Horn, co-founder of Clayton Christensen Institute and co-author of “Blended,” will oversee the fund dedicated to improving outcomes for low-income students
[1]Robin Hood, a New York City-based poverty-fighting organization, the Overdeck Family Foundation, and Siegel Family Endowment announced today that Michael B. Horn will lead the $25 million Robin Hood Education + Technology Fund.
Horn, the co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute, a non-profit think tank, and the author of several award-winning books on the power of disruptive innovation in education, will oversee the five-year initiative and guide the Fund’s investment strategy. “Our society is changing rapidly, and with these changes, the opportunity to transform our schools to help every child achieve his or her fullest potential has never been greater or more urgent,” Horn said. “I’m thrilled to work with Robin Hood, Overdeck Family Foundation, and Siegel Family Endowment to craft a strategy that leverages this Fund to have an outsized impact for New York City’s students and schools.”
The Fund, a partnership among Robin Hood, the Overdeck Family Foundation and Siegel Family Endowment, seeks to unlock the potential of technology to advance achievement for low-income students. Horn will report to David Siegel and John Overdeck, who are chairing the Fund’s Advisory Board. Overdeck and Siegel are Co-Chairmen of Two Sigma, an investment manager using data science to manage $30 billion of investment assets.
“Educating all our kids is a shovel-ready investment in the future of our democracy,” said Overdeck. “Michael Horn’s vision will help the Robin Hood Education + Technology Fund make a significant difference for students in New York City and the country.”
“Technology is revolutionizing a range of industries and there is tremendous opportunity for it to be used to enhance the learning experience for students,” said Siegel. “The Education + Technology Fund has the potential to help transform education.”
The Robin Hood Education + Technology Fund will create crosscutting impact on ed tech (how we teach) and technology education (what we teach). Horn will vet the potential of the investment strategies to create measurable change for New York City’s schools and low-income students.
The Fund is guided by an advisory board that includes:
• John Overdeck, Co-chairman, Two Sigma Investments, LLC and co-chair of Advisory Board
• David Siegel, Co-chairman, Two Sigma Investments, LLC and co-chair of Advisory Board
• Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, founder and president, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen Foundation
• Dan Huttenlocher, dean and vice provost, Cornell Tech
• Eric Schmidt, executive chairman, Google
“Education is a critical tool in the fight against poverty, and we’re thrilled to have Michael join us in this fight,” said David Saltzman, executive director of Robin Hood. “As Michael knows well, disruptive technology can be a force for improving education overall and for low-income students in New York City in particular.”
Horn speaks and writes about the future of education and works with a portfolio of education organizations to improve students’ lives. In addition to leading Robin Hood’s Education + Technology Fund, he is a principal consultant for Entangled Solutions, a distinguished fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute, and sits on the board of Education Elements. Horn is the author and coauthor of multiple books and was named one of 100 most important people in the creation and advancement of the use of technology in education by Tech & Learning magazine. He holds a BA in history from Yale University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Material from a press release was used in this report.