Switch to another category

Company Profile

Default post image

Student First: Born from Scratch to Deliver the Future‑Ready SIS

Founded in 2021 by EdTech veteran David Meek, Student First is a brand-new Student Information System built entirely from the ground up. Unlike legacy SIS providers, it was conceived with modern technology and a clear purpose: to empower non‑traditional institutions through a truly future‑ready platform. Origins and Purpose David Meek, who previously founded Campus Management Corporation ... Student First: Born from Scratch to Deliver the Future‑Ready SIS  Read More

Thesis: From Unit4 Spin‑Off to SIS Specialist

Launched in 2021 as a spin‑off from Unit4’s Student Information System division, Thesis emerged as a dedicated SIS provider with a clear focus on higher education. Backed by TA Associates, the move separated Unit4’s ERP and HCM solutions from its student systems, allowing Thesis to operate independently and modernize its offerings. Building on the legacy of Unit4’s ... Thesis: From Unit4 Spin‑Off to SIS Specialist  Read More

From Databases to Cloud: The Evolution of Oracle Corporation

Oracle Corporation, a cornerstone of the IT industry since the 1970s, is a multifaceted company that offers a spectrum of solutions in almost 20 different product categories. With a legacy of innovation and leadership, Oracle has remained a trusted name in the ever-evolving information technology landscape. Let’s explore the diverse world of Oracle. From One ... From Databases to Cloud: The Evolution of Oracle Corporation  Read More

Instructure: From LMS to Learning Ecosystem

Instructure’s story is similar to many other companies: one day, a few friends or colleagues joined forces to develop a new product to overcome current challenges. Instructure’s learning management system stands out from the competition by its fast adoption rate: in less than eight years, Canvas implementations reached over 1,000 clients, with continued sustained upward ... Instructure: From LMS to Learning Ecosystem  Read More

D2L: Transforming How the World Learns

From a small LMS company gaining customers mostly from Canadian institutions 20 years ago to the second most implemented learning management system since the pandemic across North America, D2L (previously known as Desire2Learn) shows that David can become a contender to Goliath. The Inception D2L was established in 1999 by John Baker, a Canadian entrepreneur ... D2L: Transforming How the World Learns  Read More

Justin’s Thoughts on Ellucian Live 2023

Almost a month has passed since my return from Ellucian Live 2023. I am still processing everything I saw and the announcements that Ellucian made. I must be honest: Ellucian Live 2023 was my first Ellucian conference. My first impression: it was big, almost as big as Educause. A little over 5,000 participants gathered in New ... Justin’s Thoughts on Ellucian Live 2023  Read More
ZeeMee screenshot - Is ZeeMee the Next Facebook? - ListEdTech

Is ZeeMee the Next Facebook?

It’s been nearly two decades since many of us started using Facebook. Using a social network (or any website) for that amount of time is pretty astonishing. Known collectively as Meta, the world’s most used social network conglomerate now includes Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Workplace. The arc of Facebook’s dominance started off as a ... Is ZeeMee the Next Facebook?  Read More
Workday Historical Implementations

Workday: Focus on Student Success

Workday entered the education world about a decade ago. The offering of its HR Management and Financial Management solutions went without saying, but Workday positioned itself in the education world when it launched Workday Student in 2016. Ex-PeopleSoft Employees Founded a New Company Workday was founded in March 2005 following the acquisition of PeopleSoft by Oracle. ... Workday: Focus on Student Success  Read More

Justin’s Thoughts on Anthology Together

Earlier this month, I was invited to attend the annual Anthology/Blackboard conference, entitled Anthology Together. This was my first time attending an Anthology or a Blackboard conference. The conference took place at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in Orlando (Florida) from July 11th to July 14th, 2022 and had about 2,200 total attendees. I must say that ... Justin’s Thoughts on Anthology Together  Read More
Perceived Stress Post-Baseline

Neolth: Student Mental Health at the Forefront

Student mental health challenges have occurred for decades, but the recent pandemic brought the subject to the forefront. Universities, colleges and even school districts propose different support systems to ensure students achieve their program requirements. In addition to institutions, companies also develop tools and diverse solutions to help students and establishments overcome mental health challenges. ... Neolth: Student Mental Health at the Forefront  Read More

Elsevier to Acquire Interfolio

Nothing prepared the HigherEd market for the announcement of Elsevier acquiring Interfolio on April 21st. It is indeed rare that a smaller player (#2 in this case) would purchase the leader of a product category. But when we look at the two companies, it makes total sense why Elsevier would purchase Interfolio. Summary of the ... Elsevier to Acquire Interfolio  Read More
Historical HigherEd SIS Market

Jenzabar: From a Class Enrollment Portal to a Multi-Product Platform

The story behind Jenzabar is strongly linked to its CEO and Founder Chai Ling. Chai, a Chinese native came to the US in 1990 to study public affairs. She then worked at Bain & Co. where she met her future husband Robert A. Maginn Jr. By the end of the decade, she received an M.B.A. ... Jenzabar: From a Class Enrollment Portal to a Multi-Product Platform  Read More

Stay in the know

Blog & News

Redefining the HigherEd Chatbot Market: It’s No Longer About Market Share

The higher education chatbot market has moved well beyond its “early adopter” phase. It has now entered a profound structural transition. As a result, we are no longer talking about installation counts or leaderboard rankings. Instead, the focus has shifted toward high-stakes territory. This includes platform control, AI orchestration, governance, and total lifecycle ownership. The ... Redefining the HigherEd Chatbot Market: It’s No Longer About Market Share  Read More

Beyond the Binary: A Better Way to Visualize Market Saturation

In the world of EdTech, “saturation” is a word that gets thrown around constantly. You’ve heard the refrains in boardrooms and at conferences: “That category is saturated,” “There’s no more room to grow,” or “Everyone already has a solution.” The problem? Most of these conversations happen at the surface level. We treat market saturation like a light switch—it’s ... Beyond the Binary: A Better Way to Visualize Market Saturation  Read More

Education’s Cognitive Effect

Thanks to Morgan at Phil Hill & Associates for surfacing a thoughtful piece by Kirsten Green at Forerunner on the shift from network effects to cognitive effects, and why this change may quietly rewrite the rules of platform dominance. Her argument is simple but profound: the most powerful platforms going forward won’t just connect users; they’ll understand them. And once you ... Education’s Cognitive Effect  Read More