Edtech Insiders

Send us a textIn Part 2 of our year-end reflections, Alex speaks with educators, founders, investors, and platform leaders about what 2026 may bring for AI and learning at scale.🎙️ Featuring insights from:Shantanu Sinha, Director of Education, Google for EducationKatie Kurtz, Managing Director & Global Head of Youth & Learning, YouTubeAmit Patel, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Owl VenturesJomayra Herrera, Partner, Reach CapitalJean-Claude Brizard, President & CEO, Digital PromiseSunil Gunderia, Co-Founder & CEO, StealthSofia Fenichell, Founder & CEO, Study Hall.AISoren Rosier, Founder, PeerTeachDan Carroll, Co-Founder, CleverJuliette Reid, Director of Market Research, Reading HorizonsAmanda Bickerstaff, CEO, AI for Education😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hitThis season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. As a tech-first company, Tuck Advisors has developed a suite of proprietary tools to serve its clients better. Tuck was the first firm in the world to launch a custom GPT around M&A. If you haven’t already, try our proprietary M&A Analyzer, which assesses fit between your company and a specific buyer. To explore this free tool and the rest of our technology, visit tuckadvisors.com.

Nolan Bushnell, the father of the video game industry and founder of Atari, teams up with Dr. Leah Haynes, CEO of Exodexa and advocate for game-based learning. They explore how traditional schooling fails diverse learners and why game design principles can enhance education. Topics include the potential of AI for personalized learning, the drawbacks of academic gamification, and the impact of homeschooling on innovation. They envision a perfect school day filled with AI tutors, physical activity, and student-led projects for deeper engagement.

Isabelle Hau, Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, delves into the transformative potential of human-centered AI in education. She discusses how AI can support learners with disabilities, fostering inclusivity through differentiation. Hau introduces concepts like relational intelligence and pro-social AI, emphasizing collaborative learning experiences. She also highlights the Create+AI Challenge aimed at enhancing educational methods and previews the upcoming Stanford AI & Education Summit, a pivotal moment for the future of learning.

Tom Vander Ark, founder of Getting Smart, dives into automation's effects on education goals, advocating for AI literacy. Bjorn Bilhardt, CEO of Abilitie, forecasts radical changes in higher education driven by AI. Jacob Cantor, from JK K12EDU, shares insights on K-12 engagement and the potential of conversational AI. Jennifer Carolan from Reach Capital highlights a shift towards micro-schools and applied assessments. Andrew Goldman from HMH Labs points to the rapid rise in teacher adoption of AI, focusing on outcomes and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In this engaging conversation, Rene Kizilcec, an Associate Professor at Cornell and director of the Future of Learning Lab, explores the transformative power of AI in education. He discusses how the National Tutoring Observatory aims to build the largest dataset of tutoring interactions to identify effective teaching moves. Kizilcec emphasizes the need for robust benchmarks to measure AI tutoring quality and reveals insights on how questioning can enhance student engagement. He also shares innovative simulation-based learning projects at Cornell that hold great potential in education.

Maya Bialik, founder of QuestionWell and former middle school science teacher, joins Peter Nilsson, founder of Athena Lab and education writer, along with Emily Gill, co-founder of LEVRA, an edtech company. They discuss OpenAI's new teacher certifications and the implications for K-12 education. The guests delve into early literacy declines, the challenges facing parent-education apps, and the evolving landscape of college admissions influenced by AI. They also highlight the importance of human connection and quality instruction amidst these technological changes.

Joining the discussion are Arman Jaffer, Co-founder/CEO of Brisk Teaching, and Craig Shotland from Matific, along with Marcelo Burbano and Ana Ricaurte of Arukay, plus Aatif Hassan from Dukes Education. They explore how Brisk is using AI to support teachers in real-time, while Matific gamifies K-9 math to boost engagement. Arukay highlights digital skills and SEL tailored for Latin America, and Aatif discusses the importance of resilience and character in preparing students for an AI-driven world. Insights reveal how innovation is reshaping education worldwide.

Charlie Hopkins-Brinicombe, co-founder of Trophy.so, shares his expertise on effective gamification in education. He explains why most gamification fails and highlights key mechanics like streaks and badges that truly motivate learners. The discussion explores how social features and community challenges enhance engagement, while Trophy.so's analytics tools measure retention impact. Charlie also dives into AI-driven personalization, offering insights on aligning rewards with actual learning outcomes. Get ready for a deep dive into the future of gamified learning!

In this discussion, Andrew Carlins, CEO of Songscription, shares the transformative power of AI in music education, highlighting accessibility and student engagement. Eric Tao and Austin Levinson from MegaMinds dive into immersive AI simulations, showcasing impressive learning gains in middle-school math. They explore how AI tutors enhance student comfort and promote participation in learning. The conversation also covers the evolving landscape of higher education's acceptance of AI and the importance of keeping teachers central in tech integration.

Frank Wu, co-founder of Aibrary and Harvard Kennedy School graduate, teams up with Susan Wang, Chief Growth Officer and Yale alum, to discuss the urgent need for lifelong learning in the age of AI. They delve into how Aibrary transforms trusted books into personalized, bite-sized audio lessons. The duo emphasizes the importance of grounding content in reliable sources and utilizing the Idea Twin for tailoring learning experiences. They envision a future where self-knowledge and real-world application become central to education.