SAN FRANCISCO, May 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* has kicked
off the AT&T Aspire Accelerator for ed-tech ventures with an
inaugural class of five innovative startups. Following a nationwide
open call for applications, these for- and non-profit organizations
were selected from hundreds to participate. AT&T Aspire kicks
off the Accelerator program at Runway in downtown San Francisco. The program includes financial
investment, counseling, access to technology expertise and
mentorship.
Each startup uses technology to help students succeed in school
and future careers. The primary goal – unlike most other
accelerators -- is making an impact on society rather than monetary
return.
The participating startups are:
- eduCanon – Washington,
DC – a platform (web & iOS) that lets teachers create
and share interactive video lessons;
- GradGuru – San Francisco,
CA – a nonprofit software service and mobile iOS and Android
app that guides and motivates community college students by using
customized nudges to take actions and engage in behaviors proven to
help them graduate faster;
- Lea(R)n – Raleigh, NC –
an education innovation firm providing a research-backed, online
platform & services for educators and their organizations to
know and manage the technologies that are best for their
classrooms;
- MindBlown Labs – Oakland,
CA – an ed-tech social enterprise that creates
highly-engaging mobile games to empower teens and young adults with
financial capability skills; and,
- Quill – Brooklyn, NY –
A nonprofit literacy tool that builds students' grammar skills
through personalized writing and proofreading activities.
"These organizations are on the cutting-edge of education
technology. Their innovations are helping students succeed in the
classroom and beyond," said Charlene Lake, chief sustainability
officer, AT&T. "Through the AT&T Aspire Accelerator,
we want to help grow these solutions to reach even more educators
and students."
The Aspire Accelerator's six-month program includes:
- Aspire's Investment – A $50,000 investment in each for profit entity or a
$50,000 donation to each nonprofit,
and another $25,000 to cover costs
associated with the program for each organization.
- Mentorship – Access to AT&T and external mentors,
including education and technology leaders on the program's Board
of Advisors.
- National Platform – Opportunity to be part of the
broader AT&T Aspire initiative, which is driving innovation in
education on a national scale.
- Flexible Location – Ability to participate without
relocating.
This is part of AT&T's signature education program, AT&T
Aspire, through which the company has committed to investing
$350 million in education. AT&T
Aspire includes various initiatives such as tapping AT&T's
technology expertise to transform learning, launching the
Nanodegree program with online education leader Udacity, and
committing to provide free mobile Internet access to 50,000 middle
and high school students in Title 1 schools across the U.S. as part
of the White House ConnectED program.
About Philanthropy and Social Innovation at
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education,
strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its
community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in
projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and
economic achievement; or address community needs. In 2013, more
than $130 million was contributed or
directed through corporate-, employee-, social investment- and
AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T's
signature education initiative that drives innovation in education
by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including
funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring.
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brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
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