Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Schools | Shani Dowell, Possip
Release Date: 07/17/2023
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info_outlineIn this episode, we sit down with Shani Dowell, the founder of Possip, a groundbreaking platform that bridges the gap between parents and schools to enhance student outcomes. Dowell takes us on her inspiring journey, from her background in consulting to her passion for education and the founding of Possip in 2016.
Join us as Dowell discusses the challenges faced in improving student outcomes and explores the vital role parents and teachers play in achieving this goal. We delve into the future of education and the profound impact technology has on the industry. Dowell also shares insights on fundraising and emphasizes the significance of finding the right investors for long-term success.
Discover how Possip empowers parents by providing a platform for valuable feedback to schools. With its inclusive approach, more than half of the feedback received is in languages other than English, ensuring accessibility for non-English speaking parents. Through open-ended sentiment questions, parents can express praise, seek answers to questions, or voice concerns. The technology organizes this qualitative data into subcategories, offering quantitative insights without sacrificing the richness of feedback. The collected data facilitates decision-making at the district level, and schools receive tailored recommendations based on the feedback.
If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.
Founder Bio:
Shani Dowell is a visionary entrepreneur and leader in technology and education. As the founder of Possip, her work helps revolutionize how schools and districts engage with their families, students and staff. A former middle school Math teacher, Shani started her career as a consultant at Bain & Co. and helped launch the Boston office of the Posse Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to increase student retention and engagement on college campuses. Shani has also worked for education organizations across the country - seeking to create the strongest school possible for students, families, staff, and the broader community. Shani earned her BA at Howard University in Washington, DC, and her MBA at Stanford University.
Time Stamps:
03:08 Introduction to Shani Dowell's background
07:34 Paint point that led to the idea for Possip
09:21 The challenges of improving student outcomes
12:41 The role of technology in education
14:59 Use of text prompts and web links for parent engagement
16:56 Importance of building something you understand
19:56 Finding the right tech developer
21:16 Leveraging strengths in tech
24:08 Getting customers and understanding the education market
25:58 Finding the right price point for Possip
27:59 Business model and pricing
32:52 Fundraising journey and the importance of finding the right investors
35:40 Best fit investors for Possip
37:57 What’s coming next for Possip
39:56 How to get in contact with the Possip team
Resources:
Company website: https://possip.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/possipit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/possipit/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PossipIt/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/possip/