Access Ventures

For those of my friends interested in education, the 4th annual ASU Education Innovation Summit is a tremendous event.  Forbes magazine has called it "the can't miss education innovation event".  

GSV Advisors have done an excellent job collaborating with Arizona State University.  As an ASU alum, I am very pleased to see the good that is resulting from this summit.  Give Michael Crow credit for finding new ways to collaborate and to inspire new approaches by industry leaders to address the problems of education at all levels.

This years event is larger than ever.   The focus continues to be on disruptions caused by education technology. 

Though disruptive technology is exciting,  new financing models - such as charter school movement is also a main theme.   Interestingly - the conference continues to lack participants who finance education.  The sources of funding - are primarily the government - and as an example the discussion of potential disruptions to the federal government financing of higher education.   

Pipeline issues are also a key topic, but through put - graduation rates and addressing career readiness of college graduates appears to be a short-coming or in another way - an opportunity for future entrepreneurs.

The conference reminds me of the quote - "You can't read the label when you are sitting inside the jar" - insiders seldom innovate or disrupt the jar.   What surrounds the jar at the moment is financing of education and job-matching / skill matching post the education systems.  Great opportunities for some new thinking.