k-12 education - challenges & opportunities for startups - balu pandian, chairman, brookfield...

K-12 EDUCATION - CHALLENGES &

OPPORTUNITIES FOR START UPS

Balu Pandian

Chairman, Brookfield High

27th Dec, 2014

Venue: Lounge47

A Normal Day at School

• Semester exams start in 2 days

• Some teachers still fine tuning exam papers

• 3 teachers absent on sick leave

• Fees collection dismal this week, salary 3 days away

• 2 kids have fought during lunch break, parents want a meeting

• RTO has introduced additional safety rules for school buses

• Education dept officials visiting to check security measures

• 2 parents seeking affiliation details, want to meet Chairman before finalizing admissions

• …………so what are you selling ?

Key Challenges

•Schools are capital intensive projects

•‘Patient Capital’ needed for schools

•Gestation period - normally 7 years

•Lead time for Opex decisions: 1 to 4 years or more

•Capex will always get priority !

•Established schools better suited for pilots than new ones

•Identifying the decision maker

•Timing an effective presentation: Dec/April or in between

Validation of concept

•Is your concept addressing a gap or a hole in the market?

•Define “real pain points”

•How can you add ‘real’ value?

Value Proposition

•Sharpen Value Proposition – why should the customer

invest in your solution

Is your solution a Pain Killer or a Vitamin ?

Sizing the Market

•Define total opportunity for your start up

•Define immediate addressable market

•Understand competition (internet included!)

•Threats

Validation of concept

•Venture Capital investment is NOT a validation of your

concept !

A paying customer is.

Gaining traction

•Pilots, Proof of concept, Testimonials, References

•Leverage existing “channels” of distribution

•Leverage relationships/partnerships

•B2B and B2C both need to be explored if not too niche

Check, re-check and refine Go to Mkt strategy

Execution

•How will the concept integrate with the main curriculum ?

•How do we show efficacy/results of implementation?

•How will you execute?

Some Opportunities in the K12

space

•Assessments

•Homework and Teacher corrections (Objective)

•Lesson planning integrated with text books

•Projects beyond Science

•English speaking proficiency

•Personality development (Public speaking, conversation skills, group discussion, debates)

•Music

Opportunities (contd)…

• Creches

• Neighbourhood Pre-schools

•Teacher training

• Financial literacy

• Ethics and moral science

• Culture and History

• Healthy eating habits

• The 4.30pm to 7.30pm oppty

Opportunities

•Physical fitness assessments

•Standardised coaching classes

•English Grammar

•Flipped classrooms

•Online videos for concepts

•Immersive learning (rich media / activity based projects)

•Story telling

•Sports competitions

•Career counselling

Online Barriers

•Computer access at home

•Internet safety for children

•Network access in outskirts of cities

Thank you for your time !