Education Industry Investment Forum 2010, Phoenix AZ

Education sector in India is expanding and innovating new models and services related to education sector. For example, traditional learning companies like NIIT are reinventing themselves and at another level entrepreneurial companies like MeritTrac and GTT are gaining traction. One forum in the US, that celebrates and encourages entrepreneurialism and investment in education sector is - Education Industry Investment Forum (EIIF). This could be an interesting learning and engagement opportunity for Indian participants interested in education sector. Here is the interview with Douglas Crets, Conference Director, EIIF, Institute for International Research (IIR).
- Rahul Choudaha, PhD

Before joining Institute for International Research, Douglas Crets spent six years working as a journalist and as an independent researcher in Asia. He is a graduate of the University of Hong Kong, where he earned a Master's in Journalism. Douglas has experience developing unique qualitative analysis reports for media, education and technology in 17 countries across Asia. He often speaks and consults on digital media. He has run IIR's Education Industry Investment Forum for two years.

Rahul- Please share the background and focus on Education Industry Investment Forum?
Douglas- The Education Industry Investment Forum grew out of grassroots collaboration between operators of charter schools, online learning institutions, trade schools, for-profit colleges, private equity investors, investment banking professionals and the entrepreneurs and business executives that provide services to the for-profit education industry, from K-12 to higher ed. This annual forum brings together individuals who are focused on building value through mergers & acquisition, strategy-driven growth opportunities and investments from venture capital and private equity.

Rahul- What are the highlights of the upcoming conference in Phoenix, Arizona from March 1-3, 2010?
Douglas-The highlights are a spectrum of keynote speakers, including:

Josh Jarrett, from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Tom Vander Ark, from Revolution Learning
Chris Whittle, Founder of Edison Schools
Dan Madzelan, from the United States Department of Education
Burck Smith, from StraighterLine

You will also have the benefit of talking with a real superintendent of school curriculum at a public school district in the United States, who is investing in e-book readers for their students.

Strong private equity-focused discussions, including:
Examining M & A, Capitalizations and Innovations in Business Performance that will Have a Measurable Impact on Funding
Moderated by:

Mark DeFusco, Managing Director, Berkery Noyes
John Bates, Managing Director, Arlington Capital Partners
Toby Chu, Chief Executive Officer, CIBT Education (Canada and China)
Sabrina Kay, Chairman and CEO, Fremont College
Sever Totia, Principal, Edison Ventures Fund

Economic Disparity and its Impact on Operations Strategy and Investor Strategy: Funding, Operations, Regulatory and Legal Challenges in For-Profit Education in 2010
Moderated by:

Peter Leyton, President /Shareholder, Ritzert & Leyton
Chris Masto, Senior Managing Director, Friedman Fleischer & Lowe
Joe Merrill, Senior Director – Business Planning, Apollo Group, Inc
Laura Palmer-Noone, Chief Executive Officer, Piccolo Educational Systems
Felix Park, Managing Director, Gryphon Investors
John Schnabel, Partner, Falcon Investment Advisors

Rahul- How could participants from India benefit by attending this conference?
Douglas- Private Equity investors and operators of for-profit schools are increasingly looking to India to help provide scale and to grow out a huge education system by making it more sustainable and increasing its devotion to technology. The world is looking to India. They also see a market in testing, assessment, outsourcing of tutoring, and the traditional small and medium-sized enterprises that are attractively valued for a private equity investment. In other words, India-based operators and entrepreneurs would learn what they need to do to attract these kinds of partners at the forum, and they would certainly find a willing and eager audience for their questions.