EdTech Trends from the 2021 GSV Cup

Celebrating the leaders and experts that are powering education into the future, host JW Marshall sets out to ask the “right questions” in EdTech to understand the changes in policy and technology that will power our universities, tradeschools, and companies – and drive growth in upskilling certifications.

 

Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley (GSV) created the GSV Summit to highlight EdTech startups. The GSV Cup is the largest pitch competition for education technology. These startups will compete for $1 million in cash and credits at the event in San Diego this August. Voices of eLearning host JW Marshall spoke with some of the GSV Cup Elite 200 finalists to understand their solutions and perspectives. Here are some excerpts from the conversation.

Yael Kaufman, Co-Founder and COO, Learn In

What can companies do to upskill today’s workers?

“We help companies close the skills gap by removing the barriers to upskilling and building everyone up across the organization. So we wanted to share tools to help companies build skills.”

Anand Verma, Co-Founder, Tekie

What has the organization learned being part of the GSV Cup Elite 200?

“We bring the art of storytelling to make learning more like a movie. We’ve created a first-of-its-kind animated sitcom to feed the basics of coding. I believe all the startups that are part of the competition are trying to make high-quality education accessible to more and more people. And the chance to engage and share ideas with these folks can help us gain a lot of insight.”

Sam Rowan, Co-Founder, Onomy

What was the motivation behind Onomy?

“It’s an online learning company that democratizes access to practical knowledge. There is a need for this because after my co-founder and I graduated college, we felt unprepared because we didn’t know how to pay our taxes, budget, or other skills.”

Amanda DoAmaral, Co-Founder and CEO, Fiveable

What does your organization expect at the GSV Summit?

“Fiveable is a community platform for AP students. Our audience is the student. We’ve been hearing a lot of stories and perspectives from these teenagers about what they experienced in the last year and what they hope to experience in the future. That’s something my team and I can learn from.”

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Recent Episodes

As audiences tune out polished ads and lean into trust, brands are being forced to rethink how they show up for the customer. Research consistently shows that consumers rate peer-created content as more credible than traditional brand messaging, and algorithmic discovery is increasingly rewarding authenticity over polish. With AI reshaping how people search and…

As people seek relief from constant digital noise, the backyard has quietly become a modern “third space” in everyday life. Outdoor living, fire pits, and at-home hosting continue to grow as consumers prioritize connection, ease, and experiences that feel meaningful without requiring more complexity. Brands that understand this shift aren’t just selling products—they’re offering…

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Kelly Brickl, a trainer with SPEAK UP, in recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. During the conversation, Brickl shares data, real-world warning signs, and explains how age-appropriate, research-based prevention curricula can empower…