Blackboard looks to next generation of edtech startups

Edtech giant Blackboard announced Tuesday that the company has entered into a partnership with Dreamit, an accelerator that runs programs for startups in the fields of education, health, consumer and enterprise technology. The partnership will see Blackboard working to provide “mentoring, customer and partner development and marketing support” to startups selected for Dreamit’s new edtech accelerator program.
Dreamit EdTech, launched in March 2016 in partnership with Penn State, holds “a mission to change the face of education by connecting passionate entrepreneurs with the commercial feedback and resources they need to achieve scale,” according to a press release. Startups selected to be a part of the program get mentorship, introductions to potential customers and access to a huge alumni network. Dreamit startups typically give up a 6-8 percent equity stake.
Blackboard will participate in what Dreamit calls its “First Customer Network”  — a program through which the company will host “a customer immersion on-site with key Blackboard stakeholders, mentoring entrepreneurs and opening doors within the organization for possible pilot programs.”
“Mentorship and industry validation from Blackboard will go a long way to breaking down barriers to innovation for our entrepreneurs,” Dreamit CEO Avi Savar said in a statement.
For Blackboard, a company that’s been strong in the acquisition game since 2009, a partnership like this allows the potential to get to know the next generation of edtech products and services at a very early stage.
Dreamit is currently accepting applications for its second Dreamit EdTech cohort (the first cohort included D.C.’s ruvna, which we profiled last October). The application deadline is July 6.

Dreamit applications are open for 10 more days! #GetToA and build a successful #startup with us here – https://t.co/KjCflNYSdi

— Dreamit Ventures (@dreamit) June 27, 2016