Copyright © 2015 Pallas Advanced Learning Systems Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

A P R O F E S S O R M E E T S T H E E L E V A T O R P I T C H  

P R O F E S S O R M I C H A E L J . J A C O B S O N , P H . D . C 0 - D I R E C T O R , C E N T R E F O R C O M P U T E R S U P P O R T E D L E A R N I N G A N D C O G N I T I O N T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F S Y D N E Y

F O U N D E R A N D C E O PA L L A S A D VA N C E D L E A R N I N G S Y S T E M S P T Y LT D

 

Outline

• How many interested in “spinning off” their research as a profit or not-for profit company?

• My Pallas adventure • Pitch • The process

• Lessons being learned • Discussions

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The Science and Math Learning Crisis

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Try  to  teach  first  then  practice  science  knowledge

 

Pallas Platform of Systems for Advanced Learning

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• Based on cutting edge research • Enables new paradigm: challenge first then teach

 

Learn and Teach Science Differently

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Imagine doing 21st century science to learn 21st century science

• These approaches really turn the kids on • http://pallasals.com

Intelligent virtual “game like” worlds

 

$US  -­‐  B

illions

0

17.5

35

52.5

70

2012 2017

16.60

69.00

Global K-12 EdTech Growth

7

33%  Growth

 

Pallas Product Mix

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Learn  Differently

Teach  Differently

Science  Curricula  Aligned

Professional  Development

Innovative  Teaching  

Approaches

Teaching  Guides

Intelligent  Virtual  Worlds

Modeling/  Visualization  

Tools

Our Product Mix

Assessments

 

What Makes Pallas Products Valuable?

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Our Team

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Professor Michael J. Jacobson Founder and CEO

Wai Yat Wong Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Paul Stokes, High School Teacher Chief Education Officer

Dr. Mary Ann Allison, The Allison Group, USA Advisory Board

Dr. Tim Finnigan, CEO, BioPower Advisory Board

Matthew Burley, Consultant Consultant for on the ground marketing and sales

ATP Innovation, Incubator Strategic and tactical planning, business and legal support, administrative services

 

Enabling Transformative Learning

Mission

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Learn  and  Teach  Differently  

Pallas  Advanced  Learning  Systems    

 

The Prof and the Pitch

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Jargon is Not Just for Academics

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• Startup Jargon • Traction • MVP (minimum viable product) • Getting vested • Angel and Series A and B investment stages

• And then the lawyers…

 

The Startup Game

Goal: Keeping control of your company

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Phases  and    Percent  Company  Control

Start  of  Startup

You 100%

Company  0%

Investors 0%

 

The Startup Game

Going…

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Phases  and    Percent  Company  Control

Start  of  Startup FFFAngels    ($500K+)

Series  A    ($5M+)

You 100% 75%

Company  0% 18%

Investors 0% 7%

 

The Startup Game

Going…

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Phases  and    Percent  Company  Control

Start  of  Startup FFFAngels    ($500K+)

Series  A    ($5M+)

You 100% 75% 60%

Company  0% 18% 18%

Investors 0% 7% 22%

 

The Startup Game

Gone… :-(

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Phases  and    Percent  Company  Control

Start  of  Startup FFFAngels    ($500K+)

Series  A    ($5M+)

You 100% 75% 60% 47%

Company  0% 18% 18% 18%

Investors 0% 7% 22% 35%

 

My Pallas Adventure

• 2014 March: Formed company • 2014 October: Client of ATP Innovation Incubator Program • 2014 November: Semi-finalist 1776 Challlenge Cup Competition • 2014 December: Sign exclusive IP license agreement with the

University of Sydney • 2015 February: Hire Chief Technology Officer and Chief Learning

Officer • 2015 March: Signed up first school customer for Pallas products • 2015 March: Applying for startup funding programs at the state and

national levels in Australia

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• Do not underestimate the cultural differences between the academic research world and the startup/business world

• As an academic, expect that business people will be suspicious of you • Importance of accelerator and incubator programs for an academic

startup company

Lessons Being Learned

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• Time is your enemy: Challenges of balancing the academic and the startup work demands

   

Thank You and Discussion

Michael J. Jacobson, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Pallas Advanced Learning Systems Pty Ltd

Professor and Chair of Education Co-Director, Centre for Computer Supported Learning and Cognition Honorary Associate, School of Medicine

The University of Sydney

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