){kind=logo}
){kind=icon}
){kind=logo}
){kind=icon}
IFE Launch is the only program in Latin America that seeks to connect and accompany early-stage educational ventures that propose solutions to advance Higher Education and Lifelong Learning. This initiative of the Institute for the Future of Education (IFE) of Tecnologico de Monterrey aims to generate, transfer, and disseminate applicable knowledge about educational innovation that is experimental, interdisciplinary, open, and world-class.
The call to participate in the acceleration program is open to all interested EdTech startups until June 29, 2023. The six-month project selects eight educational ventures for accompaniment by mentors who support training topics in product and marketing, impact measurement, and investment, among others.
After their participation, these startups focused on educational issues receive recognition, visibility, and a portfolio of contacts to support the continuing growth of their operations. Thus, the startups experience thorough training through learning modules, a mentor’s personalized guidance, and access to product development, investment, and impact experts. During the process, the participants also have access to students and professors at Tecnologico de Monterrey, who validate their results, and the opportunity to make two trips to California and Monterrey.
The first acceleration program bootcamp will be at San Jose State University in Silicon Valley, California, to connect with its ecosystem and meet other industry startups. The second bootcamp will be in Monterrey in January 2024 at the IFE EdTech Summit during the IFE Conference, one of the most significant educational innovation events in the Spanish-speaking world. In this second edition of the IFE Launch, the startups will present their progress at the event to investors and people interested in educational technology.
How can you apply?
Participating initiatives must meet the following criteria:
- Educational ventures focused on higher education and lifelong learning must complete a registration form, send a video, and demonstrate their product or service.
- The workshops, conferences, and mentoring will mostly be in Spanish. Thus, while anyone can apply, at least one team member must speak Spanish; the initiatives focus on the Latin American market.
- The modality will be face-to-face, except for mentoring. Transportation and lodging costs will be covered for one person per startup.
- Edtech startups must have a working prototype of a product in higher education or lifelong learning for validation of users and customers. An example is an existing course platform, even if design details need to be polished.
- At least one team member must be 100% committed and accountable.
Start of the program
At the end of the call, a screening will filter the registered educational ventures to determine if they meet the requirements. Subsequently, a committee from the Institute for the Future of Education (IFE), comprising experts in investment, products, and entrepreneurship, will select 20 finalist initiatives, from which eight startups will be chosen for participation.
In August 2023, the accompaniment of a mentor designated to each venture will begin, so the experts will establish the areas of opportunity for the startups’ improvement. The flexible program model tracks detailed evidence of progress.
If you have an initiative that meets the criteria above, you can apply through the questionnaire until Thursday, June 29, 2023, and access more information on the IFE Launch website. For clarifications, frequently asked questions, and contact information, consult the following document. Join the acceleration program dedicated to boosting startups aiming to improve education!
Translation by Daniel Wetta
){kind=icon}
){kind=icon}
This article from Observatory of the Institute for the Future of Education may be shared under the terms of the license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 
)