Ed tech startups can apply for the 2017 AT&T Aspire Accelerator through Feb. 7. The six-month program is open to both for- and nonprofit organizations and organizations will receive financial investment, as well as access to expert services and mentorship. AT&T says its goal with the accelerator is to support innovations that can help every student achieve a bright, successful future.
“We believe that education is the most important investment we can make and tech is our business. When you marry up education with technology you can start to make amazing change,” said Nicole Anderson, assistant vice president of social innovation at AT&T.
The accelerator is open to any organization focused on developing technology to support student success. Past participants include Bitsbox, Cogent Education, CommonLit (501(c)3), Couragion, GradGuru (501(c)3), The Graide Network, LearnPlatform, MindBlown Labs, PlayPosit, Quill (501(c)3), and TalkingPoints (501(c)3). 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, AT&T said.
The Aspire Accelerator program is customizable and includes:
- Aspire Investment–$100,000 AT&T investment and an additional $25,000 for each venture to cover costs of the program. For nonprofit 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 an Entrepreneur in Residence and AT&T and external mentors from education and technology.
- Resources–UI/UX design services and opportunities to participate in education conferences such as ISTE and ASU GSV.
- 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.
AT&T will announce the 2017 accelerator class in May 2017.
