DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DeVry Education Group (NYSE:DV), a global provider of educational services, today announced the first cohort of education technology startups to participate in its new collaborative EdTech Incubator located at 1871, Chicago’s entrepreneurial hub for technology startups. The first class includes four companies that aim to improve student outcomes with technologies designed to increase student engagement and collaboration, adapt the level of instruction to meet students, and connect diverse online learning platforms to deliver a seamless student experience. The companies will each spend time at 1871 in Chicago, connecting with the business community and refining their technological offerings.
“The startups in this first cohort have presented unique ideas and innovations that can benefit students and professors alike, and change the educational landscape as we know it,” said Jeff Dunn, senior director of DV X, DeVry Group’s research and development team. “Our goal is to help these companies take their innovations to the next level, and we are eager to begin collaborating with their talented teams.”
DeVry Group’s EdTech Incubator at 1871 is designed to help education-focused startups grow while accelerating innovation throughout the teaching and learning process. As the lead sponsor of EdTech for higher education at 1871, DeVry Group will provide the startups with access to educational leaders across DeVry Group’s institutions, as well as business education workshops, prototyping sessions, focus groups and other innovative events to help them succeed. The new DeVry EdTech incubator space is located in 1871’s recent 25,000 square-foot expansion.
“Technology offers incredible potential to transform teaching and learning at all levels of education,” said Howard A. Tullman, CEO of 1871. “DeVry Group’s EdTech Incubator helps these early-stage companies grow by providing the resources they need to develop their businesses, including mentorship opportunities from leaders in higher education and the ability to test their products with faculty and students at Chicago’s universities. We look forward to integrating these companies into the fabric of 1871 and growing our presence in the critical field of educational technology.”
The startups in the first EdTech at 1871 cohort are:
The SmartyPants App, a Los Angeles-based startup that offers a mobile, social learning app that gives students an easy, effective way to organize study groups and answer academic questions anytime and anywhere. The app also gathers data, which is used to predict and promote student retention and encourage students to graduate. The SmartyPants App is currently being used at Pasadena City College, El Camino City College and Chapman University.
CENTURY-Tech, a London-based startup building an adaptive learning platform that uses data analytics and artificial intelligence to understand individual student learning patterns and competencies, and to deliver personalized learning pathways.
YuJa, based in San Jose, California, which bills itself as the “world’s most comprehensive active learning platform.” YuJa combines lecture capturing, live broadcasting, social learning and video collaborating in one integrated platform to shift learning from a classroom setting to a cloud-based experience. The platform allows students to access education anywhere and any time, which in turn helps boost enrollment, improve course delivery and improve student attendance.
Chicago’s own Youtopia, a learning platform focused on improving student engagement and motivation by making education an immersive and fun activity. The platform uses points, badges and leader boards to engage students more fully, supplement the learning experience, and increase student success.
About DeVry Education Group
The purpose of DeVry Education Group is to empower its students to achieve their educational and career goals. DeVry Education Group Inc. (NYSE: DV; member S&P MidCap 400 Index) is a global provider of educational services and the parent organization of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Becker Professional Education, Carrington College, Chamberlain College of Nursing, DeVry Brasil, DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management, Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. These institutions offer a wide array of programs in healthcare, business, technology, accounting and finance. For more information, please visit http://www.devryeducationgroup.com.
About 1871
1871 is an entrepreneurial incubator for digital startups. Home to over 300 companies, the 75,000-square-foot facility in The Merchandise Mart provides Chicago startups with programming, access to mentors, educational resources, potential investors and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs that help them on their path to building successful businesses. Recently ranked 9th in the world in the 2014 UBI Index list of top university-associated business incubators, 1871 has become a global leader in the entrepreneurial community. 1871 is the flagship project of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.
