ISO: the future of school
Looking in unusual places for the future of education
I like reading old posts on venture capitalist Mark Suster’s blog, Both Sides of the Table. One of his classic posts is called Invest in Lines, not Dots. It describes how he invests in a founder after he’s built a relationship. He frames each interaction as a dot that with other dots he plots over time, reveals a trend line about how that leader leads, and if they’re building something he believes in.
Seems simple, but I think it’s pretty hard for investors in his world to be patient. He explains that many investors get sucked into one encounter, one pitch deck, one sexy forecast. In a frenzy to beat others to it, they invest.
“If you’re an investor looking at dots somebody else may be looking at lines. Meet entrepreneurs early and watch how they perform — maybe even at their previous startup. I always ask to meet people before they’re officially fund raising — well before actually. It helps me spot patterns.”
- Mark Suster, 2010
I often struggle to describe what we do at 4.0. We do more than just watch — we coach and equip, much the way good VCs do. But for the most part, Suster just nailed 4.0.
Here’s how we’re drawing lines that we hope aim us towards the future of school in the United States:
Dot 1 — Future of School Demonstrations. Founders of 4.0-launched schools and organizations share what they’ve built and invite the public to a rigorous, optimistic dialogue about the future of school. 4.0 is known for its hospitality, and educators and entrepreneurs describe 4.0 events as some of the most engaging experiences they’ve ever attended.
Dot 2 — Essentials. This invite-only, 2-day intensive on what it takes to be an entrepreneur in education lets 4.0 get to know aspiring entrepreneurs. It also gives aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to air their hunches about how to build the future of school in a supportive community that gives them actionable feedback and encouragement.
Dot 3 — Experiments. We provide one-on-one support for promising Essentials alums by helping them design small-scale experiments to run with teachers, parents and kids to test everything from new software, to radical teacher training techniques, to new schools.
Lots of dots — Launch. Twice a year, we invite entrepreneurs with the toughest mindsets and best ideas to a 3-month intensive we call Launch. During these three months, 4.0-trained entrepreneurs create new organizations and field-test new school models. Those starting for-profit and non-profit businesses must make their first sale by the end of the program. Entrepreneurs starting schools must run live trials of their school with real kids and parents in New Orleans neighborhoods..
More dots — Incubation. We provide below-market office space in the 4.0 Design Lab for Launch alumni so we can coach them in their critical first year. We help them hire, raise money, build infrastructure and sometimes, just let them cry or vent it out. They serve as accessible, approachable mentors to other aspiring entrepreneurs.
So far, over 350 aspiring entrepreneurs have started drawing lines in the 4.0 community. Over time, I think many of those lines will start to converge. And that’s going to be really exciting — when we start to see a clearer picture of the future of school. I see glimpses in each of the 25 startups we’ve launched so far, but we’re still working for the day when every kid is equipped to thrive, lead and follow their passion in a world that’s changing faster than ever before.
I dream of a day where investors, philanthropists, parents — everyone — froths at the mouth over someone trying to build the future of school the way Suster’s peers froth when they think they’ve found the next Brian Chesky or the next Debbie Sterling.
Until then, we’ll keep drawing lines.
Matt Candler is founder and CEO of 4.0 Schools — an early-stage, non-profit education incubator that’s launched 25 startups and schools that challenge the status quo in schooling.
