INSIDE INTEL: Education technology accelerators are revving their engines once more. The Intel Education Accelerator, which officially starts today, has selected the participants in the first cohort for its four-month program. Of the roughly 200 companies that applied—half of whom were based outside the US—the following eight were selected:
- Beeline: research-backed literacy tool that improves reading fluency for students, including readers with dyslexia and attention deficits
- Echeleon Creative: developer of an Words U, which replaces words in text messages with synonyms to help users build vocabulary
- GotIt!: Platform that lets students snap and share photos of homework problems and find help
- Griti: Library of video tutorials and on-demand tutors
- Myriad Sensors: Creator of PocketLab, a wireless sensor that can be attached to objects and sends data (such as force, acceleration or velocity) to any device. Designed for science experiments; more in our writeup here.
- ToneTree: Developer of a device that transforms any flat surface into a musical instrument
- Vidcode: Program designed to teach girls programming through coding special effects o their Instagram videos. More details here.
- WriteReader: Literacy platform that allows young children to create their own books; built by a Danish team that raised $800K in February 2015.
Each company has received $50,000 and will get another $50,000 in convertible note when they complete the program, which is based at GSVlabs in Redwood City, CA. (The space also hosts programs for another edtech accelerator run by AT&T.) Demo day, where entrepreneurs will present and pitch to a gaggle of potential investors, is slotted for December 2.
