The combination of the COVID disruption – which highlighted the insufficiencies in our public education system – and the acceleration of generative AI have led to a monumental inflection point: We now have an opportunity to rearchitect education in America.
We all agree we must provide learners with opportunities that nurture, prepare and inspire. But our education system is not living up to its promise. Impact investors and philanthropists have a critically important role to play in building the next horizon for learning, ensuring that this particular moment actually transforms into systems change.
In the midst of this paradigmatic shift, a new definition of the “catalytic” edge in education impact investing is emerging. Earlier investments in reforms helped raise the bar for academic achievement and equity. But this new edge asks us to consider what is required to ensure that we drive toward an expanded definition of success – both for individuals and for the common good. Intermediaries, angel investors, and philanthropists are particularly well positioned to help define this edge in ways that build momentum and fuel purpose-driven entrepreneurs towards an equitable learning future.
Through this panel – featuring nonprofit & for-profit entrepreneurs, a philanthropic funder, and an intermediary venture studio – we’ll discuss this new catalytic edge and the power that capital has to spark systems change that makes the future of education work for everyone– educators, families, communities, and most importantly, learners.
