Needed: Dividends over Exits Mindset in Education Tech (And Finance!)
As I continue to get deeper into this blogging thing, one of the most happily surprising (though upon further reflection, it should have been totally anticipated) side-effects has been my exposure to other lesser-knowns writing, brilliantly and otherwise, about education.
In the last few weeks, Kirsten Winkler (@kirstenwinkler) who blogs about education technology at bigthink.com (Disrupt Education), EDUKWEST, and most recently EdCetera, has proved her worth in my mind. Earlier this week, Winkler posted about the need to change the mindset in education technology from one where investors think about "exits" versus one where they think about receiving ongoing (and increasing) dividends on their investments. (See the full post here: We need a Dividends instead of Exits Mindset in Education.) While I am completely in awe of the increased interest in education the technology sector has shown in the short amount of time that I've been paying attention (3-4 years), I am completely out of my depth when I try and discuss it, so I'll leave it to people like Winkler.
However, I think the change in mindset she is advocating for is exactly the one that is needed in education finance as well. (I know, I know, I still haven't posted about what exactly a human capital contract is, but I promise, it's coming!) Student loans are a product of an "exits" mindset where lenders want a pre-determined (and pre-valued) exit. The lack of exposure to upside risk forces them to raise all interest rates so that those who pay back their loans subsidize those who default. Human capital contracts are a large and intentional step towards a "dividends" mindset. 13th Avenue Funding, which will utilize a co-op-type arrangement is yet another step in that direction. (Post about 13th Avenue and my recent meeting with their COO coming soon, as well!)
