Dolphin Tank Pitches
A “Dolphin Tank” is a new session format of this year’s mEducation Alliance Symposium that will feature live pitches by U.S.-based edtech developers to a panel of global edtech experts with an audience watching.
The “Dolphin Tank” session, tentatively convened the afternoon of October 2nd, is designed for developers who are interested in globalizing the reach of their edtech products to new markets. Competitively selected, invited organizations will present their product(s) along with their ideas for what they would need to do to make them accessible for use in lower-resource settings around the globe.
Selected presenters will describe the current version of their product, and present ideas for the new version of the product that could be used in low resource settings. This might include settings without reliable internet or offline entirely, or products which can be delivered on different “lower tech” types of computers, mobile phones, TV or radio or the newspaper. The “pitch” could also cover how new versions of their products could be created for use in different languages and for students and educators from different cultures.
The panel of experts (aka the “Dolphins”) will include 3-5 experts drawn from Ministries of Education, technology and education experts from developing countries, and from global organizations, such as the Global Partnership in Education and the World Bank. These experts will provide their feedback on the pitch and additional ideas for globalizing edtech products.
While the “Dolphins” and audience may include potential funders (e.g., donors, philanthropy, investors), they will not provide actual funding during these sessions. We are calling this session a “Dolphin Tank” to reflect a more entertaining and collaborative environment than the higher intensity format and stakes of certain TV-shows which are named after dolphins’ natural competitors 😊.
Meet our Pitchers
Pitchers:
- Alchemie Solutions, Inc (Alchemie); Detroit Metro Area, Michigan, USA, Julia Winter, CEO, and founder
- dfusion Inc, Fantasy Sports Math League; Score! Getting boys and girls excited about (and proficient with) data analytics, Scotts Valley, California, BA Laris
- GaiaXus; US / Maryland; Dietrich Ruehlmann, Managing Partner
- Mission.io; Provo, UT, Skyler Carr
- Smart Girls HQ; Charlotte, NC, Abi Olukeye, Founder and CEO
- Snowbright Studio; Cleveland, Ohio (USA), Grace Collins, Founder
Alchemie Solutions
Alchemie (Michigan) created KASI, is an inclusive assistive technology that employs computer vision and multi-sensory augmented reality to support blind and low vision learners in using hand-held physical manipulatives to practice chemistry.
Presenter: Julia Winter
GaiaXus
GaiaXus (Maryland) created an environmental education product with a wireless sensor that collects samples of scientific data for standards-aligned STEM topics and transmits data to an app for presenting findings.
Presenter: Dietrich Ruehlmann.
Mission.io
Mission.io (Utah) created a website to engage groups of students in simulated missions where they collaboratively create solutions to address real-world STEM-related problems.
Presenter: Skyler Carr.
Smart Girls HQ
Smart Girls HQ (North Carolina) created Dear Smart Girl for girls to engage in STEM career exploration by playing an online game and hand-held activity kits to apply learning.
Presenter: Abi Olukeye.
Snowbright Studios
Snowbright Studio (Ohio) created an online coding game to prepare students for success and careers in computer science.
Presenter: Grace Collins
Meet our "Dolphins"
Alex Twinomugisha, Senior Education Technology Specialist, World Bank
Alex Twinomugisha is a Senior Education Technology Specialist at the World Bank with over 20 years of experience in education and technology policy, program design, and deployment at various education levels. A core member of the World Bank’s global edtech team, he focuses on leveraging technology to address education challenges in developing countries. Prior to joining the World Bank, Alex held leadership roles at Intel Corporation and the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI), advising governments across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He has contributed to various projects on digital skills, adaptive learning, and AI in education, and holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and a master’s in education technology. Read more here.
Dr. Chomora Mikeka, Director of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Education, Malawi
Dr. Chomora Mikeka is an Associate Professor of Physics (Wireless Communications) at Chancellor College, University of Malawi. He earned his PhD in Engineering from Yokohama National University, Japan, in 2012. As a leader in science and technology, he chairs key committees, including the African Standards Organization (ARSO) on Medical Devices and the SADC Regional Medical Devices Forum. Dr. Mikeka also serves on the Malawi Space Agency Taskforce and is the 1st Vice Chair for the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science, and Technology. He co-chairs the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue, advancing innovation across Africa and Europe.
John Kimotho, EdTech advisor and board member, mEducation Alliance
John Kimotho is an EdTech Consultant and former Head of the Educational Media Directorate at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). He is a recognized leader in educational media across East Africa and Africa, having overseen the development of print and electronic curriculum materials and championed digital literacy in education. John is pursuing a PhD in Communication at Daystar University, where he has completed coursework and defended his research proposal. He holds a Master’s in Communications (Media Studies) and a Postgraduate Diploma in African Leadership in ICT. He has received awards for his contributions to media and public service innovation. He has also worked at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Educational Media – Canada, and the National Museums of Kenya.
Kimberly Bowman-Carpenter, Education Systems Product Manager, Social Impact, Amazon Web Services
Kimberly is a skilled program and project manager with a focus on technology in education. She has a passion for creating solutions that improve efficiency and foster collaboration. With experience in K-12 education and learning development, Kimberly has developed digital resources and blended learning opportunities that help students and educators embrace technology. Her work focuses on identifying performance gaps and tailoring learning plans to individual and group needs. Kimberly holds a Master of Education in Education Technology from Concordia University-Portland and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature from Clemson University. She has impacted thousands of educators and students through advocacy programs and on-demand learning solutions. Read more here.
Sameer Sampat, Ed Tech Scout, Prevail Fund
Sameer Sampat is an EdTech Scout at Prevail Fund, a philanthropic initiative focused on improving foundational learning in Africa and South Asia. He co-founded Global School Leaders and served as the first CEO of the India School Leadership Institute (ISLI). Sameer has also been the founding Executive Director at Pousaz Philanthropies and worked as a researcher and high school math teacher. Earlier in his career, he was a Project Manager and Research Analyst at the Education Innovation Laboratory at Harvard University, where he led interventions to address the racial achievement gap in the U.S. He has also worked with Teach For America, Akanksha, and Adharshila Shikshan Kendra. Sameer holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA and a Master’s in Economics and Education from Columbia University.
Sarah Elisabeth Wragg, Head of Education Innovation, Education Above All
At Education Above All Foundation, Sarah leads high-impact education initiatives across Africa and Asia, aimed at making quality education accessible to all. With over 15 years of experience in international development, emergency response, and education innovation, her work spans post-conflict, refugee, and development contexts in countries like Tanzania, Somalia, Rwanda, and Afghanistan. Sarah holds a Master’s in Science Education from King’s College London and is pursuing a doctorate at University College London, focusing on education scholarships as a complementary pathway to resettlement for refugees. She is passionate about ensuring equitable access to education for vulnerable populations.
Shauntel Garvey, Co-Founder/Partner, Reach Capital
Shauntel is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Reach Capital where she invests in solutions that elevate human potential and ignite purpose across learning, health, and work. Prior to Reach, Shauntel was a Partner at the NewSchools Seed Fund and invested in over 40 early stage edtech companies including Newsela, Class Dojo, Ellevation, and SchoolMint. Shauntel was previously a Senior Engineer at Procter and Gamble and received her BS in Chemical Engineering from MIT and her MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University.
Tom Berry, Global Leader, Technology Education, Amazon Web Services
Tom Berry is the Senior Manager for Global Learning at Amazon’s computer science initiative, Amazon Future Engineer. He leads a global product and research portfolio focused on expanding equitable access to computer science education for underrepresented and underserved students in primary and secondary schools. Before joining Amazon Future Engineer, Tom worked on product innovation initiatives within Amazon’s Home shopping category. He previously served as a U.S. Army officer, focusing on security and economic development overseas. His experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan shaped his interest in youth economic empowerment. Tom holds an M.A. in Global Affairs from Yale University and a B.S. in Art, Philosophy, and Literature from West Point.
