Bridging the Content Gap in K-12 Education through Generative AI.
Product Management | Venture Capital & Strategy | Go-To-Market (GTM) | ELL Advocacy
Developed as part of the T565: Entrepreneurship in the Education Marketplace course at Harvard Graduate School of Education, this venture project addresses a critical inequity in K-12 education: the "Content-Language Gap."
While many apps focus on general English proficiency, ELL students often fall behind in core subjects like Math and Science because they lack subject-specific academic language. Our team engineered a business plan and product roadmap for an AI-powered tool that adapts complex classroom content into accessible, personalized learning modules for ELLs.
A core highlight of this project was our data-driven decision to pivot. Originally focused on general English speaking, we shifted our focus after identifying a market saturation in consumer language apps.
The Insight: Competitive analysis and interviews with teachers revealed that the true underserved need lies in academic subject comprehension for non-native speakers.
The Solution: We transitioned to a specialized AI learning tool that acts as a "scaffold," allowing students to master grade-level content while simultaneously building academic vocabulary.
We designed a dual-track business model to balance rapid user growth with long-term institutional stability:
B2C2B Approach: Our strategy initiates with a B2C model (Direct-to-Parent) to gain immediate user traction and efficacy data. This data then serves as the foundation for a B2B pivot, targeting school districts for large-scale adoption.
Market Opportunity: By targeting the TAM (Total Addressable Market) of 5 million+ ELL students in the U.S., we positioned the venture to tap into both private educational spending and federal Title III funding for language instruction.
The project culminated in a comprehensive venture proposal, including:
Funding Ask: A strategic $250k seed round proposal targeted at Boston-based angel groups like Launchpad Venture Group, supported by a 5-year financial projection.
Operational Roadmap: A 24-month plan covering MVP development, pilot testing in local school districts, and initial hiring for key pedagogical and engineering roles.
Exit Strategy: Identification of potential acquirers in the K-12 publishing and EdTech space (e.g., Pearson, McGraw Hill) that currently lack specialized ELL content-support tools.
Aligned with the Four Domains of Education Design, the project prioritizes:
Instructional Integrity: Ensuring AI-generated content adheres to Second Language Acquisition (SLA) principles.
Entrepreneurial Equity: Designing the product to be accessible to low-income families and under-resourced schools, bridging the digital and educational divide.