Noam Wasserman

We have spent too much time and money on education interventions that don’t work. Despite hundreds of new edtech companies and billions of private and public funds flowing in each year, our educators and students remain sorely underserved. With budgets tightening and imminent federal policy changes, there is simply too much at stake to continue supporting companies and policies that don’t make a tangible difference. That’s why, at Learn Capital, I’ve helped develop the Learning Impact Index (LII): a robust way to measure the impact of education interventions and channel resources accordingly. The LII provides a standardized framework to translate company data into clear outcomes– like cost savings or learner lifetime earning increases as a result of interventions. I’m hopeful that the LII will serve not just as an outcomes ROI tool, but as an accountability mechanism for key education decision-makers to deliver on our mission and be relentless in our service to learners and educators alike. This week, I presented the LII at The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity conference panel on Progress in Education Reform. If you’re curious about how the LII works in specific contexts and the kinds of impact it can measure, check out our joint white paper here: https://lnkd.in/d2huB2n6 I’ve also shared more about the LII in our newsletter, Venture to Learn. Would love for you to check it out and subscribe! https://lnkd.in/dgRiSNkR Thank you to Matthew Barry Charles Miele and Dan Lips for the amazing collaboration here!

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Wonderful article about Emily Knight and the whole The Engine Accelerator team on the amazing work their doing changing the world with #ToughTech!

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NFX is amazing. I love this pre-seed and seed funding team because they are the rare VC firm that provides innovative thought leadership in addition to financing. "NfX" stands for network effects, and they are particularly interested in partnering with startups and visionary teams that understand and center network effects in their products and services. The latest thought leadership article by NfX is titled "Why Great Bioplatforms Will Always Win." The key insight is that "a platform built on stellar IP and backed by a sharp business strategy is always “cool” because great platforms should make great assets. Full stop. It’s about balancing platform and asset development strategically. One should fuel the other and vice versa." You can find a link to the article in the comments. * the image below is from the NfX site

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Excellent and accurate analysis - I encourage everyone to read and share this, as it intelligently resonates with truth, facts, and an impetus and relevant moral perspective. "The Western left’s blaming of Israel for everything, and its implicit absolution of Iran, is grimly revealing. These people seem to view Israel as the only true actor in the Middle East, and everyone else as mere respondents to Israel’s actions. Israel is the author of the Middle East’s fate, while the rest of them – Hamas, the Houthis, even Iran – are mere bit-part players with the misfortune to be caught up in Israel’s vast and terrifying web. This is identitarianism, not anti-imperialism. A new generation of radicals educated into the regressive ideology that says ‘white’ people are powerful and ‘brown’ people are oppressed can only understand the Middle East in these terms, too. The end result is that they demonise Israel and infantilise Iran. The Jewish State comes to be seen as uniquely malevolent while Iran is treated as a kind of wide-eyed child who cannot help but lash out at its ‘Zionist’ oppressor. Israel is damned as a criminal state, while Iran’s crimes against humanity are downplayed, even memory-holed. This is where wokeness leads, then: to sympathy for one of the most backward and repressive states on Earth on the deranged basis that its criminal strikes against Israel represent a blow against the arrogant West itself. In encouraging our young to hate their own societies, we’ve made them moral fodder for a far worse society." #antisemitism #standwithisrael #neveragain #noceasefire #hamasisisis #destroyhamas #bringthemhome #bringthemhomenow #goodvsevil #terror #israel #campusantisemitism #sjpiskkk #israelnowandforever #metoounlessurajew #Metoo_unless_UR_A_Jew

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Somehow I’m on the university #innovation circuit! Recently at Princeton University, Dartmouth College and last week at NYU Stern School of Business. Love spending time with students. I always share these three lessons on how to break into #VC: 1️⃣- Write a Thought Piece 2️⃣- Host a Meetup 3️⃣- Share companies exciting you These are good proxies for the venture capital job (writing Investment Proposals, Ecosystem Building & Sourcing). Amazing: of dozens I talk to interested in VC, maybe 1 or 2 will actually do these 3 things! #venturecapital

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What does AI mean for humanity? 🌍 In an inspiring conversation with Rabbi Dr. Harris Bor, we delved into profound questions surrounding AI and civil society as part of the AI Faith & Civil Society Commission. It was a thought-provoking exchange about the future of technology and its impact on our shared humanity. Don’t miss the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gY25pMj5 #AI #AIEthics #FutureOfAI #FaithAndTech

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🌟I had a talk with my fellow #nurse innovator at HLTH USA event. He told me that he was going to win this event, and that's exactly what he did!!!🏆 I am immensely happy for him and celebrate his success.🎊👏 If you are in a #hospital or clinical setting you need Hilario Castillo innovation in your life. His innovative syringe cuts down needle stick by 100% and save your medical facility millions of dollars in needle wasting, plus increase patient comfort. When #nurses innovate we solve real problems!!💎 #nurseonlinkedin #healthcareonlinkedin #healthtech #startup #biotech

