The State of Edtech: What To Look Out For In A Startup
With topics like accessibility and remote learning in the forefront, EdTech companies play a critical role in improving education through various technologies.
The need for a tech-driven learning environment among students has been pushed by educational platforms, e-books, and game-based learning apps. The market has reacted accordingly, and according to some projections, the EdTech sector will be worth more than $319 billion by 2029.
Due to this expansion, there are now more EdTech businesses assisting schools, teachers, and students. Companies like Schoology assist teachers and administrators in managing and monitoring students’ progress while organizations like Course Hero and Coursera provide online courses to students on certain topics.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are a variety of ways to grow your company, attract customers, and make money while still operating as a business. The best way to ensure that your startup is the right fit for your company is to understand exactly where it fits in the digital transformation process. So, how can you avoid being left behind? Here’s everything you need to know about the state of EdTech in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Read: Educational Android Apps for Children
What is EdTech?
The abbreviation “education technology” is “EdTech.” It provides education and training to students, employees, and other users through the use of computers, computer programs, and educational systems.
In addition to the hardware and software used in what is commonly referred to as “remote learning,” “distance learning,” or “online education,” the broad field of education technology also includes theories of learning and expanding research into the most efficient ways to impart new knowledge and skills to people.
Different Edtech Ideas
Career-related Apps
Although they resemble MOOC platforms, they have a different function. Graduates and other professionals can more quickly and effectively learn the fundamentals of their dream job thanks to career development apps.
Learning Management System
Another form of online education startup funding idea that you must take into consideration this year is the learning management system (LMS). It describes a piece of software or a platform that functions like a business and gives users the ability to manage, track, report, and distribute learning resources along with other services like discussion forums.
Platform for Language Learning
These tools offer highly gamified, interactive ways for users to learn new languages or practice ones they currently know.
Technologies for Learning Solutions
These platforms give students the tools they need to succeed in coding and programming, much as online learning portals that assist students in studying any specific topic or subject. In this app category, Coding Labs, Aeon Learning, and Edureka are the top three Edtech startups.
The MOOC Portals
Top institutions all around the world provide distance learning courses online through MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) websites. They let students to enroll in any university in the globe, finish any course they choose, and communicate with other students taking the same course.
In other words, these platforms give students the opportunity to increase their knowledge and prepare themselves for the real world.
Platform for Test Preparation
Students can practice for admission exams including the LNAT, USPC, Mensa, IELTS, Gaokao, and CFA using these Edtech sites. They are able to track their progress, acquire confidence, and study for the tests at their own pace and convenience thanks to the software and mobile apps.
K12 Learning Apps
The K12 education app is the most common sort of EdTech application you may make. These web and mobile solutions offer top-notch films that are largely focused on the academic curriculum to tutoring children and school pupils.
The top startups in this category to look at for Edtech include BYJU’S, PlanetSpark, and Blackboard Radio. They are fully equipped with all the modern on-demand tutoring software must-have functionalities.
Some Edtech companies include:
- Duolingo
- Guild Education
- Newsela
- Udacity
- Panorama Education
- Course Hero
- MasterClass
- Coursera
Important Aspects that Companies Take into Account Before Investing
1. Key Issues & Its Effect
Several Edtech businesses are now considering entering the education market. The issues they are concentrating on, though, are either unimportant or have already been resolved. As a result, Edtech venture capital firms have started to invest ventures too carefully. To determine whether a problem is one that “must be solved” or one that would be “good to address,” they have started asking the entrepreneurs several questions.
2. Competitive Environment
Before making an investment in any startup proposal for an educational institution, venture capitalists (VCs) also consider the competitive environment. They carefully consider whether the Edtech startups are making progress on the issue they intended to address and whether they are having trouble outpacing the competition. The technique aids in predicting a startup’s future so that decisions regarding additional investment can be made.
3. Scalability
When funding any firm, Edtech venture partners pay particular attention to the issue of scalability. That suggests a chance for the Edtech concept to develop over the following two to three years while staying in the spotlight and securing consistent funding.
4. Business Strategy
As time goes on, so do market needs and consumer wants. It piques the interest of educational investors in businesses that develop distinctive and original business ideas and guarantee higher profits. It means that the business model you choose is yet another element that may help investors take notice of your Edtech startup idea.
5. Strong Cash Flow
A number of Edtech businesses run on a business strategy that temporarily deposits millions of dollars into their bank accounts before abruptly pushing them to the brink of closure. When investing in any educational startup idea, educational investors pay attention to this element in order to mitigate the loss of educational investment funds for any organization.
The Benefits of EdTech
Technology in education has several important benefits. Teachers hold the opinion that different students learn at various rates and in various ways.
For instance, whereas some students acquire material best by reading, others find that information presented visually is more effective. Students have the freedom to acquire education from the sources they find most useful and productive thanks to EdTech.
The ability to obtain instruction and training at their own speed and time is one of the main advantages cited by online learning students. Education and ongoing professional training are considerably more accessible to all types of people, in all types of settings, thanks to the flexibility of accessing online learning at whatever time is most suitable for the student.
It is especially beneficial to those who work a full-time job and would find it quite challenging to attend regular classes at a university.
One of the primary benefits mentioned by online learning students is the capacity to receive education and training at their own pace and schedule. The ability to access online learning at a time that is most convenient for the student makes education and ongoing professional training significantly more accessible to all types of people in all types of settings.
People who have full-time jobs and would find it difficult to attend regular classes at a university will particularly benefit from it.
The Disadvantages of EdTech
There are serious disadvantages to being an Internet-based company. Some of them may seem obvious, but others are less so. So before you get started, let’s get these disadvantages out of the way.
No Privacy: Not many companies are protecting their users’ privacy.
This means that people will be able to see what websites your company is on, your business’s name, and even what products you sell without your knowledge or permission.
No Security: Given how reliant we are on technology today, you’re probably already wondering about the safety of your devices. Luckily, there’s an easy solution to this: use a tamper-proof protector.
No Security Features: There’s no guarantee that an attacker won’t be able to access your network, steal sensitive information, or otherwise breach your security. Plus, as we’ve discussed, security is a very complex issue that requires a team of professionals whose job is to detect, prevent, and update vulnerabilities as they occur.
Conclusion
The digital transformation is a process that is becoming more and more important as companies get into the business of Edtech. It’s important for startups to understand what steps need to be taken to get their business underway and what steps don’t.
By following these steps, your startup can become more successful and gain access to important resources and contacts in the digital transformation process. A startup needs to get their business going and make money from it as soon as possible.
The best way to do this is to understand the state of Edtech in your country, your country’s competitive landscape, and what steps need to be taken to grow your business.
