Tech Scenes Unplugged with Ash Kaluarachchi, CEO of StartEd and Producer of EdTech Week
In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, we sit down with Ash Kaluarachchi, a passionate advocate for education innovation and the CEO of StartEd. As a producer of EDTECH WEEK and an expert in strategic partnerships, early-stage investment, and the future of work, Ash has been at the forefront of the EdTech revolution. His programs have accelerated over 2,000 companies globally, including multiple unicorns, through partnerships with organizations such as Google, Kaplan, Intel, and leading universities.
In our conversation, Ash shares insights into the significance of EDTECH WEEK and the innovative approaches of StartEd in supporting educational startups. We explore New York’s role as a hub for education innovation and discuss the evolving landscape of funding, including alternative sources crucial for today's founders. Ash emphasizes the importance of community, mental health awareness, and the scientific method in entrepreneurship while reflecting on his experiences and lessons learned throughout his career.
Key Takeaways:
New York is a central hub for education innovation, bringing together key stakeholders during EDTECH WEEK.
StartEd provides tailored support for educational startups and advocates for alternative funding sources.
The landscape of startup funding has changed dramatically, requiring new approaches to building companies.
Entrepreneurship is increasingly viewed as a science, with mental health awareness and community support playing vital roles in a founder's journey.
Modern entrepreneurs come from diverse backgrounds, shaping the future of education.
Chapters:
Introduction to EdTech Week
The Vision Behind StartEd
Innovative Approaches to Education
Navigating Alternative Funding Sources
The Science of Startups
Mental Health in Entrepreneurship
The Role of Community in Learning
Final Thoughts and Personal Reflections
Related Insights
What Is Organizational Execution?
What Is Organizational Intelligence?
What Is a Business Operating System?
About the author
Jeff James MartinCEO and Founder, Collective Genius
Jeff James Martin is the Founder and CEO of Collective Genius, creator of Peak OS, and author of Peak Teams. He works with growth and mission-critical organizations to improve alignment, accountability, execution, and team performance. Over the past two decades, Jeff has helped hundreds of founders, executives, and leadership teams build stronger operating rhythms and scale through increasing complexity. He is also the host of Tech Scenes, where he interviews founders, investors, and operators on leadership, innovation, and organizational performance.
About Peak OS
Peak OS is the operating system for organizational execution. Designed for growth-stage and mission-critical organizations, Peak OS helps leadership teams align priorities, establish operating rhythm, improve accountability, and maintain visibility as organizational complexity increases. By creating a consistent framework for communication, planning, and execution, Peak OS helps teams reduce execution drift and turn strategy into measurable outcomes. Learn more: Collective Genius
About Collective Genius
Collective Genius helps founders, executive teams, and growing organizations improve organizational execution through leadership coaching, operating systems, strategic facilitation, and Team-of-Teams alignment. Our work focuses on helping organizations scale without losing clarity, accountability, communication, or momentum. Learn more: Collective Genius
About Peak Teams
Peak Teams: Mastering the Habits of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies explores the leadership habits, operating rhythms, accountability systems, and execution principles used by high-performing organizations. The book provides practical frameworks for leaders seeking to build aligned teams and execute consistently as complexity grows. Learn more: Peak Teams book
Learn More
Explore additional insights on organizational execution, operating rhythm, leadership, team alignment, business operating systems, artificial intelligence, and the future of work through the Collective Genius Insights platform. Visit: Collective Genius Insights
Music by Andrew Applepie - https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie