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Understanding the importance of traction can change the game for startups looking to raise funds. Traction is not just about numbers—it’s about showing consistent growth and potential. Whether it’s user engagement, revenue increases, or strategic partnerships, highlighting these achievements can make your fundraising efforts more fruitful.💡 #TractionFirst

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🚀 Unlocking Greatness: Roger Federer's Inspiring Commencement Speech at Dartmouth College 🚀 🎤 Yesterday, the legendary Roger Federer delivered an awe-inspiring commencement speech at Dartmouth College, leaving the audience spellbound with his wisdom and grace. 👏 🇨🇭 Federer's journey from a young boy in Basel to a global tennis icon is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and finding joy in the pursuit. 🌏 🏃‍♂️ "Always find joy in the striving," Federer shared. ⚡ His message resonated deeply, not just for the graduates but for all of us striving to make a mark in our careers and lives. He reminded us that success isn't just about winning; it's about the relentless pursuit of our passions and embracing the challenges along the way. ✌ 📆 In the workplace, Federer's philosophy of finding joy in the journey can transform our approach to projects and goals. Instead of focusing solely on the end result, let's cherish the process, celebrate small victories, and learn from our setbacks. This mindset fosters resilience and sustained motivation, crucial for long-term success. 🔁 Federer also emphasised the importance of giving back. His philanthropic efforts, particularly in education and sports, highlight how our professional achievements can create a positive impact beyond personal gains. In our careers, let’s seek opportunities to mentor others, support community initiatives, and contribute to causes that resonate with us. Key takeaways from Federer's speech: 🎙 1️⃣ Find Joy in the Journey: Embrace challenges and celebrate small wins. 2️⃣ Resilience is Key: Learn from setbacks and keep pushing forward. 3️⃣ Give Back: Use your success to make a positive impact on others. 🔥 As we navigate our careers and personal lives, let’s draw inspiration from Federer's remarkable journey. His words remind us that true success lies not just in the destination, but in the joy, learning, and impact we create along the way. 🤝 Let's connect and explore how we can support each other in our professional journeys. 🙌 Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change. 🌟 #Inspiration #RogerFederer #Leadership #CareerGrowth #Mentorship #Resilience #JoyInTheJourney https://lnkd.in/ghEVRaVW

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The power went out and he just kept pitching. In the dark. One of my favorite things that happened at the Seed to Growth Conference could have been the worst thing that happened. Fahim Rahim, M.D, MBA was on stage presenting about Nephrolytics and the power at the entire Sun Valley resort went out. No lights, no screens, no deck, no windows. What did he do? He just kept pitching. He didn’t pause, didn’t stop, didn’t quit. This is a great example of two things- 1) Founders are constantly dealing with very hard things and unexpected crisis. The best ones just keep moving forward. 2) There is always an opportunity- even when something bad happens. Everyone in the room sat transfixed as Fahim just kept going in the dark. What could have been a disaster turned into one of the most impactful and memorable things at the conference. Don’t quit. Find opportunity. PC: David K. Gardner #venture #idaho #seedtogrowth

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I recently saw this metric from Carta’s 1Q24 VC Fund Report, which is very concerning. DPI... is nowhere to be found in earlier vintages that probably should start showing DPI. Funding early-stage projects is great, but ultimately, these venture dollars need to exit their investments and pay back their limited partners. That’s where the metric Distributed to Paid-In Capital (DPI) comes in. While managing a fund, we get interim measures during the life of the fund (e.g. IRR, MOIC), but ultimately, “you can’t eat IRR.” If you want to build a lasting venture capital organization, you need to start showing DPI for your fund. Keep in mind that this is traditional VC data from Carta, and is not strictly crypto venture. Crypto venture tends to get liquidity earlier (tokens) and things tend to go parabolic sooner (faster, more unicorns) - but I’d wager that the data here is somewhat similar for Crypto VCs… Not as much DPI as there should be from these earlier vintages. Read the full article, as well as a recap of all the crypto fundraising rounds for August, here: https://lnkd.in/g3eVJ-iF

