S3E13 | Chaos and Opportunity: Michael Moe on AI, The Seven C's, and the Future of Education Investment

In this powerful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Michael Moe, Founder and CEO of GSV Ventures, to discuss the seismic shifts occurring across the entire learning ecosystem. Michael, who was a key figure in analyzing the first online education boom, shares his perspective on the current state of education, which he describes as a mix of "chaos and dynamic opportunity." The conversation moves from the historical rise and fall of institutions like the University of Phoenix to the present-day impact of AI. Michael makes a compelling case that AI will accelerate the need for continuous, lifelong learning and discusses his framework of the Seven C's—the foundational, durable skills required for success in the 21st-century workforce. He also offers an unvarnished view of the K-12 and Higher Education funding landscape, highlighting how the rise of school choice and the immense burden of student debt are creating both a crisis and a golden age for innovative education models. Michael concludes by offering his bullish take on why now is the ideal time to invest capital in the EdTech space.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• The Shift from Degree to Skills: Why the degree is no longer the sole ticket to prosperity, and how employers are moving to skills-based hiring.
• The Power of Invisible Learning: How gamification and new models will thread learning into our daily lives, making it continuous and engaging.
• School Choice and Accountability: Michael's belief that school choice, supported by 75% of Americans, is forcing necessary market accountability onto the entire K-12 system.
• The Investment Thesis: Why EdTech valuations are "dramatically too pessimistic" and why the industry's talent and opportunity have never been stronger.
• A Bold Prediction: Michael's long-term vision for American education to reclaim its status as the "best in the world," where "elite means excellence, not scarcity."

About Our Guest:

Michael Moe is the Founder and CEO of GSV Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on the multi-trillion-dollar education and future of work sectors. He is the co-founder of the ASU GSV Summit and is renowned for his expertise in analyzing disruptive, high-growth businesses.