Edtech Insiders

Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell
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At Edtech Insiders, we interview founders, investors, operators, educators, and thought leaders about the future of education technology. You’ll hear from leaders across the education technology industry and learn about all of the important edtech trends happening globally.

  1. 8h ago

    Week in Edtech 7/29/26: Gates Foundation Shakeup, OpenAI's AI Workforce Push, Y Combinator Backs AI Tutors, Coursera Invests $100M on AI Learning, and More! Feat. Kavitta Ghai of Nectir & Aidan McDowell of UniqLearn

    Send us Fan Mail Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, edtech investment, philanthropy, the future of work, and AI-powered learning. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:02:33] Bridges AI Summit brings district leaders together to discuss AI adoption, pilots, and edtech purchasing [00:05:19] Imagi raises $4.5M with backing from OpenAI, Lovable, Will.i.am, Kahoot!, and ElevenLabs [00:09:18] AI, cross-sector platforms, and portfolio consolidation drive edtech investment trends [00:10:40] Gates Foundation leadership shakeup signals a new chapter for education philanthropy [00:15:45] Gates Foundation and the future of philanthropy in an era of AI wealth [00:20:30] OpenAI report explores how AI is expanding workers’ roles beyond traditional job boundaries [00:21:00] OpenAI launches a campus leaders program to build student communities around AI tools [00:31:00] Y Combinator calls for startups building personalized AI tutors [00:37:35] Coursera invests $100M in a new AI-native learning company founded by Andrew Ng [00:41:15] Time’s top edtech companies list sparks debate over how the industry is ranked Plus, special guests: [00:44:39] Kavitta Ghai, CEO and Co-founder of Nectir, on AI in higher ed and K–12, student outcomes, and privacy [01:00:13] Aidan McDowell, Founder and CEO of UniqLearn, on personalized learning, career exploration, and student curiosity 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here. 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

    Week in Edtech 7/29/26: Gates Foundation Shakeup, OpenAI's AI Workforce Push, Y Combinator Backs AI Tutors, Coursera Invests $100M on AI Learning, and More! Feat. Kavitta Ghai of Nectir & Aidan McDowell of UniqLearn

  2. 4d ago

    Inside the Inaugural Columbians in EdTech Showcase: Meet the Winners

    Send us Fan Mail Inside Columbia's First EdTech Showcase, Alex Sarlin sits down with the founders and leaders behind the inaugural Columbia EdTech Showcase to explore the startups, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of learning from AI-powered discussion tools to health education, learning science, and content curation. 🎙️ Featuring insights from: [00:01:56] Pete Novak, Founder, Columbians in EdTech [00:14:48] Dan Wang, Co-Founder, CAiSEY [00:32:43] Kyleigh Sudlow, Lead Engineer, Puberry [00:41:22] Andrew Cohen, Founder & CEO, Brainscape [00:57:32] Kai Wright, Founder, Tangramio Disclaimer: Columbians in EdTech is an independent community for individuals affiliated with Columbia University. It is not an official program of, endorsed by, or affiliated with Columbia University. For more information, visit ColumbiansInEdTech.org. 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here. 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

    Inside the Inaugural Columbians in EdTech Showcase: Meet the Winners

  3. Jul 30

    Claude for Teachers: How Anthropic Is Reimagining AI for Educators with Drew Bent & Sandra Liu Huang

    Send us Fan Mail Drew Bent leads Education at Anthropic, where he oversees education initiatives including Claude for Teachers. A former math teacher, Khan Academy engineer, and co-founder of Schoolhouse.world, Drew focuses on applying AI to improve teaching and learning. Sandra Liu Huang is President of Learning Commons, where she leads the development of open AI datasets and learning science infrastructure for education. She previously held product leadership roles at Google, Facebook, and Quora. 💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode Why Anthropic built Claude for Teachers exclusively for educators.How Learning Commons grounds AI in standards, curriculum, and learning science.The role of open datasets, AI skills, and shared infrastructure in improving educational AI.How Claude integrates with leading edtech tools through new connectors.What's next for Claude for Teachers, including district partnerships and future AI capabilities.✨ Episode Highlights [00:03:27] Why Anthropic chose to build AI for teachers first. [00:05:50] How Learning Commons powers AI with standards and learning progressions. [00:08:52] Inside Claude for Teachers' integrations with leading edtech platforms. [00:14:41] Building open AI teaching skills and evaluation frameworks. [00:17:26] How AI can support meaningful lesson differentiation. [00:20:54] The vision for open educational AI infrastructure. [00:22:42] What's next for Claude for Teachers, including district partnerships and research. 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here. 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

