Looking back at 2023

Kiana Guyon
January 11, 2024
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One piece of advice we consistently share with the brilliant founders we work with is this: "Don't forget to take a moment to appreciate how far you've come and celebrate every achievement, no matter how big or small."

So, here we are, raising a toast to the remarkable journey of 2023 as we dive headfirst into 2024!

As we reflect on our milestones – from the success of Cohort 6.0 to the launch of our 1st ever physical cohort in Malta, expanding our network to include over 100 alumni, hosting two demo days, making four strategic investments into our fund, and unveiling our plans to venture into Melbourne and much much more – it's been an extraordinary ride!

Our team has been around the globe, making pitstops at major events like Bett Global, Slush, EdTechX, and EdTech Next Summit, where we built connections and expanded our global ecosystem.

We're incredibly grateful for the individuals we've encountered along the way, and we're buzzing with excitement about what 2024 has in store for us!

So stay with me, as I share our 2023 highlights.

Launched Malta Cohort 1.0!

We launched our 1st ever in-person accelerator programme in Malta. 14 amazing companies joined us on the island and got supercharged through our 12-week programme. The founders were kept busy with lots of events, workshops and excursions.

Building a successful EdTech startup is no small feat, which is why we created an intensive 12-week programme designed to help you take your business to the next level. As part of the programme, you have access to a range of resources, including mentorships from industry experts, networking and investment opportunities.

One of the unique features of our Malta programme is our focus on building a strong community. We believe that collaboration is key to success, and we encourage our startups to share knowledge and learn from each other. 👏

Learn more about our Malta accelerator, here.

Cohort 6.0 Demo Day & 3rd Birthday!

We marked our 3rd birthday with a bang, hosting not just one, but three events spanning Singapore, London, and online. It became a dual celebration as we concluded Cohort 6.0, with founders presenting their pitches both online and offline during the demo day. The celebrations was also a great occasion to take a look back at the milestones reached throughout our  journey supercharging the future of learning and work.

Learn more about our Virtual accelerator, here.

It's been BETT-tastic!

From London, to Bangkok, you "bett" that we've been busy!

  • In London - Both Tamas Haiman and Yiran Qin were judges for the European EdTech Alliance Startup Showcase and moderated the Female Founders Networking event, Yiran also bought together SCV Alumni dream team for the “The journey to building a successful EdTech startup” panel. "It was wonderful to see so many female founders in attendance and it's clear that ed-tech is here to stay post-COVID, stronger than ever before" added Tamas. And let's not forget the fun we had on the double decker bus event! We overfilled it and devoured 50 pizzas!
  • In Bangkok - We teamed up with Bett Global to host the 2nd edition of the Bett Asia Startup Award. Our lineup of finalists, included Summatic, EDGE Tutor International, OUTSIDER, Happily.ai, VisualCamp, MARVRUS, and Lens.A huge round of applause to Summatic, our alumni, for emerging as the 2023 winners!

G'day mate! SCV heads to Australia!

From the sunny shores of Malta to the vibrant landscapes of Australia! In 2023, we had the privilege of hosting our inaugural roundtable session for the Victorian Government Trade and Investment Office, UK, Europe & Israel alongside esteemed delegates from the EdTech industry. The session was absolutely inspiring, filled with thought-provoking discussions that sparked fresh ideas and fostered meaningful connections. It was an incredible opportunity for our delegates to dive deep into the world of EdTech, sharing valuable industry insights and exploring exciting new possibilities.

And let's not forget our co-founder, Alessandro Di Lullo, who traveled all the way to Australia to unveil our plans to land in Melbourne and build a robust ecosystem that promises exciting opportunities for the future of learning and work.


It was EdTechX-traordinary!

Before the main event, we kicked things off with an exclusive "EdTech for Breakfast" gathering, where brilliant thought leaders, disruptors, and change-makers in the EdTech world came together to discuss the “future of education post-COVID and in the era of generative AI”.

Tamas Haiman also rocked the EdTechX stage alongside Christina Bwana, Fabrice Nadjari, and Lucy Hayter, diving into the captivating world of “The Case of Edutainment"! We ended the day with an evening cocktail session where we gave away 200 amazing EdTech books! It was such a brilliant week of insightful discussions and memorable moments that will stay with us.

We created the 1st ever APAC EdTech Map

Our mission? To foster collaboration and knowledge sharing within the EdTech ecosystem.
This is why we launched the APAC EdTech Map, showcasing the incredible diversity in the Asia-Pacific region. This map allows everyone to discover innovative solutions, access valuable resources, and explore potential investment opportunities

Learn more about our APAC EdTech Map, here.

Guten Tag EdTech Next Summit!

We were thrilled to be part of the EdTech Next Summit in Bielefeld, Germany, where our very own Tamas Haiman took the stage to share invaluable fundraising insights. Tamas shared his top tip that resonated with the audience: "Even if someone hasn't invested, keeping them updated on your company's progress can be a powerful move."

The summit provided an enriching platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and gaining fresh perspectives on the ever-evolving landscape of educational technology.


A Big WIN at Times Higher Education Digital Universities Event

Our director, Yiran Qin, was in Barcelona for the Times Higher Education Digital Universities Event. Yiran served as one of the esteemed judges in the highly competitive Start-up Pitch Competition. After some tough deliberations, the judges crowned Summatic as the winner! A big congratulations to one of our alumni for this impressive achievement and for Charles Roddie for giving a winning pitch!🥇

We were at SLUSH

Our co-founder, Tamas Haiman, Slush-ed it in Sweden! The day began with a daring start at the "deep end" – participating in the Slush Investor Ice Dipping session in the freezing -1 degrees sea water. To add to the excitement, we co-hosted a side-event #Invested, where Tamas seized the mic and shared valuable insights to the audience!

We had our Malta Demo Day!

Space suits on, game face on and ready to take the centre stage and pitch!

The 12-week program of Malta Cohort 1.0 concluded with an impressive demo day, showcasing the remarkable progress achieved by each founder in presenting their innovative EdTech startups. Throughout this journey, friendships were made, ecosystems were forged, and startups were supercharged. The presence of everyone involved in making our 1st ever in-person accelerator a reality added to the amazing evening.

Onwards and upwards

As we bid farewell to 2023, our anticipation for what lies ahead in 2024 is palpable.
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