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Blended Learning Startup Education Elements Raises $2.1 Million

Blended learning startup Education Elements raises $2.1 million to expand upon early successPalo Alto, CA—October 5, 2011—Blended learning startup Education Elements announced today that it has closed a $2.1 million seed round of funding from a range of leading investors, led by Tugboat Ventures and NewSchools Venture Fund and joined by venture capitalist Wally Hawley and education investors Imagine K12. The funding will allow Education Elements to continue building out its team, […] Read more

NewSchools Presents “Innovation Challenge” at 2011 Education Nation Summit

Young entrepreneurs put their education innovations to the test to win $100,000 prize and supportNew York—September 24, 2011—Working with NBC News and Citi, NewSchools venture Fund announced today the “Innovation Challenge”, a multi-day competition between three teams of entrepreneurs to be aired as part of the 2011 NBC News Education Nation Summit. The competition carries $100,000 in prize money, and the winning team will receive support in developing and growing their organization […] Read more

NewSchools Venture Fund Announces $150,000 Investment in LearnZillion

NewSchools Venture Fund Announces $150,000 Investment in LearnZillion, Personalized Learning Tool for Math and Literacy EducationSan Francisco, CA—September 21, 2011—NewSchools Venture Fund announced today a $150,000 investment in LearnZillion, a new web-based education tool and video library of math and literacy lessons, designed to accelerate student learning by helping teachers personalize instruction, and providing teachers with example lessons taught by some of the nation’s best teachers. LearnZillion will launch a beta version on […] Read more

‘Hacking Education’ Dinner Series Announces Detroit Event

The event brings together entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and educators to leverage innovation to improve public educationSan Francisco, CA – September 13, 2011 – NewSchools Venture Fund joins Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and the University of Michigan’s Social Venture Fund to sponsor a ‘Hacking Education’ Dinner in Detroit, Michigan on September 16.Founded by Jon Bischke of RG Labs, the Hacking Education Dinner Series hosts events across the country to connect technology entrepreneurs, policy leaders, venture […] Read more

New Class of Fellows Named for Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Program

Aspen Institute – NewSchools program recognizes leaders ready to embrace the challenge of improving public education SAN FRANCISCO, CA – August 15, 2011 – The Aspen Institute and NewSchools Venture Fund today announced the selection of the fourth cohort of the prestigious Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellowship Program. These 24 accomplished leaders join more than 65 accomplished fellows from the first three cohorts as participants in the program, operated by Bellwether Education […] Read more

Aspiring Entrepreneurs Gather to Present Innovative, Technology-Driven Solutions for Fostering Educational Equity

On Friday, July 15, at 5:00 pm, participants of the Teach For America-NewSchools Venture Fund EdTech Entrepreneurs Lab, a program designed to seed innovative ideas among professional leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs with a passion for education, will present their designs for truly innovative ventures that help close the achievement gap at a systemic level.Throughout this initiative, a particular emphasis has been placed on utilizing the power of technology to fuel solutions. Participants […] Read more

Mobilization aims toward 100,000 new, excellent math and science teachers for public schools in next 10 years

Initial commitments to 100Kin10 will increase supply, retain excellence, build the movement.In an effort to increase the supply of new math and science teachers and retain excellent teachers currently in the classroom, a group of 28 educational and corporate partners today announced 100Kin10, a movement aimed toward preparing 100,000 new, excellent math and science teachers over the next 10 years. The movement is a response to an urgent public call for change made […] Read more

Entrepreneurial leaders honored for contributions to public education

NewSchools Venture Fund announces 2011 honorees for Entrepreneurs of the Year, Organization of the Year, and New Market Maker Award at annual convening of education innovators SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 19, 2011 – While more than 800 supporters of entrepreneurial change in public education gathered at its twelfth annual NewSchools Summit in Burlingame, CA on Wednesday, venture philanthropy firm NewSchools Venture Fund announced the recipients of its annual awards, including Entrepreneur […] Read more

Mark Zuckerberg, John Doerr, Joel Klein, Sal Khan, Kaya Henderson, Reed Hastings to headline NewSchools-Aspen Institute Summit 2011

Silicon Valley event to highlight innovation in education for low-income children Contact: Joe Ventura, (415) 615-6862/ jventura@newschools.org SAN FRANCISCO, CA, April 28, 2011—NewSchools Venture Fund and the Aspen Institute today announced that innovation leaders Mark Zuckerberg, John Doerr, Joel Klein, Sal Khan, Kaya Henderson and Reed Hastings will headline the NewSchools-Aspen Institute Summit 2011. The invitation-only event takes place on May 18 at the Hyatt SFO in Burlingame, California. The Summit is […] Read more