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

Higher education is facing a pivotal moment. With the looming demographic cliff, rising questions about the value of a degree, and shifting demands brought by AI and evolving job markets, institutions—especially smaller colleges—are being pressed to rethink how they operate. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, undergraduate enrollment has declined by nearly 15 percent over…

Detroit’s resurgence story is impossible to ignore. Following decades of economic decline, the city has seen major revitalization, most recently highlighted when the NFL Draft drew over 700,000 visitors downtown. The stakes are high: Detroit’s growth depends not only on investments from billionaires, but on reconnecting with former residents whose personal and professional contributions…

Detroit’s renewal is no longer a distant dream—it’s unfolding in real time. From reimagined neighborhoods to booming small businesses, the city’s momentum is visible on every corner. Major events, like recent large-scale sports and cultural gatherings, have showcased its vibrancy to hundreds of thousands of visitors. But the real engine of this revival may…