Startups

Penn State Online is partnering with DreamIt’s EdTech accelerator

It's a move that seems to fit with DreamIt's new strategy of reaching more startups by focusing less on location and more on virtual instruction.

Dreamit's 2015 demo day at the Cozen O'Connor offices in One Liberty Place. (Courtesy photo)

Penn State World Campus, Penn State’s online arm, will partner with DreamIt’s new edtech accelerator, the venture firm announced Monday.
It’s a similar model to DreamIt Health in Philadelphia, which had two industry partners (Independence Blue Cross and Penn Medicine) that acted as potential customers and advisors to participating companies. Founders have spoken highly of the industry partner model, saying that it led to crucial pilot programs to test out their products and that execs helped them navigate the healthcare scene. More industry partners will be announced in 2016, a spokeswoman said.
Applications for DreamIt EdTech (as well as DreamIt Health and other programs) are now open. The accelerator starts March 16 and does not have a residency requirement.
Apply by Jan. 3
Partnering with the online arm of Penn State seems to fit DreamIt’s new philosophy of embracing the “global economy” and focusing less on location (hence, the lack of residency requirement). DreamIt will offer a virtual curriculum for DreamIt EdTech.
It’ll be interesting to see if DreamIt EdTech’s other partners are local. The location of DreamIt Health’s industry partners seemed crucial to the program: companies would relocate to Philadelphia for the accelerator and be able to get pilot programs up and running with local partners. Those pilots would anchor participating startups. Will that change since the accelerators no longer have residency requirements?

Companies: DreamIt Ventures / Penn State

Before you go...

Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.

Our services Preferred partners The journalism fund
Engagement

Join our growing Slack community

Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!

Trending

Penn dean is a startup founder and ‘engineer at heart’ who loves the connection between education and business

20 tech community events in October you won’t want to miss

A glimpse into Philly’s thriving greentech scene, a bright spot on a national tour

This Week in Jobs: Start Spooky Season with these 27 scary good career opportunities

Technically Media