## LearnLaunch Fund + Accelorator 2021 Impact Report

At LearnLaunch Fund + Accelerator, we have developed funding and support for edtech companies that are focused on improving education since 2013. In 2021, our portfolio companies acquired a growing global audience of learners and reached 22,137,000 learners including K-12, college students, and adult learners. We pride ourselves in responding to edtech trends including a growing interest in efficacy testing across the education industry.

In the US K-12 market, we have seen that districts are tightening procurement standards to include learning improvement measurement. As the SBIR grant requirements now include a richer set of accomplishments, we are proud to share that 11 portfolio companies have collectively received $5.7M in grants, matching funding, and awards. SBIR, MIT Solve, Alper Family Foundation, Learning Engineering - Tools Competition, along with various US-based state and overseas government agencies are among the donors and organizations supporting this work. Additionally, we are proud to announce our own approved grant from Jacobs Foundation to design a microclass on product efficacy fundamentals for early-stage entrepreneurs. This project will allow us to highlight the importance of efficacy testing.

### Audiences Served
Since 2013, LearnLaunch Fund + Accelerator has worked with 71 companies, and over 690 employees, and obtained $208 million in additional capital. Our portfolio companies have increased the audience of learners reached in 2021 by 26% resulting in over 22 million learners globally. Adult learners were the largest audience served, followed by K-12 students, and lastly college students.


### Allocation of Funds
At LearnLaunch, we value diversity and impact and strongly believe that diverse innovators should drive change in education. Firstly, across 71 investments, 34 companies were co-founded and/or co-led by female founders (54.7%), while the remaining 45.3% of companies were co-founded and/or co-led by males.

The ethnic and racial demographics of our companies show that 24 companies were co-founded and/or co-led by underrepresented founders including 14.5% Asian, 10.8% black or African American, and 9.7% LatinX. The remaining 65% of companies were co-founded and/or co-led by white founders.


### Portfolio Geography
Within the United States, our portfolio companies are geographically distributed across 15 states including CA, AZ, CO, UT, GA, FL, KY, DC, MD, NY, NJ, PA, VT, ME, and MA, with the highest concentration. Additionally, we have invested in 11 companies overseas in the following countries: Israel, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Australia, France, Brazil, Canada, and Latvia. This geographical portfolio does not include the 24 exited companies.


### Methodology
Our approach to managing impact occurs in three main stages:

**1. Applications Review**:
This review includes an impact self-assessment during the intake process in order for LearnLaunch to evaluate the current and potential impact of the company. “Degree of Impact” (from none to high) is one of the seven selection criteria we use to select companies. Furthermore, we evaluate the diversity of each team which contributes to our final investment decision.
**2. Milestones Process**
In this stage, each portfolio company commits to deliver “impact milestones” as a part of the evaluation for follow on funding. We work alongside companies to define impact metrics using a survey based on reporting requirements of the ECMC foundation, which is one of the late founders of LearnLaunch Accelerator ll. Demographic data is also captured to address team diversity.
**3. Portfolio Management**
We continue to support companies with refining methodology for impact metrics including efficacy studies, and methods for tracking minority and other underserved populations. We also gather data about populations served and other metrics tracked by companies once a year.

### 2021 LearnLaunch Fund + Accelerator Case Studies

In 2021, LearnLaunch Fund + Accelerator was able to assist portfolio companies in order to achieve the greatest measurable impact. The following seven companies have made significant strides in the edtech field this year with the support of LearnLaunch behind them.


[CueThink](https://www.cuethink.com/) is a project designed to increase access to deep learning of math for students by combining executive function scaffolds, Universal Design elements, and structured student discourse to foster student metacognitive and problem-solving skills. The system will be built with an equity focus from the ground up by co-designing with educators and eventually serve as a vehicle for cutting-edge research.


[CareAcademy](https://careacademy.com/) is a company committed to creating career pathways for direct care workers. 94% of caregivers significantly consider access to further education when deciding whether to join a home care agency yet 75% of respondents were never presented with the opportunity. CareAcademy is committed to developing a credentialing ecosystem that enables direct care workers to earn college-level credits.


[MindPrint](https://www.mindprintlearning.com/) is a project aiming to predict math achievement in middle schools. This year the MindPrint Cognitive Assessment was studied and it was determined that the test could account for over 50% of middle school math achievement outcomes which is unprecedented predictability in K-12 education. The assessment allows educators to eliminate implicit bias with data and develop self-awareness, self-management, and self-efficacy skills.


[Spinndle](https://spinndle.com/) helps students learn organizational and time management skills which improve critical thinking and metacognitive tech design thinking in K-12. According to 77% of teachers, Spinndle’s metacognitive tech design was proven to help K-12 students get started on work independently and according to 92% of students, progress through a project independently.


[Education Modified](https://educationmodified.com/) is a collaboration and communication platform that aids special educators in improving efficiency in the IEP process in K-12. Using Education Modified is changing how special ed teams use their time to better coordinate communication and collaboration. Testimonials this year reported that the platform allowed participating staff to save hundreds of hours.


[Riff Analytics](https://riffanalytics.ai/) is a platform that promotes engagement and performance in online learning. Findings from a study published in the Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy revealed that students who consistently participated received final grades 80% higher than those who did not. Any additional hour spent using Riff's enabling tools increases a student's odds of scoring higher grades by 23% and their chances of passing the course by 35%.


[Peerceptiv](https://peerceptiv.com/) seeks to improve peer assessment and learning outcomes through a system that identifies students who need intervention or adaptation to instructions. 77% of students agreed that Peerceptiv was easy to use and teachers reported feasibility and effectiveness as an assessment tool.

## About LearnLaunch Fund + Accelerator

LearnLaunch Accelerator is a licensee of LearnLaunch, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to catalyzing innovation in the education sector.

Using our unique mix of milestone-based funding, 1x1 venture partner & mentor support, we are focused on supporting growth for the long term in the edtech field. We are motivated to help impact-driven entrepreneurs achieve product-market fit and develop go-to-market strategies to scale.

To learn more about our programs and company please refer to our [website](https://learnlaunch.com/accelerator/).