GSV Capital

GSV is a US venture capital fund that invests heavily in education start-ups, among other things.

Core business

Launched in April 2011, GSV (which stands for 'Global Silicon Valley'), defines six themes that it feels have the greatest investment potential: Social Media, Mobile Computing and Apps, Cloud Computing, Software as a Service, Green Technology, and Education Technology.

Portfolio

As of August 2015:

• Knewton, adaptive learning company

• 2U, online education platform
• Avenues, private school chain
• Chegg, online textbook rentals, homework help, online tutoring etc
• Curious.com, online 'lifelong learning' firm
• Coursera, a for-profit edtech company offering online courses (MOOCs)
• Declara, a 'personalised learning' software company,
• General Assembly, a New York City 'startup campus' featuring courses relevant to internet startups
• Tynker, programming courses for kids

Lobbying

In 2012, GSV founder, Michael Moe published a blueprint for radical reform of America's education system: "American Revolution 2.0: How Education Innovation is Going to Revitalize America and Transform the U.S. Economy".

'It should not be lost on us that revolutions are actually a fairly common occurrence in modern society. The most recent prominent example is the “Arab Spring,” but since 1900, there have been over 250 governments overturned by revolutionary action... The revolution America needs today is not against an oppressive monarchy, but rather against an educational system that has equally oppressive effects. Fortunately, we have the arms and technology to fight this war.

The Nation's Lee Fang comments: 'The revolution GSV goes on to describe is a battle to control the fate of America’s K-12 education system. Noting that this money is still controlled by public entities, or what’s referred in the document as “the old model,” the GSV paper calls for reformers to join the “education battlefield.” (A colorful diagram depicts “unions” and “status quo” forces equipped with muskets across businesses and other “change agents” equipped with a fighter jet and a howitzer.) The GSV manifesto declares, “we believe the opportunity to build numerous multi-billion dollar education enterprises is finally real.”'

Political links

• Bob Grady, member of GSV advisory board. A close confidant of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former chairman of the $81 billion New Jersey Investment Council. Also former Deputy Assistant to President George H. W. Bush

Investors/People

• Michael Moe, founder and CEO of GSV Asset Management

Contact

website: http://gsvcap.com