NO, I would not invest in SchoolManager. Lacking experience in administration, I don’t think I could add any value to this venture aside from capital. However, the product does differentiate itself from the rest of the market by combining a learning management system (e.g. Moodle, Blackboard) with a student management system (e.g. BCeSIS). From the administration’s point of view, this product reduces struck work by eliminating the need to re-enter data from one system to another. However, administrators (and accountants) would also need to consider annual costs of this product (including staff training, IT support, etc.) compared to the status quo before they make a decision. If costs outweigh benefits, administrators will not purchase the product and its market shares are reduced.
On the technical side, the product must be compatible with existing student management systems. For example, in B.C. secondary schools, the software would have to be compatible with BCeSIS. Its reliability is average at the very best and I am skeptical to have LMS features built on top of the foundation. They could replace BCeSIS, but I think the government and BCeSIS have a long-term contract that may be very expensive to buy out. Different provinces and states will have different existing SMS, and SchoolManager would need to be compatible (or replace) them. If SchoolManager cannot address these issues, its market shares will further be reduced.
I was interested in pitches for LMSs because of my previosus experience. I looked at the CloudConnect pitch and then also this one.
I would take the opposite view to you after this pitch. I would consider investing, but I would want a longer pitch to really delve into the issues you raise – which are all important. But I thought it was a sharp elavator pitch that identified the problem, provided a solution, differentiated itself, identified the potential market, and identified the “champion” as the CEO (who also had project management skills), and suggested an early return. This pitch made me want more information and I was interested.
However I wasn’t really convinced about the return within 1 year…. a bit quick so i was hesitant to tink it was realistic? So at the next pitch i think I would want more evidence about the return.
Hi Denise,
Like you, I became keen on learning more about SchoolManager and found the initial pitch worth exploring. I am not sure whether the pitch differentiated the product from other LMS-s (at least not explicitly enough for me) but it certainly touched on “filling a gap/meeting a need” and the champion was presented as credible with her IT Project Management experience. As you pointed out, experience shows us that new systems and platforms are costly and I personally found the 1 year target return unrealistic but maybe more information on the existing market where the product may be launched may allow for it.
Leonora
Colin Kam 11:11 pm on May 25, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
NO, I would not invest in SchoolManager. Lacking experience in administration, I don’t think I could add any value to this venture aside from capital. However, the product does differentiate itself from the rest of the market by combining a learning management system (e.g. Moodle, Blackboard) with a student management system (e.g. BCeSIS). From the administration’s point of view, this product reduces struck work by eliminating the need to re-enter data from one system to another. However, administrators (and accountants) would also need to consider annual costs of this product (including staff training, IT support, etc.) compared to the status quo before they make a decision. If costs outweigh benefits, administrators will not purchase the product and its market shares are reduced.
On the technical side, the product must be compatible with existing student management systems. For example, in B.C. secondary schools, the software would have to be compatible with BCeSIS. Its reliability is average at the very best and I am skeptical to have LMS features built on top of the foundation. They could replace BCeSIS, but I think the government and BCeSIS have a long-term contract that may be very expensive to buy out. Different provinces and states will have different existing SMS, and SchoolManager would need to be compatible (or replace) them. If SchoolManager cannot address these issues, its market shares will further be reduced.
Colin
Denise 5:07 am on May 27, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
HI Colin,
I was interested in pitches for LMSs because of my previosus experience. I looked at the CloudConnect pitch and then also this one.
I would take the opposite view to you after this pitch. I would consider investing, but I would want a longer pitch to really delve into the issues you raise – which are all important. But I thought it was a sharp elavator pitch that identified the problem, provided a solution, differentiated itself, identified the potential market, and identified the “champion” as the CEO (who also had project management skills), and suggested an early return. This pitch made me want more information and I was interested.
However I wasn’t really convinced about the return within 1 year…. a bit quick so i was hesitant to tink it was realistic? So at the next pitch i think I would want more evidence about the return.
Denise
Leonora Zefi 6:46 pm on May 28, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Denise,
Like you, I became keen on learning more about SchoolManager and found the initial pitch worth exploring. I am not sure whether the pitch differentiated the product from other LMS-s (at least not explicitly enough for me) but it certainly touched on “filling a gap/meeting a need” and the champion was presented as credible with her IT Project Management experience. As you pointed out, experience shows us that new systems and platforms are costly and I personally found the 1 year target return unrealistic but maybe more information on the existing market where the product may be launched may allow for it.
Leonora