(Mayor Marty Walsh at LearnLaunch Accelerator earlier this year.)
When LearnLaunch debuted in December 2012, its accelerator or co-working space didn't exist. Rather, the nonprofit was focused on providing support to education entrepreneurs through classes, peer group learning, conferences and networking opportunities.
And although it has continued offering all four to Boston's budding ed-tech community, Back Bay-based LearnLaunch has extended its reach far beyond that.
In early 2013, an accelerator called LearnLaunchX surfaced, welcoming in its first cohort of startups that June. And operating alongside the accelerator was Exponential TechSpace, which provided alumni of the program and other ed-tech companies the room to grow.
"Over the past two years, LearnLaunch has grown and expanded its offerings," shared the program's Co-founder and Executive Director Marissa Lowman in a blog post published Tuesday. "To reflect that growth, we have decided to rebrand our organization to better reflect who we are."
LearnLaunch unveiled a new, comprehensive website Tuesday, spotlighting the three organizations housed under the umbrella of the brand: LearnLaunch Institute, LearnLaunch Accelerator and LearnLaunch Campus, formerly known as LearnLaunch, LearnLaunchX and Exponential TechSpace, respectively.
Along with the rebranding, LearnLaunch Accelerator announced it is accepting applications for its Winter 2015 class. Through the program, eight startups are granted mentorship, workspace, discounted services and $18,000 in seed funding. In turn, the Accelerator takes a six percent equity stake in each of the companies.
LearnLaunch Accelerator has invested in 13 companies to date, and graduated its most recent class in May. More than 60 mentors have participated in the program, which has attracted the attention of Mayor Marty Walsh, who visited the space earlier this year to learn about the kind of technologies being built locally that could be incorporated into the Boston Public School system.
"The future really is here in this room," said Walsh during his visit. "You have a partner here in the City of Boston."
LearnLaunch Accelerator's third cohort will begin in February 2015. To apply, click here.
Image via Lauren Landry
