Smart List: 40 Innovation Investors

Getting Smart is acknowledging people and organizations making a difference with the 3rd Annual Smart Lists. During October and November you’ll see about 20 ‘Best of’ lists, not in order, not exhaustive, just people we appreciate doing innovative work.

Today we are recognizing 40 investors, incubators, and new school engines powering the learning revolution.

Funders

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Compact Cities, NGLC, teacher development
• Broad Foundation: Talent development, governance, and charters
• Carnegie Corporation: Innovation, high school redesign
• Michael & Susan Dell Foundation: Charters, performance management, Ed-Fi data standard & tools
• Fisher Fund & Silicon Schools: KIPP and new blended learning schools
• Hewlett Foundation: Deeper learning, open education resources 
  • See 4 Deeper Learning papers
• Nellie Mae Education Foundation: student-centered learning
  • See Smart Parents and blog series on Humanities and Math
• KnowledgeWorks Foundation: EdWorks, Strive
• W.K. Kellogg Foundation: places the optimal development of children at the center
• Walton Family Foundation: Charters, NGLC regional funds
• Kern Family Foundation: Charter School Venture Fund, TFA
• J.A. and Kathryn Albertsons: Reinventing the way Idaho educates future generations
• Kauffman Foundation: Advancing entrepreneurialism and improving education
• Ford Foundation: Supporters of YouthBuild USA, transforming secondary, HigherEd for social justice
• Rogers Family Foundation: Making measurable changes in the lives of Oakland students
• Raikes Foundation: Championing growth mindset and social emotional learning
• Donnell-Kay Foundation: Improving public education and driving systemic school reform in Colorado
• Imagination Foundation: Fostering creativity and entrepreneurship**
• Schultz Family Foundation: Supporting students through Onward Youth initiative

Incubators, Accelerators, & New School Engines

• 1776: Health, education, energy, transportation incubator, Washington D.C.
• LearnLaunch: EdTech accelerator, Boston
• ImagineK12: EdTech accelerator, Mountain View
• 4.0 Schools: Nonprofit incubator, New Orleans
  • See feature and innovation dialog with Matt Candler  
• Charter School Growth Fund: Nonprofit CMO investor, Broomfield CO
• New Schools for Chicago: School developer
• New Schools for New Orleans (& New Schools for Baton Rouge): School developer
• New Visions for Public Education: New/improved school engine, NYC
• Next Generation Learning Challenge: New school grants, Washington D.C.
• Get Smart Schools: New school developer, Denver
• MindTrust: Education innovation network, Indianapolis
• EDGE: NYC-based creators of the “Startup Generator”

EdTech Venture Funders

• Owl Ventures: Foundation-based spinout from Catamount Ventures
• Expansion Capital: EdTech seed investor, NYC
• Learn Capital: Early stage investments, San Mateo **
• Kapor Capital: Seed stage investments in information technology companies, Oakland
• Reach Capital: Non-profit venture philanthropy, NewSchool Venture Fund spinout, Oakland
• Rethink Education: Growth stage companies in edtech, NYC
  • See Tom & Matt’s paper on Boosting Impact
• GSV Capital: Growth investing, best innovation conference of the year
• Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers: Early & growth stage investments, Menlo Park
• New Enterprise Associates (NEA): Early & growth stage investments, Menlo Park
• New Markets Venture Partners: Early & growth stage investments, Fulton MD

This Smart List was published in partnership with Getting Smart Services. Getting Smart provides advocacy, advisory, consulting and public relations services to turn ideas into impact. We help for-profit and non-profit organizations construct cohesive and forward-thinking strategies for branding, awareness, advancement and communications.

* Learn Capital Partner, # Getting Smart Partner, ** Board member or Advisor

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