#FETC Pitchfest 2.0 was a huge success for our #startup community! Congrats to Jim Clor and the @SocraitEDU team! This year we changed the game on Pitchfest 2.0, making it bigger and bolder! We redesigned the event to mimic the redesign what change looks like in education right now! Traditionally, this event was a series of speeches given to judges to score, but this year, we leveled up and modeled what it looks like to redesign a system. Pitchfest 2.0 brings together the best in education technology to compete for top honors—and ultimate bragging rights.  This year participants created videos, and we empowered the live users of #edtech at the conference to vote for the new products most likely to help schools in the future. By increasing the creativity and amplifying voice, the collective community has made a selection more aligned and equitable to the needs of everyone.  A special thank you to our partner at @StartEd @edtechweek and both rounds of judges, these superintendents and CIOs spent time evaluating products for real use in school. The winner of the 2026 FETC Pitchfest is a visionary #startup with a groundbreaking tool transforming teaching nd learning. This year the Grand Prize Winner of the Future of Education Technology Conference Pitchfest 2.0 is Socrait 🔥 @fetc

Today 1 of my kids came by 2 visit. Software engineer. Had a grt convo abt AI. How integrated in coding and developing/implementing products 4 today & future. Difference of software developers using AI vs those that don't. Blown away by this!!! #edtech #edtechweek #fetc #Coding

Future of Education Technology Conference @fetc is just 31 days away! Now is the time for all #startups to apply for Pitchfest 2.0. Applications are online at fetc.org/pitchfest2.0 and DUE December 21. Our team of #edleaders & District Administration is reviewing the videos and the finalists will take the stage Monday, January 12 at noon for a lively competition! This year attendees will get to vote for their favorite new #edtech product! #GameOn Proud to elevate entrepreneurship and early stage companies with our partners at @startedaccel @edtechweek Ash Kaluarachchi ! 🔥@DA_magazine

At the @edtechweek conference in New York City, superintendents urged edtech vendors to understand districts’ unique challenges before pitching products — emphasizing authentic relationships, interoperability, measurable impact, and long-term collaboration over quick sales. 1. Know District Needs Before Selling •Moderated by Jennifer Womble Womble (@FETC Future of Education Technology Conference Chair), panelists Neil Gupta @drneilgupta (Oakwood Schools Superintendent) and Jose Gonzalez @JRGonzalezSELA (CTO, Los Angeles County Office of Education) urged vendors to research district priorities, strategic plans, and community goals before approaching leaders. •Gupta warned against “solutions in search of problems,” urging vendors to “dig deeper” beyond buzzwords like literacy and math. 2. Build Relationships, Not Transactions •Both leaders stressed that reputation spreads quickly among superintendents and CTOs. •Pushy sales tactics damage trust, while ongoing communication and collaboration sustain long-term partnerships. •Follow-up after implementation is vital to avoid products “falling off” after the initial rollout. 3. Prioritize Interoperability •Districts face major pain points when tools don’t integrate. Gupta cited over 110 non-interoperable systems in his district. •Gonzalez added that lack of integration can weaken data integrity and security — areas heightened by AI’s growing role. 4. Focus on Measurable Impact •District leaders care most about student and teacher outcomes, not flashy metrics like “number of districts served.” •Vendors should show evidence of learning gains, flexibility, and willingness to tailor tools to each district’s context. 5. Pilot Programs Should Build Trust •Pilots must be designed for sustainability, not bait-and-switch sales tactics. •Gonzalez criticized vendors who charge steep fees after pilots end and encouraged them to adopt pilot schools as long-term “flagship partners” to demonstrate ongoing commitment and student impact. District leaders want purpose-driven, student-centered, and interoperable solutions from vendors who listen, collaborate, and measure success through outcomes — not sales metrics. Vendors that approach schools as partners rather than prospects will stand out in the evolving K-12 landscape. @startedaccel Ash Kaluarachchi #edleaders #edchat #FETC Read full article at: govtech.com/education/k-12/e…

Our panel session at @edtechweek titled “Superintendents’ Wish List: EdTech Solutions for Today’s Educational Challenges” was full of insights, revelations and a focus on student learning, relationships & interoperability! Honored to join @JRGonzalezSELA Jose Gonzalez , CTO, Los Angeles County Office of Education (CA), and @drneilgupta Neil Gupta , Superintendent, Oakwood Schools (OH) for a thought-provoking session detailing expectations of vendor partnerships and edtech integrations at Columbia University. Together, we explored what district leaders truly want from #EdTech—solutions that demonstrate measurable impact, integrate seamlessly, advance equity, and build trust in AI through transparency and responsible design. I appreciate the panels honesty and openness to share what works! 🌟The conversation reminded us that innovation only matters when it solves real problems for students, teachers, and communities. We continued the conversation into the hallways and were grateful so many people were interested in this essential topic! #EdTech #Leadership #AIinEducation #K12Innovation #EducationLeadership #FETC #EdLeaders @fetc @DA_magazine Future of Education Technology Conference District Administration @startedaccel StartEd Ash Kaluarachchi Photo credits @mcovelle Mark Covelle, Ed.D. 🙌 #FETC

