Discussion Dinner: EdTech Leadership Dinner, June 2025

On the evening of 11th June in London, in partnership with independent law firm, Farrer & Co., Spectrum curated a group of board-level leaders in EdTech – Founders, CEOs, NEDs, and investors – for a peer group discussion over dinner and the opportunity to network.

Experiences were discussed. Ideas – from the tactical to the ‘blue sky’ – were explored. Perspectives – beyond the narrow confines of our focused working lives – were gained. Relationships were built.

And each year, the debate moves on as strategic imperatives evolve.

The post-pandemic EdTech ‘bounce’ has long since passed, superseded by the need to measure training data and demonstrate and prove learning outcomes. This year’s discussion centred on AI.

Key observations included:

  • Some are seeing AI now feature in EdTech RFPs.
  • Others can attribute 20% of software development to AI.
  • The impact of AI on EdTech enterprise valuations and investment decisions is substantial.
  • For some, the mention of AI reduced customer conversion (eg in the context of primary school age-focused tools).
  • For others, it represents an opportunity to fundamentally change the way we learn forever: from rote-based learning to commit facts to memory, to a new dawn of critical thinking and fundamental understanding.
  • And with all things tech in education, ensuring fair and equal access is paramount. Currently, there seems to be a huge disparity geographically and socially in the use and adoption of AI by school and university-level students (in the UK). The potential for AI to widen social divides is a clear and present danger.
  • The impact of AI on jobs and skills of the future was also explored.

Aside from the AI theme, this year’s discussion also focused on commercial imperatives, more so than in previous years.

The key commercial themes we explored included:

  • The requirement to build steadily and profitably – it’s no longer all about growth.
  • The market pressure to reduce the cost of content is ever present (AI has a role to play).
  • The approach to international growth and expansion varied considerably by organisation. For some, the primary focus was on entering and growing the US market to capture higher-value deals at a greater scale.
  • For others, the US market was not a core focus, instead preferring to build in UK-like school education environments, such as Australia.
  • Market entry was typically achieved via M&A or by recruiting a local sales team.
  • Tools which make educators’ lives easier – those which save them time – were seen as highly attractive in the current market.

To register your interest in attending future EdTech leadership events, please contact Gemma Hubert at gemma.hubert@spectrum-ehcs.com