SPECIAL VENTURES: NewSchools Venture Fund (NSVF), a nonprofit that funds public education enterprises, announced the winners of their Ignite Special Education Challenge today. The challenge was open to both nonprofits and for-profit businesses developing digital products aimed specifically at supporting students with disabilities.
In a prepared statement, Tonika Cheek Clayton, managing partner at NewSchools Venture Fund, explained the rationale for focusing on special education students: “While it may sound obvious that students with disabilities need additional support, few edtech tools exist to support this diverse group of students,” she said. “We believe edtech tools have the potential to address many critical needs in special education.”
The selected cohort will be awarded $1.5 million in funding collectively, with individual investments ranging from $50,000 to $150,000. Those selected will also receive management assistance and access to research expertise as part of NSVF’s accelerator program.
This round’s winners, in alphabetical order, include:
- BeeLine Reader
- Branching Minds
- Education Modified
- Enuma
- ExceptionALLY
- Goalbook
- InnovateED
- iTherapy
- Kinems
- LiftEd
- Nearpod
- PhET
- Timocco
- VocaliD
- Zyrobotics
