PETLI AWS ED-TECH

 Startup accelerator supporting EdTech companies

AWS EdStart, the AWS educational technology (EdTech) startup accelerator, is

designed to help entrepreneurs build the next generation of online learning, analytics,
and campus management solutions on the AWS Cloud.

The accelerator is designed to enable EdTech startups to move faster through benefits
such as equity-free financial support through AWS Promotional Credit, technical training
and support, access to a global community of EdTech experts, and more.

Currently, the AWS EdStart is available in the US, Europe, Africa and Asia. Indian edtech startups are among
the early pioneers in Asia to adopt AWS EdStart program. In India, AWS has been a technology provider for
edtech startups such as Byjus, Extramarks Education, Doubtbox, Classplus, Neetprep.com, upGrad, Quizizz,
Examly, Makkajai, Virohan, Vedantu, Reculta, and many others.
 2020 gave the biggest boost to India’s edtech startups – all of whom
have registered growth in users, valuations, and funding.
 According to a report by PGA Labs and IVCA, India’s education
sector is poised to grow from the current $117 billion to $225 billion
by FY25.
 The country’s edtech market is now poised to become $4 Bn by 2025
from the current $750 Mn, Blume Ventures edtech report

 The National Education Policy of 2020 reflected this sudden

emergence of edtech into the spotlight, by stressing the importance
of leveraging technology in education solutions
 Learning outcomes or even classroom engagement will not be similar
in a 1:40 digital classroom, as most colleges and schools that had to
quickly transition online found out last year

Even pre-Pandemic, the K-12 learning outcomes numbers were dire. As

per the ASER 2018 report, only 20.9% Std 3 students in government
schools and 40.6% in private schools can read a Std 2 text. In Std 5, this
number rises only to 50%.

So, if formal schools are shut down for a whole year, how will learning
outcomes like reading be impacted? The ASER 2020 Wave-1 report
suggests that while only 30% families of children who went to
government schools, 50% families of children who went to private
schools owned smartphones in 2018. This number rose sharply to 56%
and 74%, triggered by the sudden transition to online learning.

However, just access to devices and connectivity doesn’t automatically

translate to effective learning. Hence, the need to enable inclusive
remote learning, track learning outcomes, and make learning content
available in regional languages, as NEP 2020 suggests, is of the highest
priority.

One of the main edtech hurdles that was overcome in 2020 was
amassing consensus over the adoption of technology to enable learning.
Schools which had previously been hesitant to make the shift were
forced to. So while in-person learning might still be a part of the ‘new
normal’, one can’t deny the advantages digital learning has presented
us with anymore. The term ‘screen time’ doesn’t automatically evoke
apprehension from parents anymore. Brands that promote and create
good screen time content that productively engages children will win the
market.

TRENDS SHAPING THE RISE OF EDTECH

NEP and a push from the government.

Upskilling and aiding Higher Education

Gamification of learning which makes the process more interesting

Personalization of content using AI & ML

Use of technologies like AR VR XR etc.

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/edtech-
trends-that-are-shaping-the-future-of-education-1786395-2021-04-02

https://inc42.com/resources/the-year-of-indian-edtech-will-the-bubble-
burst-in-2021/

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/trends-that-
will-give-edtech-a-quantum-leap-in-india-in-2021-1758985-2021-01-14

https://yourstory.com/2021/02/budget-2021-edtech-startups-react-
schools-training-funds-gst-cut

https://nasscom.in/knowledge-center/publications/edtech-advent-digital-
education

https://scroll.in/article/986966/what-will-happen-to-indias-ed-tech-
startups-once-schools-reopen