The ed-tech sector saw the launch of a new funding source for entrepreneurs last week. In addition, ed-tech companies outside the United States have been busy making acquisitions recently.
NYU Steinhardt, StartEd Form Ed-Tech Accelerator and Incubator: New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and StartEd Companies, a public benefit corporation, have launched an ed-tech accelerator and incubator headquartered on NYU’s Washington Square campus, according to an announcement on the NYU Steinhardt website.
The NYU Steinhardt Edtech Accelerator is accepting applications for the October 2016 class “from innovative startups focused on technology solutions to improve education and learning — across all stages from birth through lifelong learning,” according to the announcement
Each of the 10 companies selected for the program will receive up to $170,000 in funding.
Unique Heritage Media Acquires Pili Pop Labs: Paris-based Unique Heritage Media has acquired Pili Pop Labs, a provider of mobile language learning solutions for children. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
“The Unique Heritage Media group and Pili Pop Labs share the same vision of offering children the best learning and entertainment environment possible,” according to a blog on the Pili Pop website.
Pili Pop Labs—also based in Paris—offers two language learning applications, Pili Pop English and Pili Pop Español, which use a voice recognition engine that analyzes the pronunciation of children to help them improve.
Indian IT Services Company Acquires QuickEdmin: Hyderabad-based IT Services Company Ray Business Technologies Pvt. Ltd. acquired QuickEdmin, a digital education enterprise resource planning (ERP) “to strengthen Ray Business Technologies’ ed-tech competency, according to a statement from the company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Raybiztech said this acquisition “in the education vertical will bolster its existing service offerings, thus deepening its presence in India outside of its largest markets in US and Australia.”
Escala Educacional Acquires LeYa Educação: Brazil-based publisher Escala Educacional has acquired LeYa Educação, a group of educational publishers, from Portugal-based publisher LeYa, according to press reports.
LeYa was established in 2008 as a holding company incorporating publishing houses in Portuguese language and publishes fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, according to the company’s website, which also notes that the company serves the Portuguese, Angolan and Mozambican publishing markets.
Blackboard Affiliate to Acquire Higher One: A Blackboard affiliate has agreed to acquire Higher One Holdings, a payments technology provider for higher education headquartered in New Haven, Conn., for $260 million.
“The acquisition will allow for collaboration between CASHNet, the market software leader in secure online payment of tuition and fees, and the Blackboard Transact business line”, according to a statement from Blackboard.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Winchester Acquisition Corp., a newly formed subsidiary of Blackboard Inc.’s parent company, will acquire Higher One Holdings.
Be sure to check back on Marketplace K-12 for updates on mergers, acquisitions, fundraising, and other dealmaking. Also see EdWeek Market Brief, a service that gives companies operating in the market insights on the needs and priorities of school officials.