    Claude for Teachers: How Anthropic Is Reimagining AI for Educators with Drew Bent & Sandra Liu Huang

  4. Jul 27

    Student-Centered Learning, AI, and School Redesign with Julie Young of Florida Virtual School

    Send us Fan Mail Julie Young is the Founding CEO of Florida Virtual School (FLVS), where she helped pioneer online public education and expand access to millions of learners. She later founded ASU Prep Digital and is the author of Say Yes: How Virtual Became Reality, continuing to shape the future of student-centered learning. 💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode  How Florida Virtual School grew from a small pilot into a global model for virtual education.  Why putting students and not systems at the center changes everything about school design.  Lessons for driving innovation within public education while earning trust and support.  How ASU Prep Digital is blurring the lines between K-12 and higher education.  Why AI should be a catalyst for redesigning education, not simply automating existing practices. ✨ Episode Highlights [00:02:42] Why Julie wrote Say Yes and the philosophy that shaped her career. [00:03:46] The origins of Florida Virtual School and overcoming skepticism about online learning. [00:10:56] Building innovation inside public education without working against the system. [00:23:09] How ASU Prep Digital is rethinking the transition from high school to college. [00:32:01] Why AI challenges the very purpose of school and creates an opportunity to redesign learning. [00:37:20] The rise of robotics, coding, and authentic assessment as the future of education. [00:39:33] Julie's recommended books for educators and innovation leaders.  😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here. 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

    Student-Centered Learning, AI, and School Redesign with Julie Young of Florida Virtual School

  5. Jul 24

    Week in Edtech 7/15/26: NYC Pauses AI Procurement, Anthropic Launches Claude for Teachers, Norway Restricts AI in Schools, and More! Feat. Louise Baigelman of Storyshares & Ashish Bansal of StarSpark.AI

    Send us Fan Mail Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they discuss the latest developments in education technology, from growing AI skepticism in schools and major policy shifts to Anthropic's education strategy and conversations with founders tackling literacy and AI tutoring. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:05:49] New York City pauses AI procurement across its school system [00:11:28] New study questions AI's impact on teaching quality and student engagement [00:18:00] Norway introduces strict limits on generative AI for younger students [00:21:41] Anthropic launches Claude for Teachers with major edtech partnerships [00:23:27] Why partnerships and AI ecosystems may define the future of edtech [00:30:52] How AI infrastructure could help smaller edtech companies compete [00:33:31] Learning Commons and connected platforms point toward a more integrated edtech ecosystem Plus, special guests: [00:37:40] Louise Baigelman, Founder & CEO of Storyshares, on expanding adolescent literacy beyond the science of reading [01:01:02] Ashish Bansal, Founder & CEO of StarSpark.AI, on building AI tutors that promote learning instead of answer-giving 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here. 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

    Week in Edtech 7/15/26: NYC Pauses AI Procurement, Anthropic Launches Claude for Teachers, Norway Restricts AI in Schools, and More! Feat. Louise Baigelman of Storyshares & Ashish Bansal of StarSpark.AI

  6. Jul 20

    Why Kids Should Help Design EdTech: Inside the Joan Ganz Cooney Center's Co-Design Movement

