, where she leveraged the museum as a platform for innovation in STEM education and developed NYSCI’s distinctive Design-Make-Play approach to STEM learning. A graduate of Hampshire College with a doctorate in developmental psychology from Columbia University, Margaret Honey has helped to shape the best thinking about learning and technology with special attention to ensuring that all young people have access to high-quality creative learning opportunities.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How Scratch empowers children through creativity, coding, and community.
2. The history and growth of Scratch into a global platform with over 46 million users.
3. The unique philosophy of learning that sets Scratch apart from traditional edtech tools.
4. How Scratch is approaching AI integration to foster exploration and child agency.
5. Why sustainable, mission-driven models are essential for educational platforms.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:27] “There’s no learning without inspiration.”
[00:03:59] Scratch hits 46 million users and 21.5 million new sign-ups in 2024.
[00:06:51] Scratch empowers kids with agency and creative coding.
[00:07:47] Global education shifts toward creativity and problem-solving.
[00:13:50] 35 million studios show Scratch’s thriving peer-to-peer community.
[00:18:29] “It would be impossible to do now what Scratch did then.”
[00:24:34] Scratch explores AI as a tool for creativity, not instruction.
[00:32:29] A museum exhibit inspires a child: “I have superpowers.”
[00:34:15] Rethinking education to match the pace of technological change.

😎 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/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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

Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the latest developments in education technology, from AI breakthroughs to new VC investments and edtech reports.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:10] Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn says AI is more scalable than teachers, sparking debate on the future of educators
[00:10:45] Google I/O 2025 introduces Gemini 2.5, Project Astra, and real-time AI translation with broad implications for edtech
[00:18:30] OpenAI launches Codex, a cloud-based AI assistant transforming coding education and developer workflows

Plus, special guests:

[00:33:40] Senan Khawaja, Co-founder & CEO at Kollegio, on using AI to reimagine and personalize the college admissions process

[00:51:04] Rebecca Taber Staehelin & Connor Diemand-Yauman, Co-Founders & Co-CEOs of Merit America on bridging the skills gap with affordable tech career pathways

😎 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/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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

David Bleicher is the Co-Founder and CEO of Jotit, a company on a mission to bring handwriting back to the forefront of education in the digital age. By blending proven learning methods with advanced technologies, Jotit enhances student outcomes and executive functioning in the classroom.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why handwriting remains essential in today’s tech-driven classrooms.
2. How Jotit integrates handwriting, AI, and executive function tools for students.
3. The multimodal learning approach and its benefits for diverse learners.
4. Innovative features Jotit provides to empower teachers in digital classrooms.
5. Insights into building strong partnerships with Google and Owl Ventures.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:01:30] David Bleicher introduces Jotit: blending traditional handwriting with advanced technology.
[00:03:00] How David’s personal mission to help his son Uri inspired Jotit’s creation.
[00:08:16] The cognitive benefits of handwriting and its irreplaceable value in education.
[00:11:00] Jotit's multimodal approach: handwriting, typing, voice—all in one platform.
[00:14:45] Tools for teachers: streetlight control, lockdown mode, and real-time classroom interactivity.
[00:18:30] Why simplicity in classroom tech design is critical to teacher adoption.
[00:21:43] Redefining digital classrooms with tailored tech—not repurposed entertainment devices.
[00:23:07] Strategic partnerships: How Jotit collaborates with Google and Owl Ventures for scale and impact.
[00:26:30] Jotit's future and David’s continued mission to impact millions through foundational learning tools.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

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

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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

Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the latest developments in education technology, from AI in classrooms to workforce shifts and EdTech innovation across the globe.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:03:16] Ezra Klein podcast brings AI and education to mainstream conversation
[00:07:20] Alex and Ben compare and critique GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, and other AI tools
[00:09:28] Utah emerges as a leading hub for EdTech startups and innovation
[00:12:21] New AI bundles help educators explore tools like Superhuman and Perplexity
[00:13:19] Surge in media coverage on cheating, lawsuits, and educator use of AI
[00:16:17] Lawsuit filed against professor for using AI-generated content in class
[00:18:00] Concerns grow about students using AI tools to bypass cognitive learning
[00:23:10] Direct-to-student AI sparks debate about academic integrity and design
[00:25:20] Google plans to roll out Gemini to students under 13
[00:29:41] AI enables hands-on science learning like virtual frog dissections
[00:33:43] AI compared to electricity as foundational infrastructure for the future
[00:36:09] Rising youth unemployment signals early impact of AI-driven disruption
[00:38:57] Major firms lay off workers while shifting strategy toward AI adoption
[00:40:34] EdTech must define and prepare students for new AI-native job roles

Plus, special guest:

[00:41:22] Sam Chaudhary, Co-founder & CEO of ClassDojo on tutoring, gamified learning, and community building

😎 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/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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 is a very special episode featuring our sponsor, Starbridge. Justin Wenig, Founder and CEO of Starbridge, joins us to discuss how school spending creates barriers to EdTech innovation. Justin previously co-founded Coursedog, scaling it to over 300 institutions and a nine-figure exit. With Starbridge, he’s now helping EdTech businesses navigate public sector procurement using AI to identify and close their best-fit leads.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why broken procurement processes are blocking EdTech innovation.
2. The “illusion of competition” in RFPs and how incumbents stay ahead.
3. The hidden rules of public sector procurement.
4. Practical go-to-market strategies for EdTech startups trying to break through.
5. How AI is reshaping sales, procurement, and personalization in EdTech.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:05:16] The hidden “unwritten rules” of school purchasing that keep new companies out.
[00:13:17] Why most RFPs aren’t competitive and how this harms innovation.
[00:23:26] Justin’s blueprint for redesigning the school procurement system.
[00:29:50] How Starbridge uses AI to help EdTech companies find and close the right leads.
[00:34:48] The future of sales: AI-powered outreach vs. human relationship building.
[00:43:09] Can AI finally bring fairness and transparency to public sector purchasing?

😎 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/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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

MacKenzie Price is a Stanford grad, mom of two, and the Co-Founder of 2 Hour Learning - a revolutionary learning platform that harnesses the power of AI to give kids a 1:1 personalized learning experience. Her students excel in academics while spending most of their day learning life skills that set them up for future success. She founded the first Alpha School ten years ago in Austin, Texas and now has eight schools, with others opening in the fall.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why motivation is the missing key in EdTech.
2. How AI enables personalized, mastery-based learning.
3. The new role of teachers as motivational guides.
4. How to build life skills alongside academics.
5. What’s next for AI in education—and why it’s exciting.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:03:19] MacKenzie on Founding Alpha Schools to create a better model for her own children.
[00:06:36] Why tech alone can’t drive student success without human connection.
[00:12:54] How Alpha Schools deliver two hours of academics and a full day of life skills.
[00:21:56] Teachers become motivational coaches, not just content experts.
[00:28:11] The power of AI to connect learning with students’ passions.
[00:38:05] Rethinking assessments: AI makes feedback immediate and actionable.

😎 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/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. 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 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.