The GSV Big 10: Boyz II Men

The 'White Collar' Common App, LinkedIn Gaming, Lessons from Harlem...

#1 Mammal.ai | No Mercy / No Malice

Boyz II Men is a growing problem among the XY chromosomes. Everybody needs mentors and role models, especially young men. One of our key themes is the Power of Women (POW!) as women continue their ascent in leadership roles across every facet of society. Civilization will benefit if men get their act together and jointly move the world forward. 

#2 Is it Time for a ‘White Collar’ Job Common App? | Sam Lessin

Slow Ventures GP Sam Lessin uses his “problem → opportunity” VC brain to address a structural gap that needs filling. The idea that the Admissions Officer at Harvard is the de facto hiring director at Google is past its expiration date. Creating an assessment that tells employers what a job candidate brings to the party seems pretty “common” sense to us. 

#3 New Numbers Show Falling Standards in American High Schools | The Economist

Many celebrate that high school graduation is up 15% in the past 15 years while ignoring that test scores have dropped precipitously. The “soft bigotry of low expectations” is pernicious. Moreover, if the airline industry celebrated that 85% of its flights made it to their destinations safely, there wouldn’t be an airline industry. People perform to their expectations.

#4 VIDEO: Daniel Diermeier: Three Principles Saving Vanderbilt From Political Chaos | World of DaaS with Auren Hoffman

Auren Hoffman has always had an insatiable appetite for ideas and getting them off the ground. Free speech and open dialogue are foundational in how we advance as a society. Kudos to Daniel Diermeier and Vanderbilt for taking this on. 

#5 Fixing Ed-Tech Investing’s Lemons Problem | Stanford Social Innovation Review

If education technology is such a big idea, where are the big companies? The conundrum is not for a lack of interest…“Edtech” searches are equal with “Medtech” and above “Climate tech.” It’s not a size problem either…education is a $7 trillion industry. We think the issue is relatively simple: Edtech companies that create scale Return on Education (ROE) will generate massive returns (ROI). 

#6 In Tennessee, the Microschooling Movement Shows No Signs of Slowing Down | The 74 

Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee has been a champion for the School Choice Movement…and providing all kids access to quality education. Microschools are the love child of home schools and charter schools. The mass migration to Tennessee has made it a bellwether of where the country is going. Good ole Rocky Top!

#7 LinkedIn Plans to Add Gaming to its Platform | TechCrunch

Over $225 million has been spent on video games in the past 24 hours. Kids spend more time playing games than they do going to school from kindergarten through high school. Microsoft, as a master of Monopoly, knows where the money is going. Invisible Learning is a megatrend, and LinkedIn is where people flock to advance in their work…creating the “Call of Duty” of careers makes sense to us. 

#8 School Sports Matter. How to Make Them Matter More | American Enterprise Institute 

The original “Invisible Learning” is sports. All of the “7 Cs” are embedded in athletic competition…critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, cultural fluency, character, and civics. Moreover, getting knocked down and getting back up is the first lesson of entrepreneurship. 

#9 K-12 Hybrid Schooling Is in High Demand | RealClearEducation 

While what parents want may seem to be all over the map, what’s clear is they want choice. One-size-fits-all education is going, going, gone. Charter schools, vouchers, homeschools, microschools, hybrid schools, virtual charters…we’re not in Kansas anymore. 

#10 Harlem Lessons in Elementary Education | WSJ

Maybe our drumbeat for choice is getting annoying to some, but the truth is that more charters with more students has meant better performance. Public education is the Civil Rights issue of our time. School choice is the ticket for minorities to get out of poverty and pursue the American Dream. The proof is in the pudding – there has been a ~10X increase in Harlem charter students over the past 17 years, which has resulted in a ~2X increase in Math and English proficiency.