Accelerate your higher EdTech venture at Arizona State University

Pilot, test and validate at the home of innovation in higher education

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By the numbers

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students with k+ fully online students

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in innovation ahead of MIT and Stanford

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undergraduate and graduate degrees

An accelerator dedicated to real-world testing

ASU ScaleU is a functional higher education technology accelerator in which we integrate, test and validate new technologies at the nation’s largest public research university dedicated to innovation. We provide early stage EdTech startups with the opportunity to test their digital learning product in a complex and dynamic university environment. Each product that we work with dramatically and measurably improves student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

What our companies say

  • “We could not have gotten where we are today without ASU's accelerator program. ASU's willingness to test out new ideas gave us an opportunity to iterate in the context of real classrooms, and helped give us the validity we needed to move the company forward."

    – Turner Bohlen, CEO & Co-Founder, Beagle Learning, Boston, MA

  • “We’re excited to be partnering with ASU to modernize student support services as we continue growing. With the backing of one of the most innovative higher education institutions in the world, we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate and innovate together with the goal of advancing student success and outcomes.”

    – Samyr Qureshi, Co-Founder and CEO, Knack, Tampa, FL

  • "ASU ScaleU has been an unbelievable resource for InsideSherpa since we joined the program. We’ve been lucky enough to use the ASU ScaleU team as a sounding board for advice and insights into the US higher education system and their guidance and support has been pivotal to InsideSherpa’s growth."

    – Thomas Brunskill CEO & Co-Founder, InsideSherpa

  • "Having the distinction of being a part of ASU’s ScaleU has been both exciting and rewarding. The most helpful aspect of ASU ScaleU has allowed our strategy and exposure to accelerate on a national scale, helping to put us into international markets a full year ahead of schedule. K16 Solutions is so grateful to the team and leadership at ASU ScaleU!"

    – Thomas Waite, CEO & Co-Founder, K16 Solutions

How it Works

An accelerator built on function

ASU ScaleU is not a traditional accelerator or EdTech incubator; we're built to test pilot-ready products. As a functional accelerator, we provide opportunities to develop education technologies through product application in the world-class laboratory made up by ASU's diverse student body, faculty and administration. When you work with us, we'll pair your product with one of the hundreds of academic, research or service units within ASU and prepare your company for the next phase of funding, product development and customer acquisition. We're constantly learning of new EdTech needs across the institution that are, in many cases, waiting for the right solution.

We help you move through the channels of approval, from security reviews and procurement to legal and academic affairs, so you can launch and evaluate a pilot test of your education technology. We are relationship builders between our university partners and companies to meet evolving needs. What you learn while working with ASU can be directly applied in product development and used in creating proof points for new products or seeking additional startup funding.

The process

Once you start working with ASU ScaleU, we go through a standard process to get your pilot up and running. We know how to navigate the university's complexities and work directly with you as we progress through each phase.

How it works:

  1. Process application and perform due diligence
  2. Identify relevant ASU unit
  3. Design pilot
  4. Negotiate investment and accelerator participation agreement
  5. Guide through security review, procurement and other necessary checkpoints
  6. Conduct pilot
  7. Evaluate product efficacy
  8. Scale

Portfolio







Partners

Draper Associates

Draper Associates, founded in 1985, is a seed-stage venture capital firm that encourages entrepreneurs to drive their businesses to greatness, to transform industries with new technologies and to build platform for extraordinary growth, jobs and wealth creation.

GSV AcceleraTE

GSV AcceleraTE backs innovative learning and talent technology entrepreneurs working to give all people access to the future.

LearnLaunch Accelerator

LearnLaunch Accelerator, which is Boston-based, runs two investment-focused programs as well as personalized bootcamps for edtech companies across early ed, K-12, higher ed, and workforce. Using a unique mix of milestone-based funding, 1x1 venture partner & mentor support, LearnLaunch Accelerator works with impact-driven entrepreneurs on achieving product-market fit and developing scaling strategies. This relationship-driven approach supports funding, partnerships, and growth for the long-term.

News

Let’s Connect

Are you a fit?

We seek companies focused on higher education and the future of work with the potential to dramatically and measurably improve student outcomes.

Acceptance into the accelerator is highly competitive. Before applying, let's make sure you're a fit. You should have:

  • Focus on serving the higher education and/or future of work community.
  • Pilot-ready products or services to test at ASU.
  • Investor readiness — generally Seed Funding to Series A.
  • Strong teams with leadership and execution capabilities.

Are we a match?

Great! Let's start a conversation. Submit our contact form or email us at ScaleU@asu.edu.

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