Mallory Dwinal-Palisch: Transitioning an EdTech Organization from Non-Profit to VC-Backed
Dive into a discussion with Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, an entrepreneur transforming education through innovative solutions. With a track record of founding three impactful organizations, including two non-profits and a VC-backed edtech startup, Mallory offers invaluable insights at the intersection of education, venture capital, and workforce development.
In this session, she will share her journey with Craft Education, acquired by Western Governors University, and its mission to upskill 10 million people through apprenticeship degree pathways by 2035. Mallory will discuss aligning founder and investor goals, managing venture capital nuances, and the essential role of education in tackling labor and talent challenges.
As Executive Director at Craft Education within WGU, Mallory will showcase how her work influences adult education and labor solutions. Whether you’re a founder, involved in EdTech, Future of Work, Human Capital, or passionate about education, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from her experiences and vision for the future.
Prepare to engage with fellow founders eager to address challenges in education and talent development.
Opening Remarks @ 9:30am PT
Join us for opening remarks with Dina Fattom, Member Success Manager at Founders Network, to get the latest updates from the Network and opportunities for getting involved.
Keynote Speaker @ 9:40am PT
Mallory Dwinal-Palisch is the founder of three organizations: Oxford Day Academy (charter high school, 2017), Reach University (non-profit, 2020), and Craft Education (VC-backed edtech startup, 2020).
Craft Education started as a groundbreaking tool for teacher training data and evolved into a robust platform for apprenticeship degree programs before exiting to Western Governors University (WGU). This transition transformed Craft into a free public data utility, significantly enhancing access to educational resources.
As Executive Director at WGU, the largest university in the U.S. with around 170,000 students, Mallory leverages open-source data tools and innovative educational models to tackle labor market challenges. Her mission is to upskill 10 million individuals through apprenticeship degree pathways by 2035.
With firsthand experience navigating the complexities of venture capital, Mallory emphasizes the importance of founder-VC alignment and cap table management. She advises at General Catalyst, promoting a thoughtful approach to venture funding as a specialized tool for specific needs.
Mallory's dedication to education and entrepreneurial spirit inspire those around her, establishing her as a prominent voice in edtech and workforce development.
Stage-Based Roundtables @ 10:30am PT
Community Partners:
Jeff leads the Partnerships Team at Forecastr — a leading FP&A software company that helps startups create kick-butt financial models to impress investors, confidently raise capital, and effectively run their businesses better.
Jeff serves on the advisory boards of several startup companies and is an active angel investor. He's passionate about startups and enjoys working with founders and mentoring entrepreneurs.
Jeff is an experienced entrepreneur and was the founder and CEO of a successful consumer goods company that he rapidly grew from $1M in sales its first year to over $40M in annual revenue in its fourth year of operations and was ranked #138 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies.
Prior to founding his own company, Jeff was a partner at Beanstalk Partners where he led the sales and business development activities. He also served as the National Sales Director for a venture-backed tech startup where he generated over $45M in client contracts and developed the company’s channel partner program.
Jeff has a degree in accounting and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah. After receiving his MBA in Finance from the University of Utah he served as the Vice President of Investments for Sentry Financial Corporation.
Guests Are Welcome!
Please bring a guest! Every member can bring one (1) guest to each event. Each guest must be a full-time tech startup founder so they can bring new perspectives, skillsets, and experience to your chapter.
All guests must be full-time tech startup founders and you can register them directly on this function page. See How to Register a Guest here.
Confidentiality Policy:
All information shared within Founders Network is strictly confidential. We are built on a foundation of trust, and the community takes confidentiality seriously. Investors, members, and staff all share experiences and opinions off the record. In this roundtable forum, we continue to model our fnValues of Reciprocity, Humility, Authenticity and Inclusivity.