Pearson Catalyst for Education is an education technology incubator from Pearson Education. This talk was presented by Sandra Nagy, Director of Digital Learning, School Division, Pearson Canada, at #CMPTO: Start Your Engines! on May 13, 2013.

1. 0
Pearson Catalyst for Education
May 2013

2. 1
What is Pearson Catalyst for Education?
Opportunity for
startups to…
 Access Pearson
executives, product
experts, and sponsor
 Present at Demo Day to
top Pearson tech talent
 Test products potentially
on a global scale
 Insight into the workings
of the leading learning
company in the world

3. 2
What is Pearson Catalyst for Education?
Opportunity for Pearson
teams to…
 Work with the most
promising startups
 Accelerate time to
market by delivering
rapid pilot programs
 Infuse start-up mindset
through Pearson +
startup collaborations

4. 3
Pearson Catalyst for Education Approach
Pearson teams submit
challenges /
opportunities
(Mar 2013)
Catalyst Team shortlists
start-ups against
challenges /
opportunities
(Apr 2013)
Pearson teams choose
start-up match from
shortlist
(May 2013)
Work begins between
start-ups
and Pearson teams
(May 2013)
Pearson + Startups
wrap up Pilots
(Aug 2013)

5. 4
HOW ARE THE MATCHES
DETERMINED

6. 5
Pearson Teams share
challenges / opportunities
labs.pearson.com/catalyst
• What is the Challenge/Opportunity the business wants to
address?
Identify Challenge or Opportunity
• What would the ideal result be at the end of the Catalyst Pilot?
Define Goal or Optimal Outcome
• What type of product/solution would be needed to achieve the
Goal, address the Challenge/Opportunity?
Share Initial Ideas
• Who will be the Pearson Sponsor (key contact) be?
Prepare for Action
Pearson teams
submit challenges /
opportunities
(Mar 2013)

7. 6
Filtering of opportunities /
challenges and startups
Catalyst Team
shortlists start-ups
against challenges /
opportunities
(Apr 2013)
Pearson teams
choose start-up
match from
shortlist
(May 2013)

8. 7
Once a match is made, the
Pearson team and Startup
begin working together
Clarify specific
challenge or goal to
focus on.
Evaluate and clearly
define the problem to
explore.
Either stick with the
original idea or
generate new ideas to
address the challenge or
achieve the goal.
Identify the best
solution to address the
Idea.
Break down the Solution
into a rapid approach
which can be
completed during 3
month Pilot.
Work begins between
start-ups and
Pearson teams
(May 2013)

9. 8
WHAT WOULD SUCCESS
LOOK LIKE

10. 9
Pearson Catalyst for Education realizes benefits for
both Startups and Pearson
Benefits to Pearson Benefits to Startups
Faster launch, infusion of startup mindset Introduction to Pearson’s people, processes

11. 10
Work continues after Pearson Catalyst,
after the three month collaboration
Catalyst
Decision
Point
Demo
Day
Pearson Sponsors and
Startups work on Pilots
May 2013 to Aug 2013
Sponsors + Startups decide
how to proceed post-Pilot
Aug 2013 to Oct 2013
Sponsors + Startups present
outcome at Tech Summit
Nov 2013

12. 11
Looking back from Tech Summit’s Demo Day, other
desired results include the following
Inclusion of one or more pilots in a
Pearson product or service
Formation of one or more on-going
partnerships with the startups
Pearson helps enable startups to grow
Startups and Sponsors gain increased
appreciation of Pearson
Identification of startup practices which
could accelerate Pearson’s delivery

13. 12
ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

14. 13
How are Pearson sponsors identified?
Future Tech + Incubator Partners
Review Submissions, Determine
Where Matches can be Made
Interested
Talent
Identifies
Opportunities
Future
Tech
Introduce
s Catalyst
Senior
Leaders
Identify
Top Talent

15. 14
How were Pearson Challenges / Opportunities
assessed?
• Education product focused, not solving operational
challenges
• Succinct and unambiguous, easily understood by people
outside Pearson
• Allows for viable implementation during Pilot period
• Transferable across the Pearson group, e.g. could it be
used by a counterpart in another country
• Solution likely to be scalable and impact the wider
industry (inside + outside Pearson), not just solve an
isolated problem
• Solutions likely to be disruptive
• More likely to generate a large volume of entries

16. 15
Incubators Startup Direct
Submission
Industry Events
How were startups identified?
Pearson
Employees
SXSWedu
MWC
BETT
Reviewed
by
Catalyst Team

17. 16
How were startups applicants filtered? At a high level,
the criteria is as follows…
Fit with
Opportunity
Traction
Product
Market Viability
Team
Fit with
Pearson

18. 17
How can you get involved?
• Continue to check
out updates on
http://labs.pearson.
com/catalyst
• Follow
@PearsonCatalyst
for the latest news