    Send us Fan Mail Michael Preston, Executive Director, Medha Tare, Senior Director of Research, and Liza Gak, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, are leading researchers focused on child-centered educational technology. Together, they are helping edtech organizations design better products by combining learning science, participatory co-design, and thoughtful approaches to AI. 💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode  Why involving children early in product design leads to better edtech.  How the Joan Ganz Cooney Center's co-design methodology differs from traditional user testing.  What children's feedback reveals about AI tutors, reading buddies, and learning experiences.  Why learning science and child-centered design should guide AI-powered products.  Practical ways edtech teams can adopt co-design to build more engaging and effective learning tools. ✨ Episode Highlights [00:03:35] Introducing the Co-Design with Kids Toolkit and why child-centered design starts before user testing. [00:06:22] How learning science and the Translating Literacy Research to EdTech framework shape stronger products. [00:11:14] What participatory co-design actually looks like in practice. [00:20:53] Surprising insights from children including why "less is more" with AI. [00:24:15] How educators and product teams should think differently about AI in learning. [00:31:53] Practical advice for bringing co-design into every stage of product development. [00:39:20] What's next for AI, child-centered design, and the future of edtech.  😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here. 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

    Why Kids Should Help Design EdTech: Inside the Joan Ganz Cooney Center's Co-Design Movement

  7. Jul 13

    Building an AI Tutor That Gets Students to Think with Sue Khim of Brilliant

    Send us Fan Mail Sue Khim is the Co-founder and CEO of Brilliant, the interactive learning platform that has helped millions of learners build deep understanding in math, science, and computer science. In this episode, she shares how Brilliant's new AI tutor, Koji, is designed to develop critical thinking rather than simply provide answers. 💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode Why the best AI tutors ask questions instead of giving answers.How Brilliant applies active learning and game design to STEM education.The philosophy behind designing AI that builds intelligence rather than dependence.What personalization should look like in the next generation of AI tutoring.Why learning should feel like a "climbing wall" instead of an answer machine.✨ Episode Highlights [00:02:32] The origin story of Brilliant and its active learning philosophy [00:05:31] Introducing Koji: an AI tutor designed to help students think. [00:11:07] Why concentration, challenge, and flow are essential for learning [00:15:48] Designing AI that guides students without giving away the answer [00:19:40] Early reactions to Koji and why parents are embracing this approach [00:25:30] What game design can teach us about building better learning experiences. [00:35:05] Sue's vision for the future of personalized AI tutoring. 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here. 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

    Building an AI Tutor That Gets Students to Think with Sue Khim of Brilliant

  8. Jul 10

    Week in Edtech 7/1/26: ETS Acquires ACT, Handshake Buys Uplimit, Google's Biggest ISTE AI Announcements, Microsoft AI Adoption Survey, and More! Feat. Karlo Young of Teachstone & Tom Sayer of Ello

    Send us Fan Mail Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they cover major edtech acquisitions, the biggest AI announcements from ISTE, the future of assessment, and how AI is reshaping teaching and learning. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:04:15] ETS acquires ACT, reshaping the future of assessment and college admissions [00:08:02] Handshake acquires Uplimit to expand AI upskilling and workforce learning [00:11:55] The debate over screen-free learning and the rise of Yoto [00:17:41] ISTE rebrands and launches a new Edtech Index [00:19:07] Google unveils Gemini Notebooks and new AI tools for classrooms [00:21:10] MagicSchool and Brisk expand their AI platforms for schools [00:27:15] Microsoft survey finds AI adoption reaches 92% of students and 88% of educators Plus, special guests: [00:32:10] Karlo Young, CEO of Teachstone, on why human relationships remain the foundation of great teaching in the age of AI [00:53:46] Tom Sayer, Co-founder and CEO of Ello, on building AI tutors that teach like great educators 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here. 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

    Week in Edtech 7/1/26: ETS Acquires ACT, Handshake Buys Uplimit, Google's Biggest ISTE AI Announcements, Microsoft AI Adoption Survey, and More! Feat. Karlo Young of Teachstone & Tom Sayer of Ello
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At Edtech Insiders, we interview founders, investors, operators, educators, and thought leaders about the future of education technology. You’ll hear from leaders across the education technology industry and learn about all of the important edtech trends happening globally.

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  • Creator
    Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    479
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Edtech Insiders
  • Show Website
    Edtech Insiders

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