Imaginable Futures Looks to Make Impact in Learning Worldwide
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/20/20
A
new philanthropic investment firm has launched that focuses on the
future of learning. Imaginable
Futures
was founded and funded by Pam Omidyar and Pierre Omidyar, who founded
eBay. It's a spin-off from Omidyar
Network,
which has a broader investment mandate. The venture capital fund at
Imaginable has already invested $200 million with an additional $150
million for operations and investment committed over the next four
years.
The
company is following a hybrid funding structure, part philanthropy
and part "impact investor." Its current portfolio includes
for-profits and non-profits in the United States, Africa and Latin
America, focusing on learning innovation in early childhood
education; elementary, secondary and post-secondary education; and
adult education.
Among
Imaginable's "investees" are LearnZillion,
DonorsChoose,
Code.org,
Khan
Academy Kids,
EdSurge,
Wonderschool
and dozens of other organizations.
A frequently-asked question page on its website explained that it's
looking for "innovative" learning approaches that can
"dramatically improve learner outcomes and well-being."
When choosing where to invest, the company said it follows four
criteria:
-
There's
the potential for impact at scale;
-
The
investee can reach lower socio-economic children and families;
-
The
premise is "anchored in the science of learning"; and
-
It
has "exceptional mission-driven leadership."
"In
today's complex world, skill-sets, relationships and opportunities
are evolving far faster than ever before. This results in a need to
massively rethink not only what people learn but also how and when
they learn," said Amy Klement, managing partner of Imaginable,
in a statement. "Imaginable Futures exists to support bold
changemakers who are doing exactly that--so that every learner has
the opportunity, tools and support that they need to imagine, and to
realize, a brighter future."
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.