AT&T is calling on ed-tech ventures in the Baltimore area to apply for the AT&T Aspire Accelerator. Companies chosen to participate in the AT&T Aspire Accelerator receive financial investment, counseling, access to technology expertise and mentorship. The that fosters the ed-tech ecosystem by supporting innovative new products and services in education.
The Aspire Accelerator is open to non-profits and for-profit companies of any size. The minimum requirements to participate are:
- Working on a product or service that uses technology to support students’ educational and career success
- Has a minimum viable product and some proof of product-market fit
- Has a least one technical founder or team member who participates in the Accelerator
Last year, PlayPosit (formerly eduCanon), a local Baltimore based ed-tech startup, was chosen as one of the program’s finalists. At the end of the 2015 accelerator, PlayPosit grew the amount of teachers accessing their platform from 50,000 to 100,000, and AT&T hopes that another local DC company will be able to get the same opportunity this year.
The Aspire Accelerator application is open thru Feb. 5. The program will begin with selected ventures in May 2016.
“The Aspire Accelerator shows how we use the power of our network to build a better tomorrow,” said Nicole Anderson, assistant vice president, Social Innovation at AT&T. “The inaugural class’ results continue to amaze us and are being used by students, teachers and districts daily. I can’t wait to see the game-changing solutions this year’s class will bring.”
The Aspire Accelerator benefits from an external board of advisors of leading education and technology innovators: Charles Best, founder and CEO, DonorsChoose.org; Kimberly Bryant, founder, Black Girls CODE; Betsy Corcoran, co-founder and CEO, EdSurge; Ben Jealous, partner, Kapor Center for Social Impact; Nancy Poon Lue, executive director of GSV Summit; Daniel Lurie, founder and CEO, Tipping Point Community; Ramona Pierson, co-founder and CEO, Declara; and Sebastian Thrun, founder and CEO, Udacity.
“We need to welcome ideas from every corner that use technology in innovative ways to help students succeed,” said Nancy Poon Lue, executive director, GSV Summit. “The Aspire Accelerator’s unique focus on helping both for- and non-profit ed-tech ventures thrive is already having an impact. I’m excited to join the Board of Advisors and see what the 2016 class will achieve.”
Aspire Accelerator’s customized 6-month program includes:
- Aspire Investment – $100,000 AT&T investment and an additional $25,000 for each venture to cover costs of the program. For non-profit companies, the investment will be a general contribution. They receive this in exchange for participating in the Aspire Accelerator and meeting certain requirements, including submitting impact measurements.
- Mentorship – Access to AT&T and external mentors from education and technology.
- National Platform – Inclusion in the broader AT&T Aspire initiative, which is committed to driving innovation in education.
- Flexible Location – Organizations can participate from where they are, without relocating.
Potential areas of focus may include: mobile apps that drive education outcomes; platforms for teachers, students and/or parents; learning and curriculum management tools; assessment and outcome tracking platforms; education distribution (online instruction, courses, etc.); and increased access for existing best practices. Solutions for students at-risk of dropping out of school will receive special consideration.
from http://baltimoretech.org/news/calling-baltimore-ed-tech-startup-companies-att-aspire-accelerator-open-for-applications/
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