IVCA Preview: Lon Chow, Partner at Apex Venture, to
moderate IVCA Luncheon 'How Entrepreneurs are Addressing Gaps in Education'
November 7, 2012 11:59 PM -
CHICAGO – November 13th, 2012, is the date for the next IVCA Luncheon,
with the timely topic of “How Entrepreneurs are Addressing Gaps in
Education”. Lon Chow, General Partner at Apex Venture Partners,
will moderate the panel of entrepreneurs who have approached both primary and
secondary education with a different and unique approach – Neal Sales-Griffith
of The Starter League, Howard Tullman of Flashpoint Academy and Shegan
Campbell of Kids Science Labs.
The IVCA spoke with Lon Chow last week, to get a preview of the Luncheon, and to discuss the issues surrounding this creative education movement.
IVCA: What was the origin of this subject for an IVCA luncheon? Why do you think it's a vital issue to talk about today?
Lon Chow: This subject originated from both professional and personal perspectives. On the professional side, I see a lot of entrepreneurs doing very interesting things in the education space. Some of the more interesting ventures are around the topic of this luncheon - how entrepreneurs are disrupting the education industry from the ‘outside-in,’ versus improving education from the ‘inside-out,’ such as selling technologies and services to school districts and universities to improve existing processes.
On the personal side, I am interested in what makes a successful young entrepreneur. I believe the professional careers of my children’s generation will be more entrepreneurial in nature than prior generations. When I look at all the talented young entrepreneurs I have met in my career, I see a group with very diverse background and educational paths. It started me thinking about ‘what is the purpose of education?’ in the context of what it means for my children’s future.
IVCA: How did that context lead you to a different perspective on education?
Chow: I see a blurring of line between ‘higher education’ and ‘vocational training.’ I have a daughter who is a high school freshman. The pressure of the college process will start soon enough for her, and the process will not be pleasant. I think there’s too much misguided emphasis placed on getting into the ‘right schools’ versus what is the right education or professional training for a teenager or young adult. I don’t think I have the answers figured out, but examining this topic has led me to be more ‘open-minded’ about what the purpose of an education should be for high school and college students.
IVCA: Who will be on the panel, what are their backgrounds and what expertise will they bring to the discussion?
Chow: We have Neal Sales-Griffin, co-founder of Starter League [previously Code Academy]. It’s a for-profit school that teaches non-technical people software programming. Software drives a huge part of the global economy. People are studying programming for different reasons, some are looking to make a career change, others believe understanding how software works will help them be more effective at their jobs, and there are also people who want to start their own business and create the product themselves.
Next is Howard Tullman, a serial entrepreneur who is behind Flashpoint Academy and Kendall College. He fills a void in the trade-professional education. The purpose and definition of ‘trade school’ has evolved over the past decades. Today, people go to a college level school to specifically study to be a chef, filmmaker or video game developer. These ‘trades and vocations’ are highly creative, and require specialized training and education, which Howard is providing.
The final panelist is Shegan Campbell, who was frustrated with the quality and quantity of science education for kids, especially before they get to middle school. So he co-founded a business called Kids Science Labs, a location-based business where kids up to 12-years-old can take classes on science in a more accessible and non-academic way. This is to cultivate a kid’s interest in science and how the world works.
IVCA: What do these three different types of approaches to education have in common?
Chow: All three models are looking at the ‘opportunities of education’ not from a political or ideological perspective, they simply saw a problem or opportunity and solved it from the viewpoint of an entrepreneur.
IVCA: The topic of the luncheon is how these entrepreneurs are addressing the gaps in U.S. education. To look at the situation without a gray area, what are the main gaps that can be identified and what is the quickest fix to address those gaps now?
Chow: When you break education down into dimensions of quality, availability/accessibility, cost and relevance, the entrepreneurs I mentioned above are addressing the deficiencies in one or more of these dimensions. For example, Howard and Neal are filling gaps in relevance, accessibility and quality, and potentially costs – in terms of ROI and value. Shegan’s business focuses on quality, accessibility and relevance.
IVCA: Is there discussion in the entrepreneurial circles about the future of American workers, given what is not working in education presently?
Chow: Let’s put this question in the context of Chicago. Many people – myself included – believe Chicago is emerging as a digital technology hub for the middle part of the U.S.. For Chicago to achieve and maintain a leadership position in the digital economy, the quality of the local work force will be crucial. Many Chicago entrepreneurs are very involved in supporting and improving education through their businesses or through involvement with non-profit organizations that address issues in education.
IVCA: What do you want attendees to take away from the education topics you will discuss at the luncheon?
