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IE Rockets returns to support edtech startups with tailor-made programs for different growth stages

IE Rockets returns to support edtech startups with tailor-made programs for different growth stages

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IE Business school in Madrid has opened applications for this year's IE Rockets program. Best described as a mixture of an accelerator, education program, and angel investor, it focuses on startups working in the education technology sphere. The applications will stay open until May 15th.

IE Rockets is a chance for edtech startups to connect with stakeholders and potential customers in the industry. The program's main goal is to make the products of its participants market-ready and help the founders to enter the higher education sector, find customers, and raise funding.

“IE’s expertise in entrepreneurship and strong knowledge base really provided for an exponential experience that a company in the world collective intelligence and knowledge management, like ours, simply can’t do without,” said Daniel Suarez, CEO of Zapiens and IE Rockets alumnus.

This year's program is divided into two tracks: IE Rockets Acceleration and IE Rockets Pilots.

IE Rockets Acceleration is a three-month program for early-stage startups that will kick off in September. The main requirement for the teams joining is to have a working product and be generating some revenue. Unlike many other accelerators, IE doesn't take equity for the program itself but provides the participants with funding in the form of a convertible note.

The Acceleration program is held in Madrid, at IE’s Area 31 entrepreneur centre, where startups will work on refining their products for the higher education and edtech market. IE’s Learning Innovation team will work with the startups on a daily basis, providing intimate knowledge of the education sector.

Tailored for more mature edtech startups, IE Rockets Pilots is a launchpad that brings the participants in contact with education institutions. The program creates a perfect environment for the selected teams to perform advanced product testing, fine-tune the business model, and receive invaluable feedback from real customers.

The pilot programs facilitated by IE Rockets Acceleration will take place at one of the leading universities in Spain. If successful, it can open up a network of more than 100 universities for possible partnerships, as well as access to investors working in the industry.

Both programs are open for startups from all over the world. If you're interested in unlocking the European edtech ecosystem, apply here before May 15th.

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