5 Ed Tech Startups Join SETDA's 2024 Cohort of Emerging Partners

SETDA, the association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology and digital learning leaders, has announced its 2024 cohort of Emerging Partners. Now in its 11th year, the program selects ed tech startups through a competitive application process for a year-long opportunity to engage with SETDA events, showcase their products and services, and receive guidance on the ed tech market.

This year's Emerging Partners are:

  • Eratesync, a cloud-based document management and audit compliance system designed to help schools and libraries navigate the FCC's E-rate program;
  • MegaMinds, a learning platform featuring interactive activities in 3D social online spaces;
  • PeopleBench, a workforce strategy and retention platform for schools;
  • QuantHub, a data skills training platform; and
  • Ryze AI, a set of solutions to help integrate ed tech tools into instruction.

The companies will participate in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition June 5 at SETDA's Emerging Trends Forum. They will also tap into insight and advice on marketing, fundraising, sales, public relations, and other topics from education industry experts such as Academic Business Advisors, Arc Capital Development, CB&A, Advancing Global EDU, the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials, and Innovations4Education.

"Since 2020, impactful marketing has grown increasingly important for education companies, due to the influx of entrants into the space," said Charlene Blohm, senior partner at CB&A, A FINN Partners Company, in a statement. "For Emerging Partners to stand out and earn districts' trust and dollars, a compelling brand positioning and strategic marketing program are essential. We're grateful to be leveraging our three decades of marketing experience to help another cohort of Emerging Partners fulfill their mission and bolster their bottom line."

"The aftermath of the impacts of COVID-19 still resonates within the states, making decisions on the allocation and expenditure of funds ever more complex, especially on the heels of a new National Educational Technology Plan," commented Stan Silverman, SETDA Partnerships Committee chair and senior fellow for emerging technologies at New York Institute of Technology. "SETDA recognizes the critical role that educational products and services play in helping address the long- and short-term issues facing the nation's schools."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • stylized human profiles, tablets, and floating icons

    From Feedback to Flexibility: 5 AI Tools Teachers Should Try

    As a fifth-grade teacher and AI School Champion in the St. Vrain Valley School District, I've seen firsthand how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education. Here are five AI-enabled tools I've found especially powerful in my classroom and professional practice.

  • computer monitor with a bold AI search bar on the screen

    Google Rolls Out AI Mode in Search

    About a year after introducing AI Overviews for its flagship search offering, Google has announced broad availability of AI Mode in Search.

  • portable Wi-Fi hotspot rests on a stack of books and a laptop in a library

    Senate Votes to Rescind E-Rate Program Funding Loaner WiFi Hotspots for Schools and Libraries

    The Senate has passed a joint resolution to overturn "Addressing the Homework Gap Through the E-Rate Program," a July 2024 expansion to the FCC's E-Rate program that allowed schools and libraries to utilize E-Rate resources to loan out WiFi hotspots to students, school staff, and library patrons.

  • silhouetted student stands before the White House, surrounded by abstract digital graphics of brains, circuits, and AI elements

    White House Sets Sights on AI Education

    A new executive order from President Donald Trump aims to advance America's position in artificial intelligence technology by incorporating AI into education and providing AI training for educators.