Chow: My hope is to not have a ‘how do we change the world?’ type discussion. It’s just not practical. I hope the attendees will walk away from the discussion with new ways of looking at education and how it can be improved at all levels from the ‘outside-in.’
To register for the November 13th IVCA Luncheon “How Entrepreneurs are Addressing Gaps in Education,” click here.
IVCA Members: Free
Non-Members: $35
The IVCA spoke with Lon Chow last week, to get a preview of the Luncheon, and to discuss the issues surrounding this creative education movement.
IVCA: What was the origin of this subject for an IVCA luncheon? Why do you think it's a vital issue to talk about today?
Lon Chow: This subject originated from both professional and personal perspectives. On the professional side, I see a lot of entrepreneurs doing very interesting things in the education space. Some of the more interesting ventures are around the topic of this luncheon - how entrepreneurs are disrupting the education industry from the ‘outside-in,’ versus improving education from the ‘inside-out,’ such as selling technologies and services to school districts and universities to improve existing processes.
On the personal side, I am interested in what makes a successful young entrepreneur. I believe the professional careers of my children’s generation will be more entrepreneurial in nature than prior generations. When I look at all the talented young entrepreneurs I have met in my career, I see a group with very diverse background and educational paths. It started me thinking about ‘what is the purpose of education?’ in the context of what it means for my children’s future.
IVCA: How did that context lead you to a different perspective on education?
Chow: I see a blurring of line between ‘higher education’ and ‘vocational training.’ I have a daughter who is a high school freshman. The pressure of the college process will start soon enough for her, and the process will not be pleasant. I think there’s too much misguided emphasis placed on getting into the ‘right schools’ versus what is the right education or professional training for a teenager or young adult. I don’t think I have the answers figured out, but examining this topic has led me to be more ‘open-minded’ about what the purpose of an education should be for high school and college students.
IVCA: Who will be on the panel, what are their backgrounds and what expertise will they bring to the discussion?
Chow: We have Neal Sales-Griffin, co-founder of Starter League [previously Code Academy]. It’s a for-profit school that teaches non-technical people software programming. Software drives a huge part of the global economy. People are studying programming for different reasons, some are looking to make a career change, others believe understanding how software works will help them be more effective at their jobs, and there are also people who want to start their own business and create the product themselves.
Next is Howard Tullman, a serial entrepreneur who is behind Flashpoint Academy and Kendall College. He fills a void in the trade-professional education. The purpose and definition of ‘trade school’ has evolved over the past decades. Today, people go to a college level school to specifically study to be a chef, filmmaker or video game developer. These ‘trades and vocations’ are highly creative, and require specialized training and education, which Howard is providing.
The final panelist is Shegan Campbell, who was frustrated with the quality and quantity of science education for kids, especially before they get to middle school. So he co-founded a business called Kids Science Labs, a location-based business where kids up to 12-years-old can take classes on science in a more accessible and non-academic way. This is to cultivate a kid’s interest in science and how the world works.
IVCA: What do these three different types of approaches to education have in common?
Chow: All three models are looking at the ‘opportunities of education’ not from a political or ideological perspective, they simply saw a problem or opportunity and solved it from the viewpoint of an entrepreneur.
IVCA: The topic of the luncheon is how these entrepreneurs are addressing the gaps in U.S. education. To look at the situation without a gray area, what are the main gaps that can be identified and what is the quickest fix to address those gaps now?
Chow: When you break education down into dimensions of quality, availability/accessibility, cost and relevance, the entrepreneurs I mentioned above are addressing the deficiencies in one or more of these dimensions. For example, Howard and Neal are filling gaps in relevance, accessibility and quality, and potentially costs – in terms of ROI and value. Shegan’s business focuses on quality, accessibility and relevance.
IVCA: Is there discussion in the entrepreneurial circles about the future of American workers, given what is not working in education presently?
Chow: Let’s put this question in the context of Chicago. Many people – myself included – believe Chicago is emerging as a digital technology hub for the middle part of the U.S.. For Chicago to achieve and maintain a leadership position in the digital economy, the quality of the local work force will be crucial. Many Chicago entrepreneurs are very involved in supporting and improving education through their businesses or through involvement with non-profit organizations that address issues in education.
IVCA: What do you want attendees to take away from the education topics you will discuss at the luncheon?
Chow: My hope is to not have a ‘how do we change the world?’ type discussion. It’s just not practical. I hope the attendees will walk away from the discussion with new ways of looking at education and how it can be improved at all levels from the ‘outside-in.’
To register for the November 13th IVCA Luncheon “How Entrepreneurs are Addressing Gaps in Education,” click here.
IVCA Members: Free
Non-Members: $35
