Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to host “Dragon’s Den” style event for #EdTech companies

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London and Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor for Business, are to host an Investor Summit and Demo Day, organised by the EDUCATE programme, showcasing some of the capital’s pioneering educational technology (EdTech) entrepreneurs.

During the event, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, EdTech companies will demonstrate their products and services, and pitch for funding or corporate partnerships from investors with a combined fund value of £850 million – in a style like that used in the popular TV programme, Dragon’s Den.

The Investor Summit and Demo Day is being organised by the EDUCATE programme, located at UCL Knowledge Lab.

Since its launch in 2017, the programme has admitted more than 140 EdTech start-ups and SMEs with many going on to secure additional investment, building networks and partnerships, and vastly enhancing the effectiveness and credibility of their products.

The programme’s unique selling point is the access its cohorts are given to research and evidence of what works in pedagogy and education, ensuring that the products they develop are useful to teachers and learners, and fit for purpose.

EDUCATE cohorts also receive support and input from academic and business mentors during the three-month programme.

The Investor Summit and Demo Day is designed to connect EdTech companies with venture capitalists, angel investor and corporations that want to buy, partner or invest in EdTech companies.

Each of the participating companies had to apply to participate in the event. Those chosen to pitch to the investors are developing EdTech in areas as diverse as coding, language learning, maths and enterprise skills.

The demos will be rapid-fire 5-minute presentations with 3 minutes of Q&A for entrepreneurs to pitch to investors.

Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor for Business, said:

“London is Europe’s technology capital, and home to some of the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs. The capital’s future depends on the educational opportunities afforded to our young people and embracing the opportunities presented by new technology is a key part of this.

“So, I’m delighted that City Hall is able to host EDUCATE’s Investor Summit and Demo Day and look forward to learning about the latest ideas in EdTech.”

Koby Yogaretnam, EDUCATE Business Lead, said:

“The EDUCATE programme is widely becoming recognised as the gatekeeper to London-based EdTech entrepreneurs who are using evidence to validate the efficacy of their products.

“The EdTech industry is emerging as an attractive investment landscape, with powerful corporate partnerships, mergers and acquisitions of innovative businesses taking place globally.

“We are showcasing the very best of our programme and in turn we are want the audience and investment world to understand why innovation in education is now happening; how to embrace it and how the EDUCATE programme with its world class research acumen is integral to defining effective learning outcomes.”