Featured Panel: EdTech Founder Stories

Philly EdTech Meetup, in collaboration with ProductTank, is excited to present a candid discussion featuring some of the most successful Philly-based EdTech founders who have built products in the education ecosystem.

We'll hear from:

• Dave Becker of CampusESP
• Jeremy Rogoff of KickUp
• Shaunak Roy of Yellowdig

EdTech companies must deal with complex stakeholder systems, long sales cycles, and deeply-held user beliefs across K-12 and higher education. Our featured panelists will share their origin stories, lessons learned, and practical insights into building, validating, and scaling products for education markets.

Moderated by Joshua Aversa, this conversation will pull back the curtain on what’s uniquely hard—and uniquely rewarding—about building in EdTech.

This is a special collaboration meetup between ProductTank Philadelphia, the largest Product Management Professionals in the city and the Philly EdTech Meetup group, Philly’s largest group of Higher Ed, K-12, Workforce Development members who are passionate about the intersection of education and technology.

What to expect:
🎓 Founder Origin Stories – What problems inspired them, how they validated demand, and why they chose EdTech.
🏛 Market Realities of EdTech – Sales cycles, procurement, funding dynamics, seasonality, and political pressures.
🛠 Building Product in Education – Getting feedback from a wide user base - students, teachers, admins, and parents; balancing compliance, safety, and accessibility.
🚀 Early-Stage Lessons – First hires, scrappy MVPs, fundraising realities, and go-to-market experiments.
🧭 Career Pathways into EdTech – Advice for PMs and operators entering mission-driven education organizations.

Whether you’re working in EdTech today, thinking about making the leap, or simply curious about what it really takes to build products in education, this panel will offer honest stories, practical takeaways, and plenty of perspective.
Agenda:
6:00 PM – Check-in & Networking
6:30–7:30 PM – Panel Discussion
7:30–8:00 PM – More Networking

Location:
CampusESP Headquarters
30 S 15th St, Philadelphia PA 19102
In the Graham Building right off of 15th and Ranstead Streets and opposite the La Colombe and on the 14th floor.

Notes:

• Please RSVP as we need to provide a list of names to building security in advance for faster access. You do not need to RSVP to both events if you are a member of both groups.
• Bring an ID to show the building security.
• Light refreshments will be provided