Institute for Education Innovation Announces New Startup Showcase for Supes' Choice Awards

The Only Education Industry Awards Judged Exclusively by School District Superintendents Will Now Honor the Best in EdTech Startups

NEW YORK, April 17, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Institute for Education Innovation (IEI), a national school superintendent think tank that serves as the bridge between district leaders and the K-12 industry to develop solutions to the greatest challenges in public education, has opened the call for edtech startups to apply for this year's Supes' Choice Awards. IEI is thrilled to announce that a new startup showcase format will be the centerpiece of this year's awards.

During a three-day competition on December 4-6, 2024, edtech startup companies will present their solutions in a panel format in front of an audience of CEOs, founders, investors and board members from IEI partner companies. These "SupeTank" panel pitch sessions will be judged by numerous superintendents, district leaders, industry leaders, and investors from across the United States.

A small group of startups will be named "best in show" and invited to present their pitches at the Supes' Choice Awards Gala on December 6 in New York City as well as via livestream.

"Unlike other edtech startup pitch events, the SupeTank pitch sessions will focus on students' needs in the panelists' districts," said Doug Roberts, CEO and founder of IEI. "By blending these panels with district leaders, industry leaders, and investors, edtech startups will receive valuable insights they can act on, and they will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the nation's most forward-thinking district leaders."

Roberts said the format change has benefits for everyone involved. The superintendents in the IEI community are constantly seeking new and innovative solutions that can help them solve challenges in delivering a high quality education for the students they serve. Edtech startup companies who spend time early in their development listening to and learning from superintendents will have a stronger ability to be responsive to the needs of public school students and educators. Moreover, the new SupeTank format will allow IEI to provide guidance and coaching to startup companies at a startup-friendly price.

"The Supes' Choice Awards will now provide relevant, real-time feedback to startup founders from the educators who are implementing these solutions ? which will ultimately help to drive meaningful innovation and change for students and educators," said Roberts.

Startup companies must be selected via a competitive application process to participate in Supes' Choice. To celebrate the K-12 industry's startup founders, IEI is waiving the application fee for all applications submitted and received by April 30, 2024, coinciding with the annual ASU GSV Summit held in San Diego every April. Startups who apply and are accepted will also get their program fee returned to them as a credit on their first IEI event or IEI: Advise engagement.

For more details about the application process for edtech startups, please visit http://www.supeschoice.com.

About the Institute for Education Innovation
Superintendents are defenders of our children's right to a high-quality public education, and lead their teams toward effective, sustainable solutions to age-old problems. They must be at the center of discussions around when, where, and how innovation will affect teaching and learning. Many education solution providers, funders, researchers, and thought leaders are mission-driven: they do what they do to improve student outcomes. The Institute for Education Innovation bridges gaps between the individuals and organizations committed to seeing students succeed in school and life, creating a safe space for constructive problem-solving and innovative thinking. http://www.instituteforedinnovation.com.

Media Contact

Sarah Williamson, Institute for Education Innovation, 503-349-3548, [email protected], https://www.swpr-group.com/

SOURCE Institute for Education Innovation