SEEKING COFOUNDER: S/T/Ed: So you want to find an edtech cofounder? Jessica Alter can help. Alter is cofounder and CEO of FounderDating, an online site for meeting, well, you know. "The dating part isn't meant to be cutesy--it's meant to infer a process," she says, namely vetting appropriate candidates. Today, in conjunction with TeachForAmerica's Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, FounderDating is rolling out "FounderDating Education," aimed at jumpstarting edtech ventures.
“How and where to find complimentary cofounders is one of
the most frequently asked questions from our alumni entrepreneurs,” said TFA's Social Entrepreneurship Initiative managing director, Chaula Gupta. That said, the program is open to any educators, whether or not they have TFA experience.
Applicants who pass muster with FounderDating screeners pay a one-time fee (between $50 and $100 per person) for unfettered access to FounderDating's database and online chat groups. There will be an in-person kickoff event in San Francisco for new edtechers on September 20. (You can see the application here.)
FounderDating began building its members-only program in late 2009, first in Seattle and then San Francisco. In February, Alter kicked it up a notch, going full time and embarking on a campaign to launch FounderDating in six additional cities. Education is the group's first industry-specific sector--launched Alter says because so many applicants expressed an interest in getting involved in edtech.
Alter is mum about size of her community but says half have technical backgrounds. She estimates the site has hooked up "dozens and dozens" of teams. Now all it needs is handy shorthand--how about S/T/Ed (for single/techie/educator?)