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Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the MIT Jameel World Education Lab’s (J-WEL) ongoing series on AI and education. The event, titled "How EdTech Startups Are Leveraging AI for Education," explored the transformative ways AI is reshaping the educational landscape. I was joined by Jean Hammond (Partner and Co-founder of LearnLaunch), Joy Dasgupta (CEO of Gyan AI), William B. Bonvillian, and Megan Mitchell (Moderator).   Here are my 5 key takeaways from the event:   Building Trust is Crucial For AI to gain widespread acceptance among students, parents, and educators, trust is paramount. EdTech companies must build that trust by delivering proven, measurable results. Establishing credibility through rigorous benchmarks, controlled trials, and demonstrated efficacy will be essential in ensuring confidence in AI-driven tools. With the proliferation of AI, the demand for precise, comprehensive impact measurement becomes even more critical.    AI Goes Beyond LLMs While Large Language Models (LLMs) have dominated the conversation around AI, they represent just one piece of the puzzle. For instance, at EnglishHelper, our AI model operates without data-driven training, is fully explainable, and free from bias. Additionally, it operates efficiently without demanding significant computational power, reducing the need for excessive electricity consumption from data centers.    AI Will Make Education More Accessible  AI has the potential to break down barriers to education by making learning more accessible to people worldwide. From AI-powered tutoring that provides one-on-one support to translation tools that bridge language gaps, AI can democratize education, reaching underserved communities and students with diverse learning needs. This will create opportunities for lifelong learning and skill development, regardless of geographical or economic constraints.   AI Can Personalize Learning at Scale One of AI's most powerful applications in education is its ability to tailor learning experiences to individual needs. By analyzing student performance and preferences, AI can adapt content, pace, and difficulty, offering personalized learning pathways that would be impossible to achieve with traditional methods.   The Future Lies in Human-AI Collaboration There’s a lot of talk about robots replacing humans, but in education, the future is a partnership. AI can handle the time-consuming administrative tasks, while teachers focus on the human side—mentorship, support, and fostering creativity. Together, humans and AI can deliver better learning outcomes than either could alone.   I would be excited to hear your thoughts on how you feel AI can transform the education space. Please share your comments below. Venkat Srinivasan Vijay Kumar Cathy Casserly EnglishHelper 

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The latest from The Rabid Capitalist:

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🚨Please watch! TAKE THIS QUICK TEST 🚨 👇🏾 COMMENT HOW DID YOU DO! I recently watched a video on Selective Attention, and it reminded me of the early days running our startup. My CTO and I would pitch, showing our viability, and generate $50k in sales by the end of the meeting, only to face dismissive investors. Fast forward to fundraising for Assemble and observing peers, I've noticed the same patterns. It's expected, especially when tackling education—one of the biggest global challenges. When pitching educational products for underserved communities, I'm often speaking to investors unfamiliar with these subtle issues. While it's my job to educate, it's also the responsibility of all leaders to educate themselves. Buzzwords like modality, frameworks, investor returns, exits, and impact are common, but true understanding requires diverse leadership, capital, and solutions. Jane from Harvard may have a PhD in education, but without inner-city experience, how can she make well-informed decisions around that demographic? Similarly, Jack from the inner city might struggle to create solutions for Ivy League campuses. The Point 🚨 I didn't see the gorilla. We are all victim to selective attention patterns at times, however we must all learn, be open, and mindful of opportunities. When we do, students and children will truly win and that's IMPACT. 🌍📚✨

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Two announcements re: our upcoming first-of-its-kind-event: a) 70+ Attendees are registered! b) The upcoming SiliconXL LaunchAthon is perfect for Job Seekers, Software Engineers and Boston-based Startups For more info or to register, visit ---> https://lnkd.in/efPxJ6Fk www - launchathons - com/boston The upcoming SiliconXL LaunchAthon is designed to provide job seekers with an immersive, hands-on experience that goes beyond traditional training. Through targeted AI coding workshops, attendees will dive deep into advanced AI tools and coding platforms, equipping them with practical skills that employers actively seek. These workshops allow job seekers to build real-world projects in collaboration with industry mentors, creating tangible portfolio pieces that showcase their abilities and problem-solving prowess. For those looking to enter the tech field, our LaunchAthon is an invaluable opportunity to gain relevant, hands-on experience that will make them stand out in a competitive job market. Furthermore, the collaborative environment encourages networking with potential employers and peers, giving job seekers a head start on forming connections that may lead to employment opportunities. For software engineers already in the workforce, our LaunchAthon’s workshops provide a vital opportunity to upskill and explore emerging technologies that might not be part of their current roles. The hands-on experience in AI-powered coding workshops offers a practical way to stay updated with industry trends, experiment with new tools, and learn innovative problem-solving techniques. These workshops encourage engineers to think outside their regular scope of work, sparking creativity and enhancing their adaptability to new challenges. Attending the SiliconXL LaunchAthon can add value not only to their current skill set but also to their role within their organization, as they bring back fresh insights and advanced knowledge that can be applied immediately to drive innovation in their day-to-day work. or startup entrepreneurs, the upcoming LaunchAthon offers an unparalleled opportunity to bring their ideas to life through hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools and collaborative workshops. Entrepreneurs will benefit from an environment where they can test, validate, and iterate on their concepts with the guidance of industry mentors and experienced tech professionals. These sessions are designed to accelerate the development process, providing valuable insights into product design, rapid prototyping, and market alignment. Beyond just building, entrepreneurs will also network with potential co-founders, partners, and investors, creating connections that can support their startup’s growth. LaunchAthon is more than an event; it’s a launchpad for entrepreneurial visionaries looking to create impactful, scalable tech solutions in a high-energy, supportive setting.

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HUGE opportunity

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