Send us a text

Joe Watt co-founded ECMC Group’s Education Impact Fund to back bold ideas expanding equity and opportunity in education. Today, he leads the Fund as Managing Director, shaping how patient, mission-driven capital creates lasting change. He’s joined by Atin Batra, a Director at the Fund, who leads investments across the learner journey, bringing a global venture lens and a deep focus on measurable outcomes that improve learner success.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How ECMC uses patient capital to drive measurable educational outcomes
2. The four stages of the learner journey guiding their investments
3. Why AI-resilient and AI-enhanced careers matter for the future workforce
4. What Workforce Pell means for career-connected learning access
5. How to balance vocational goals with critical thinking in higher ed

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:03:08 ] Joe on ECMC Group’s mission and fund origins
[00:10:59 ] Atin on measuring real learner impact
[00:15:33 ] Investing across the learner journey
[00:25:54 ] Building AI-resilient and ethical career pathways
[00:32:48 ] The promise and pitfalls of Workforce Pell
[00:44:15 ] Balancing vocational goals with critical thinking
[00:57:19 ] The importance of product velocity in edtech innovation 

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 30 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Ednition helps EdTech companies reclaim rostering and own their integrations. Through its flagship platform, RosterStream, Ednition replaces costly data providers and complex internal infrastructure with direct, secure connections to any SIS or data source. The result: scalable integrations, lower costs, and seamless experiences for schools and districts of every size. With Ednition: Reclaim rostering. Own your integrations. Cut the cost.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.