$1 Million AT&T Skills Building Challenge Aims to Prepare Students for Successful Careers
January 14 2019 - 9:30AM
Business Wire
For- and Non-Profit Ed-Tech Companies Tackling
Career Readiness Invited to Apply
WANTED: Ed-tech startups working to close the country’s growing
skills gap.
To mark the 5th anniversary of our education technology
incubator, Aspire Accelerator, we’ve created the AT&T Skills
Building Challenge. We’re looking for companies working directly on
solutions that prepare students for future career success,
including STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) fields with
heightening demand.
The top 8 applicants will receive $125,000 from AT&T as part
of their participation in the 6-month Accelerator program, where
they’ll have access to AT&T’s senior executives and mentoring
from leading minds in the education and skilling space.
Applications may be submitted here until Feb. 1.
“We must find innovative ways to get students the skills they
need to keep up in an economy increasingly driven by technological
advances such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented
reality,” said Charlene Lake, SVP-Corporate Social Responsibility
and chief sustainability officer at AT&T. “Every company,
including AT&T, wants a pipeline of skilled talent coming
through the door.
“Our Accelerator program has a proven track record of finding
and funding the most innovative organizations in ed-tech,” Lake
said. “We’re excited to do the same with ventures focused on
preparing students to get and keep good jobs in the 21st
century.”
More about the AT&T Skills Building Challenge offered
through the Aspire Accelerator:
- Aspire Investment – $100,000
AT&T investment and an additional $25,000 for each company to
cover costs of the program. For non-profit companies, the
investment will be a general contribution. They receive this in
exchange for participating in the Accelerator and meeting certain
requirements, including submitting impact measurements.
- Mentorship – Access to an
Entrepreneur in Residence and AT&T and external mentors from
education and technology.
- Resources – UI/UX design
services and opportunities to participate in education conferences
such as ISTE and ASU GSV.
- National Platform – Inclusion in
broader AT&T Aspire initiative, which is committed to driving
innovation in education, skilling and career readiness.
- Flexible Location –
Organizations can participate from where they are, without
relocating.
Accelerator advisors and mentors include, among others, Charles
Best, founder and CEO, DonorsChoose.org; Kimberly Bryant, founder,
Black Girls CODE; Betsy Corcoran, co-founder and CEO, EdSurge; and
Sebastian Thrun, founder and president of Udacity.
The 27 previous Accelerator participants thrived in the program,
collectively reaching more than 23 million students and attracting
more than $35 million in funding after graduation. Aspire
Accelerator Alumni include Bitsbox, Cogent Education, CommonLit
(501(c)3), Couragion, GradGuru (501(c)3), The Graide Network,
LearnPlatform, MindBlown Labs, PlayPosit, Quill (501(c)3), and
TalkingPoints (501(c)3).
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening
communities and improving lives. We have a long history of
investing in projects that create learning opportunities, promote
academic and economic achievement, and address community needs. Our
AT&T Aspire initiative uses innovation in education to drive
student success in school and beyond. With a financial commitment
of $450 million since 2008, AT&T is leveraging technology,
relationships and social innovation to help all students make their
biggest dreams a reality.
© 2019 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T
Intellectual Property.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190114005098/en/
Eric RyanAT&T Corporate CommunicationsPhone: +1
(212)205-0508Email: er132w@att.com
AT&T (NYSE:T)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
AT&T (NYSE:T)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024