Institute for Education Innovation

What Institute for Education Innovation does

The Institute for Education Innovation (IEI) is a U.S. non-profit think tank founded in 2017 and headquartered in Northport, operating as a membership and events organization rather than a technology vendor. Its core function is to convene K-12 superintendents and cabinet-level district leaders — the decision-makers who influence school-district technology adoption — into a curated community, and to monetize access to that community from EdTech solution providers. Programs include three National Summits per year in rotating U.S. locations, Regional Retreats, the Supes' Choice Awards & Gala, the SupeTank pitch competition (which places early-stage EdTech startups in front of 40+ superintendent judges for a published $2,500 participation fee), the IEI: Advise advisory product, and the IEI Speakers' Suite.

The underlying "platform" is a human-mediated, trust-based network rather than a software product. IEI does not develop proprietary technology; its proprietary features list is empty and no public APIs, integrations, or AI capabilities are disclosed. Distribution is field-sales and event-driven: direct membership enrollment from superintendents, application-based onboarding for EdTech companies (including a six-company international cohort via the co-hosted Stockholm Leadership Forum with the Nordic EdTech Summit), and tiered corporate sponsorships — the 2026 Supes' Choice Summit lists at least 14 named EdTech sponsors including Navigate360, Stages Learning, Learning A-Z, Brightspace (D2L), NoRedInk, thinkLaw, Care Solace, Magma, ProxLearning, operoo, and Kide Science.

Revenue is generated across four streams: district-leader membership fees (subscription), event registration fees (including SupeTank), corporate partnership and sponsorship packages (subscription/recurring), and premium content (Doug's Digest bi-monthly and IEI Monthly newsletter). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Leadership comprises Founder/CEO Doug Roberts, Chief Leadership Officer Iranetta Rayborn Wright, Chief Operational Officer Tiffany Law, Chief Membership Officer Justin Jennings, and newly promoted Vice President of Membership and Strategy Melissa Crawl (promoted 2026-03-17 from Director of Member and Leader Development).

Name

Institute for Education Innovation

Legal name

The Institute for Education Innovation

Website

https://instituteforedinnovation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute for Education Innovation is a U.S. non-profit think tank that operates a national community of K-12 superintendents and district leaders, monetizing access to that network through membership fees, three annual National Summits, regional retreats, the Supes' Choice Awards & Gala, the SupeTank pitch competition for early-stage EdTech startups, and tiered corporate sponsorship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Leadership and Professional Development

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

IEP/504 Academic Support Tutoring (EDANAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Special Education (SPED), IEP & Accessibility/Assistive Technology (EDAJAMAH)

Keywords

• K-12 leadership development
• Education professional development
• Superintendent networking
• EdTech market access
• Education consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Northport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: IEI offers membership to K-12 superintendents and district leaders, providing access to the network, professional development resources, and exclusive events.
2. Event Registration Fees: IEI generates revenue through registration fees for National Summits, regional retreats, SupeTank pitch competitions, and the Supes' Choice Awards Gala. SupeTank participation costs $2,500 per company for summit access and competition participation.
3. Corporate Partnerships: IEI partners with EdTech companies and solution providers who pay for access to the superintendent network, sponsorship opportunities at events, and participation in programs like IEI: Advise.
4. Sponsorship Revenue: EdTech companies sponsor IEI events including the Supes' Choice National Summit, gaining visibility and access to superintendents. Sponsorship opportunities are available at various tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IEI is a membership-based national think tank for K-12 superintendents and district leaders, delivering professional development, peer networking, and curated connections to EdTech solution providers. Its core offerings are event-driven: three annual National Summits, Regional Retreats, the Supes' Choice Awards & Gala, the SupeTank pitch competition for early-stage EdTech companies, and the IEI: Advise advisory program that links EdTech entrepreneurs with superintendent feedback and pilot opportunities.

Product overview

IEI (Institute for Education Innovation) is a national think tank and professional development organization serving K-12 education leaders. Rather than a unified software platform, the organization offers a portfolio of event-based programs and advisory services including National Summits (three annually featuring SupeTank), Regional Retreats, the Supes' Choice Awards & Gala, IEI: Advise for entrepreneur engagement, and the IEI Speakers' Suite. These programs connect superintendents with EdTech innovators through pitch competitions, networking events, and advisory engagements. Publications include Doug's Digest (bi-monthly) and a monthly newsletter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SupeTank: A live pitch competition where early-stage EdTech companies present directly to sitting superintendents who influence district adoption decisions.
• IEI: Advise
• IEI Speakers' Suite
• Supes' Choice Awards
• Supes' Choice Gala

