Education Technology Innovators Sought for Incubation Program at 2013 SIIA Ed Tech Industry Summit
Finalists Will Receive One-on-One Access to Industry Leaders for Expert Advice, Mentorship, and Growth
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 23, 2013) – The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is accepting applicants for its Innovation Incubator Program. Selected developers of promising new technologies in the K-12 and postsecondary space will be invited to participate in the Innovation Incubator Program at the 10th annual SIIA Ed Tech Industry Summit in San Francisco, May 5-7, 2013. The deadline to apply for the Innovation Incubator Program is March 8, 2013.
The SIIA Innovation Incubator Program identifies and supports entrepreneurs in their development and distribution of innovative learning technologies. The program began in 2006, and has provided incubation for dozens of successful products and companies in their efforts to improve education through the use of software, digital content, and related technologies. The program is open to applicants from academic and non-profit institutions, pre-revenue and early-stage companies, as well as established companies with newly developed technologies.
“We are eager to learn about all of the original and exciting companies that will compete in this Innovation Incubator Program cycle,” said Karen Billings, vice president for the Education Division at SIIA. “Our SIIA members value having early access to these technologies.”
All education technology companies are encouraged to apply – from start-ups to established innovators. A panel of industry professional judges will then select 10 participants and one alternate to present their products during the Ed Tech Industry Summit. One winner and one runner-up will be selected in the Most Innovative and Most Likely to Succeed categories by conference attendees. Educators and administrators from around the U.S. will vote for the Educator’s Choice Award after online presentations from the selected participants. Classroom, Inc. had the distinction of receiving the first-ever Educator’s Choice Award at the Ed Tech Business Forum in New York City last November.
Innovation Incubator Program participants will be selected from the applicant pool based on key selection criteria, including:
- The extent to which their innovation represents a “sea change” in thinking
- Potential to positively impact education by way of enhanced student achievement, teacher effectiveness, cost reduction, and efficiency
- Education focus and end-user impact/market need for the innovation
- Representation of K-12/postsecondary market levels
- Level of originality and innovation
The Innovation Incubator winners at last year’s Ed Tech Industry Summit were:
- The Language Express, which teaches social and life skills to 3-21-year-olds
- Game-enhanced Interactive Science, which promotes scientific literacy and student interest in science careers
Clever, which provides a modern set of APIs that allow ISVs to – for the first time – plug directly into a school’s existing data infrastructure, won Most Innovative and Most Likely to Succeed at the recent Ed Tech Business Forum.
For more information about the Innovation Incubator Program, or to apply, visit http://siia.net/etis/2013/incubator.asp.
About SIIA
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education, and intellectual property protection to more than 500 leading software and information companies. The SIIA Education Division serves and represents more than 200 member companies that provide software, digital content and other technologies that address educational needs. The Division shapes and supports the industry by providing leadership, advocacy, business development opportunities and critical market information. For more information, visit www.siia.net/education.
Media Contacts
• Laura Greenback, SIIA Communications, 410-533-1943, lgreenback@siia.net
• Saul Hafenbredl, C. Blohm & Associates, 608-216-7300 x25, saul@cblohm.com