Ep 34. Leveraging Ed-tech To Help Entrepreneurs Transform Education for Chinese Learners

Today's show we have Meredith Karazin and Kelly Yang from LearnLab. LearnLab /光合空间 is an educational entrepreneur community, bringing together the best in education and business to help entrepreneurs transform learning for all. Our vision is that educational innovation—such as new modes of learning, adaptive curriculum, teaching tools that are smart and nimble, training for teachers, online courses, and so on— allows all learners to reach their full potential and dreams. Our flagship program is an accelerator, a four-month program that will provide early-stage educational entrepreneurs with educational partnerships, mentorship, talent, and funding to help accelerate their success. LearnLab also creates and supports a broader community through educational and entrepreneurial events and learning experiences.

Episode Content:

• I'll start with you Meredith, Telling us about Learn Lab and what you guys exactly do?

• Meredith, So you are essentially an accelerator, what kind of companies you accept to the program? and what stage? Any special criterion?

• Kelly, education in China is perceived as not being creative and based on repetition & memorization more than on analysis and understanding deeply the material.

• Do you see any change in that approach ?

• How do you cope with that when bringing new solutions to schools? Would they even listen?

• Meredith, I was advising an edtech company before in China, they had major difficulties moving forward because the adoption of technology in schools in China is really slow. How do you cope with that in learn lab?

• Meredith, Tell us about your most exciting startups so far, and your biggest success.
  didn’t we talk about this already? Mike: both, do you still see untouched areas in Ed tech that startups can still search for opportunities of growth in China?
  let me spin it differently

• Any conflicts or sensitive issues that you face from the government?

• From reading your bios You both live and breath education. What would be your best advice for young startups going to this field? And do you think China is best place for that to start? Be honest :)

• What’s the best way to get in touch and perhaps apply to the program?

Episode Mentions:

• New Oriental

• www.learnlabchina.com

• Email: apply@learnlabchina.com

• Learn Lab's wechat official account ghkj2015

• Meredith Karazin on Linkedin

• Kelly Yang on Linkedin

• Cross Border Summit: April 16, 2016 in Shenzhen, China

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