Products and services

• IEI Membership for K-12 Superintendents and District Leaders Annual membership that gives K-12 superintendents and cabinet-level district leaders access to IEI's exclusive national network, peer support, professional development resources, and event programming. Designed for K-12 district decision-makers seeking peer connections and curated EdTech introductions.
• IEI National Summits Three annual multi-day in-person summits (fall, spring/winter, and summer) held in different U.S. locations, bringing together superintendents, EdTech leaders, K-12 entrepreneurs, and strategists for professional development, networking, and partnership opportunities.
• IEI Regional Retreats Regional in-person gatherings that enable superintendents and district leaders to meet peers in their area and discuss K-12 issues specific to their region.
• SupeTank Pitch Competition Live pitch competition hosted at IEI National Summits where early-stage EdTech companies (≤3 district sales, <$1M revenue, pre-Series A) present directly to panels of 40+ sitting superintendents and district leaders who influence adoption decisions. Participants pay a $2,500 fee per company for summit access and competition participation and receive real-time feedback and pilot leads.
• Supes' Choice Awards & Gala Annual national awards program recognizing outstanding K-12 superintendents for exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in their districts, with the awards celebrated during the Fall Summit Gala.
• IEI: Advise Customized advisory engagement program that matches K-12 EdTech entrepreneurs with IEI superintendents and district leaders for actionable feedback aligned to their growth stage, often leading to pilot programs and long-term district partnerships.
• IEI Speakers' Suite Curated roster of trusted education innovators and industry experts available to deliver keynotes and hands-on workshops for district staff, students, and community audiences.
• District Leaders Connect Regional networking events for K-12 district leaders to connect and share insights on education issues in their area.
• Stockholm Leadership Forum Co-hosted event with the Nordic EdTech Summit, limited to six international EdTech companies per event, providing structured 1:1 meetings with U.S. superintendents and preparation for U.S. K-12 market entry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Superintendents report IEI events provide exceptional value relative to other professional development opportunities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nordic EdTech SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2026Co-host of the Stockholm Leadership Forum, combining Nordic EdTech Summit's regional networks and expertise in international growth strategy with IEI's access to U.S. superintendents. This partnership enables international EdTech companies to access the U.S. K-12 market.
• FrenalyticsminorOthersFrenalytics is an EdTech startup that won SupeTank and has secured district customers through IEI connections. The CEO, Matt Giovanniello, has spoken publicly about how IEI contributed to their early customer pipeline.
• Literacy TreeminorOthersLiteracy Tree is an EdTech startup that participated in SupeTank, gaining visibility with superintendents. CEO Stephanie Newman has highlighted the value of presenting to the IEI community.
• UniqLearnminorOthersUniqLearn is an EdTech startup that credits IEI and SupeTank as a significant source of early customers and pipeline development. CEO Aidan McDowell has noted that multiple customers came directly from IEI connections.
• Navigate360minorOthersNavigate360 is an EdTech solution provider sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala in Charleston, SC.
• Stages LearningminorOthersStages Learning is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• Learning A-ZminorOthersLearning A-Z is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• Brightspace (by D2L)minorOthersBrightspace is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• NoRedInkminorOthersNoRedInk is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• thinkLawminorOthersthinkLaw is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• Care SolaceminorOthersCare Solace is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• MagmaminorOthersMagma is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• ProxLearningminorOthersProxLearning is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• operoominorOthersoperoo is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.
• Kide ScienceminorOthersKide Science is an EdTech company sponsoring the 2026 Supes' Choice National Summit and Gala.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AASA (American Association of School Administrators): AASA is the national professional association for school superintendents, offering memberships, conferences, advocacy, and professional development. Its superintendent-focused mission and event-driven engagement model closely mirror IEI's core offering, making it the most direct organizational peer.
• CoSN (Consortium for School Networking): CoSN is a professional association for K-12 EdTech leaders, providing networking, conferences, and resources that connect district technology decision-makers with EdTech vendors. Its focus on the superintendent/CIO nexus overlaps directly with IEI's target membership and event model.
• ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development): ASCD is a membership-based professional development organization serving K-12 educators and leaders through conferences, publications, and curated content. Its combination of paid membership, events, and leadership development parallels IEI's hybrid community-plus-events approach.
• EdSurge: EdSurge operates a media, events, and community platform covering EdTech, with summits and programming that connect K-12 buyers and EdTech sellers. Its role as a convening intermediary between districts and vendors closely mirrors IEI's bridging function.
• SXSW EDU: SXSW EDU is an annual conference and festival focused on the future of teaching and learning, bringing together educators, administrators, and EdTech innovators. Its convening model and educator-vendor intersection align with IEI's event strategy at a larger, more general scale.
• FETC (Future of Education Technology Conference): FETC is one of the largest K-12 EdTech conferences in the U.S., drawing district leaders and EdTech vendors. It competes with IEI summits for the same superintendent attendance and vendor sponsorship dollars, making it a direct event-market peer.
• EdTech Digest: EdTech Digest produces awards, recognition programs, and events that connect EdTech vendors with educators and leaders. Its recognition-and-event model and vendor-facing positioning parallel IEI's Supes' Choice Awards and SupeTank programs.

Broad incumbents

• ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education): ISTE is a large established EdTech educator organization with conferences, standards, and a broad membership spanning classroom teachers and leaders. It overlaps with IEI on K-12 EdTech convening but operates at a much larger scale and a broader educator base rather than superintendent-only.
• Education Week (EdWeek): EdWeek is the leading K-12 news outlet, with conferences, research, and events that connect district leaders with industry partners. Its broader news-and-events portfolio overlaps with IEI's convening function but serves a wider K-12 audience.

Emerging players

• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): CCSSO is a nonpartisan national association of state school chiefs that convenes education leadership for advocacy and policy. Its leadership-convening function overlaps with IEI's superintendent community, though CCSSO focuses on state-level chiefs rather than district superintendents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IEI_K12
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsaoPmqgXTbe8jeMsi0symA
• Facebookfacebook.com/IEIK12
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-education-innovation
• Instagraminstagram.com/instituteforedinnovation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institute for Education Innovation