Making connections at @edtechweek with our @fetc district leaders speakers and vendor partners! 🔥Great to have a space to discuss limitless opportunities in innovation with John Buchanan and @JRGonzalezSELA ! 🌟Interesting insights into CTE from @bugg_lawrence Lawrence Bugg and @mcovelle Mark Covelle, Ed.D. ! Thank you @startedaccel StartEd & Ash Kaluarachchi for creating a space for grown discussions in #edtech! @fetc #FETC District Administration @DA_magazine @goguardian @PearDeck @DA_Leadership

At #EdTechWeek, Shawn Francis, Sr. Director of Product Personalization for our School group, joined a panel moderated by Matt Barnum of Chalkbeat to discuss how a learning science lens can help AI in education drive lasting student success. #RedCubeProud

EDTECH WEEK | Day 3 It was an honor to present on Building Enduring EdTech Partnerships That Last alongside Matthew Giovanniello Hayley Spira-Bauer Candice Sears Jared Bloom. #EdTechWeek #EnduranceEdge #EdTech #EdLeadership #DanWCox

ESAs aren’t theory anymore -📚20 programs, and almost all of them have huge waitlists📈. Families want in. Try stopping this train. 🚆 #edtechweek

Heading to #EDTECHWEEK? Our president @KumarAGarg will moderate “Bridging the EdTech Talent Gap”, a conversation on how the education field can build a pipeline of stronger tech expertise. 🔗edtechweek.com/2025-agenda

Today was a great day. I got to present at EdTech Week at Columbia University. Not only is it such a beautiful campus - but it was full of intention. Two sessions. Beginning the day around the mind of an #EdTech Buyer. The landscape looks very different today - not just in the 26 years I have been in the edtech world - all sides of edtech are morphing. Some of it around resource scarcity, some around legislation, much of it being impacted by generative Ai. The second session was my favorite. My friends. Jacob Kantor did a great job of facilitating the questions. Michael Conner, Ed.D. brought his charm and his great experience as an educator, principal, and superintendent. Julia Fallon brought her national and state perspective - and yes I threw the audible that she is a great DJ. Together I think we brought what was needed in a packed room - some much needed insights. Thanks friends for including me. New York has been a great dance back and forth up and down Manhattan. #EdTechWeek #Leadership #DJ #TheBag #IYKYK #NewYork

EdTech Week wisdom: 💡Game-changing products are usually born from a policy shift. 💡 Government funding doesn’t chase innovation- it lays the tracks for it. #edtechweek

Magic School AI’s CEO: we pause the tool when a student starts to build too much of a relationship with it. AI as a teacher, not a best friend. @edtechweek

Excited to kick off @edtechweek with amazing connections betweenk12 district leaders and innovative minds creating the future of education together! Thanks Ash Kaluarachchi for terrific start to a wonderful week of learning! Jose Gonzalez , Neil Gupta, Jeff Piontek Future of Education Technology Conference , District Administration

Exciting news! ✨ Eilert is joining @edtechweek for the panel “AI, Education and Privacy: What EdTech and ChildTech Companies Need to Get Right.” A timely discussion on trust, transparency & responsible innovation in AI & education. Learn more: 👉 bit.ly/edtechweek-2025

EDTECH WEEK | Day 1 Closed out a long travel day under the lights of Madison Square Garden. Tired, but accomplished. Then connected with colleagues and friends. Looking forward to learning together this week! #EdTechWeek #EnduranceEdge #LeadOnTheEdg

One Big Beautiful Bills’ 🇺🇸biggest miss? No state AI policy exemption. Now every tech company gets to implement 50 versions of AI privacy laws 💻…with state AGs ready to enforce by their favorite method …@edtechweek

2025 @edtechweek began today, hosted by StartEd, bringing together innovators and educators to inclusively address pressing challenges in education. Info:edtechweek.com/ Innovative sessions are scheduled feat. @Jessica__Sie, @PJCaposey, @jtbloom & other speakers. #edtech

If you are in NYC for EdTechWeek, come say hello.

We'd love to see #edtechweek attendees at today's 3:00 pm panel "Something Old, Something New: Closing the Early Learning Gap in an Algorithmic Age." The @cooneycenter's Medha Tare will be in conversation with Michael Levine, Sara DeWitt, Christopher Cerf and Christie Pang.