FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Jennifer Fritschi
SETDA Director of Strategic Partnerships
[email protected]
202-715-6636 x704

SETDA Now Accepting Applications from Education Technology Startups for Emerging Private Sector Partners Program

Applications Due by March 17, 2015

February 18, 2015 (Washington, D.C.) – The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the principal non-profit membership association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders, announced today that it will begin accepting applications for the third cohort of startups seeking to join SETDA’s year long Emerging Private Sector Partnership Program (EPSP). The EPSP is a public-private partnership program tailored specifically for companies new to the U.S. K-12 education and technology market. No more than ten startups will be selected to be a part of the Emerging Private Sector Partnership Program.

Emerging Private Sector Partners will benefit from a variety of opportunities throughout the year to showcase their products and services, receive feedback and advice and engage in meaningful dialogue with state educational technology leaders. EPSPs will make their debut via a pitch fest at the SETDA Emerging Technologies Forum (ET Forum), June 26-27, 2015, immediately preceding the ISTE conference. Also during the ET Forum they will have the unique opportunity to participate in a full-day workshop led by SETDA’s Channel Partners and industry experts Charlene Blohm (C. Blohm & Associates, Inc.), Kevin Custer and Rita Ferrandino (Arc Capital Development) and Mitch Weisburgh (Academic Business Advisors). The workshop will provide valuable insights into the K-12 ecosystem and trends, advice on how to successfully market to K-12, and offer individualized feedback on pitch fest demonstrations.

To apply and access more information about the program and its benefits go to: https://www.setda.org/partners/strategic-partners/private-sector.

“Now in its third year, our Emerging Private Sector partnership programs affords SETDA’s state members and startups/early stage companies opportunities for meaningful engagement. This mutually beneficial relationship ensures that state leaders charged with school reform, improvement policies and programs are informed by insights into the latest digital learning innovations,” stated Peter Drescher (VT), SETDA board chair.

New this year, in partnership with CAST (http://www.cast.org), SETDA will ensure that at minimum, two of the companies selected will be those who design and develop solutions to consider the unique needs of diverse learners, including those with disabilities.

“I commend SETDA for proposing a selection process that acknowledges the importance of developing educational technologies that will prove usable and beneficial to learners who may typically need to make accommodations for the barriers that are often presented by new innovative technologies,” stated Chuck Hitchcock, chief officer, policy and technology for CAST and co-director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funded National Center for Accessible Educational Technology for Learning.

In order to be considered for the year long Emerging Private Sector Partnership Program and receive program benefits, companies must submit an application and if selected, pay a participation fee of $5,000 for the annual partnership. The deadline for companies to apply is March 17, 2015. Application is available here: https://www.setda.org/partners/strategic-partners/private-sector/.

About SETDA
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), founded in 2001, is the national non-profit association representing the interests of U.S. state and territorial educational technology leadership. SETDA’s mission is to build and increase the capacity of state and national leaders to improve education through technology policy and practice. For more information, please visit www.setda.org.

 

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