In this episode of She Talks Business, Zara Zaman, Head of Platform at Emerge Education, dives into how EdTech is reshaping the future of education. She discusses building strong communities of educators and founders, what investors look for in startups, and the challenges of being an EdTech founder. Zara also touches on the impact of technology on learning, retention strategies, and how the EdTech space is evolving to meet today’s educational needs. Join the conversation for valuable insights into startup growth, investment, and the transformative role of EdTech! 00:00 Intro to Zara Zaman and Emerge Education 01:39 The platform function in the venture capital industry 03:12 What determines the success of a startup ecosystem? 05:48 What makes a founder investable? What do investors look for? 08:19 Venture capital is not for everyone and alternatives to VC funding 11:04 Considerations for a good edtech founder 12:35 Getting inputs from learning scientists early on 13:08 Challenges of being an edtech founder 14:54 Effective retention strategies in EdTech 17:08 The edtech landscape today 22:45 Non-linear careers and AI-driven solutions 25:20 Why is now a good time for edtech? 29:46 What problems is Education Technology really solving 32:03 Is Edtech an alternative to formal education in social settings 34:11 Are edtech startups competing with Netflix and Tiktok? 38:35 Important metrics for edtech startups 42:03 Key data points for startup growth 45:15 Early-stage support needed by founders 47:28 The role of investors in startup growth 49:42 Can anyone be an Investor? 50:37 Identifying a good investment deal
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