Monthly notes from The EdTech Institute of Chicago
Welcome to the EdTech Institute of Chicago’s July newsletter! EIC is a volunteer-led organization with a mission of elevating Chicago and the Midwest as a world-class hub for edtech innovation.
What’s included:
Summer Social Recap + TechWalk Registration
Survey: Future of Learning Meetups
Partner Spotlight: Education Walkthrough
A big round of thanks to all who supported the EIC x LEAP Summer Social in June. Despite ominous weather (tornadoes!), more than 30 attendees turned up for an insightful panel and casual networking. See more photos and an event recap on LinkedIn.
TechWalk offers the opportunity for members of the Tech and SaaS communities to get outside, meet new people, and enjoy some fresh air, while practicing mindful movement.
For the EIC x TechWalk event, we will meet at Union Park and take a leisurely stroll, appreciating the scenery and forging new connections in a friendly and inclusive setting.
Whether you’re hoping to connect with fellow edtech leaders, are looking for a new role, or just need a break from the daily grind, all are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!
EIC member Isabel Hutchison is taking the lead on planning a new networking opportunity for our community, with a goal of cultivating conversation between researchers and edtech leaders.
Isabel would value input from all community members to help her plan the meetup format with community needs and interests in mind.
>> Please take a minute to share your thoughts
When Adam Russek-Sobol started Education Walkthrough in 2019, he was looking for a side project. He’d already built CareBand, a wearable tech platform for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and needed something to help cover payroll while that company grew. What began as a side hustle became his main focus.
From Paper and Pencil to 500 Districts
The idea came from a friend who was a school principal. He described doing classroom walkthroughs on paper, and how long it took to get feedback back to teachers. “Everyone has a phone in their pocket,” Adam said, and it seemed obvious to him that teachers should get the same immediate feedback students do.
He built the tool, and it spread the way good products often do: word of mouth. Principals found it, tried it, and paid for it if they liked it. Education Walkthrough’s first customer was the Department of Education in Tasmania, Australia, still a customer today. The company now works with roughly 500 districts across the US and in 10 countries, including a network of schools across Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Colombia, plus partners in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, China, and Australia and New Zealand.
Growth has followed a bottoms-up pattern: one principal in a district adopts the tool, shares it with peers, and eventually the district signs on formally. It travels with people, too. When an administrator changes districts, they often bring Education Walkthrough along, so the company rarely loses a customer, it mostly just gains new ones.
Managing the Growth
Managing that growth, rather than sparking it, is what Adam says has been hardest. The team is three people: design, customer success, and Adam. “It’s not retention, retention’s really good,” he said. “It’s making sure that every single school, every single district we work with, gets the value out of it.”
The stakes are high. District leaders have turned to Education Walkthrough because the tool has demonstrated success with some of the lowest-performing schools in the country, moving them from an F or D rating to a B or A within a year, and helped districts push math and ELA scores 10 to 15 percentage points above state averages. The strongest results come from schools that build the tool into a regular habit, paired with district leaders who have an intentional plan for how they’ll use the data.
Lesson Learned: Price Below the Blocker
One lesson Adam would pass on to other edtech founders is to get creative with pricing. Rather than charging per teacher or per student, Education Walkthrough prices below the discretionary budget most principals control on their own. That means schools can adopt it without an RFP or top-down approval. “We intentionally price our product underneath a principal’s discretionary budget,” he said, “so price isn’t a blocker to the conversation.”
What’s Next
Adam is now focused on sharpening how Education Walkthrough tells its story, shifting from a message built around efficiency to one built around outcomes, as more districts report gains in test scores, teacher retention, and funding. Longer term, he’s working toward a few million dollars in annual recurring revenue over the next couple of years, positioning the company for acquisition. Additionally, Education Walkthrough is currently looking to hire a Customer Success Manager.
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Adam moved to Chicago for cybersecurity consulting work before starting his own companies. Outside of Education Walkthrough, he runs Founders Therapy, a peer support group that’s met every other Thursday for two years at a coffee shop in Lakeview. Want to try Education Walkthrough out yourself?
EIC Tech Walk | August 9
Get outside and do some speed networking with edtech innovators while you walk! Full details coming soon, please save the date.BMN Chicago Youth Works Future Ready Summit & Opportunity Expo | July 22
A citywide summit connecting 300 Chicago Youth Works participants with employers, nonprofits, educators, and career opportunities through workshops and an Opportunity Expo.2026 TechWeek Chicago x Pixels & Prosecco Mixer | July 22
Join Pagame Project at the annual 2026 TechChicago Week x Pixels & Prosecco Mixer 1 yr Anniversary celebration at TechNexus for small bites & a glass of Prosecco (water & soda available as non-alcoholic options).How to Choose the Right Tech Career | July 25
Explore the daily responsibilities, required skills, and a practical framework for popular tech roles like Software Engineering, Product Management, and Data Science to help you confidently choose your next career or learning path.
ASL Aspire is celebrating an investment from the NYU Impact Investment Fund (NIIF). This investment is more than funding. It’s a vote of confidence in ASL Aspire’s mission to make STEM education accessible for deaf and hard of hearing students and gives us the resources to grow our impact.
Overture is hiring teachers! If you know anyone who appreciates a paper and pencil approach to teaching AI or would like to try your hand at it, you can apply to join the Overture team at www.overtureai.org/careers
Education Walkthrough is hiring a customer success manager. Chicago is the preferred location for this opportunity to be part of EW’s next stage of growth. Apply here.
🗓️ SUBMIT events & announcements for our next newsletter!
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