Education

AT&T Aspire Opens Application for Ed-Tech Accelerator

By AT&T
Jan 20, 2016 11:35 AM ET
Campaign: AT&T: Possibilities

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For- and Non-Profit Organizations Focused on Social Impact Can Apply

San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 20, 2016 – AT&T is calling on ed-tech ventures to apply for the AT&T Aspire Accelerator. The program is part of our $350 million commitment to empower students to reach their full potential. For- and non-profit organizations chosen to participate in the program will get financial investment, access to expert services and mentorship.

This class follows the inaugural class that graduated in October 2015:

These 5 ed-tech ventures thrived in the program. Together, they have already impacted more than 2 million students, 200,000 teachers, and 4,500 schools throughout the United States. Learn more about their experience here.

The Aspire Accelerator application is open thru Feb. 5. The program will begin with selected ventures in May 2016.

“The Aspire Accelerator shows how we use the power of our network to build a better tomorrow,” said Nicole Anderson, assistant vice president, Social Innovation at AT&T. “The inaugural class’ results continue to amaze us and are being used by students, teachers and districts daily. I can’t wait to see the game-changing solutions this year’s class will bring.”

The Aspire Accelerator benefits from an external board of advisors of leading education and technology innovators: Charles Best, founder and CEO, DonorsChoose.org; Kimberly Bryant, founder, Black Girls CODE; Betsy Corcoran, co-founder and CEO, EdSurge; Ben Jealous, partner, Kapor Center for Social Impact; Nancy Poon Lue, executive director of GSV Summit; Daniel Lurie, founder and CEO, Tipping Point Community; Ramona Pierson, co-founder and CEO, Declara; and Sebastian Thrun, founder and CEO, Udacity.

“We need to welcome ideas from every corner that use technology in innovative ways to help students succeed,” said Nancy Poon Lue, executive director, GSV Summit. “The Aspire Accelerator’s unique focus on helping both for- and non-profit ed-tech ventures thrive is already having an impact. I’m excited to join the Board of Advisors and see what the 2016 class will achieve.”

Aspire Accelerator’s customized 6-month program includes:

  • Aspire Investment – $100,000 AT&T investment and an additional $25,000 for each venture to cover costs of the program. For non-profit 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 AT&T and external mentors from education and technology.
  • 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.

The Aspire Accelerator is open to any venture working to develop technology to support students’ educational and career success. 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.

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About Philanthropy & 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. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring. Through Aspire, we’ve passed the $250 million mark on our plan to invest $350 million in education from 2008-2017.