Edtech communities around the U.S. are cutting to the chase when it comes to connecting entrepreneurs and educators. Back in July, we went to Chicago for the Education Technology Startup Collaborative to observe how teachers and techies can collaborate and create common ground. Rhode Island’s Department of Education and the Highlander Institute is doing something similar on October 5.
Now it’s our turn, and we’re bringing the fun to Silicon Valley.
The EdSurge Tech for Schools Summit is making its way to the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. On Saturday, November 2, several hundred district administrators, IT decision makers and educators from Silicon Valley school systems will meet with up to 30 leading education technology companies in a special day-long gathering.
Our co-sponsors for this event are NewSchools Venture Fund, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
Check out the details and schedule here.
For educators, this is an opportunity to try out some of the most innovative technology being built for schools. No lectures. No spin. No extravagant booths and tacky trinkets. Instead there'll be genuine opportunities for you to meet entrepreneurs, exchange points of view and provide feedback. You will:
- Learn about new products ( What’s out there?)
- Deliver real feedback to entrepreneurs ( Here’s what I like/don’t like.)
- Develop action plans for implementation ( How can I use this in my classroom?)
The Silicon Valley Education Foundation will begin circulating invitations to school leaders this week. Educators can also put in their name for a ticket here.
For entrepreneurs, this is a great chance to get unfiltered feedback from your end users to test your assumptions and inform product development. And you may pick up a few fans along the way!
All companies selected will be highlighted on EdSurge--both on the event page as well as their profiles in our Edtech Index.
If you’d like to be one of the 30 companies at this gathering, please apply here.
Application fees are $100 and are due by September 27, 6:00 pm PST. If you’re selected by the panel of five educators, you’ll be asked to pay an additional $400 to secure your spot. Chosen companies will:
- Have the opportunity to offer trials directly to Silicon Valley teachers before and after the event
- Show off your product with a short demo on the main stage
- Set up at a table to offer interested parties a deeper walkthrough of your tool
At the end of the day, we will celebrate the educators with a special reception and a fireside chat with renowned entrepreneur and lifelong educator, Lynda Weinman, co-founder of Lynda.com.
As change percolates through education, the question educators are asking is not whether technology has a role in education, but what technology has a role.
We have an answer--and we’d like you to be a part of it.
