Education Technology and Services

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Industry Overview
Cluster Strengths
Cluster Challenges
Key Initiatives
Key Organizations
Notable Companies
Cluster Contact

Note: The information on this page was provided by the Northwest Education Cluster.

 Industry Overview

While most of the organizations in the Education Technology cluster are located in the Portland area, a few are from Eugene, Salem, and Southwest Washington.  A study from 2008 indicated that the majority of member companies derive more than 80% of their revenue from outside of Oregon, making this a true traded-sector cluster. 

There are over 40 companies that are members of the NW Education cluster, and membership is open to any NW area company that provides education products and services. The cluster is currently gathering information about its economic impact via an Economic Impact Study. The results should be ready by June 2011 – please check the NW Education Cluster website for more details.

Cluster Strengths

• Oregon is attractive to people that are passionate about education.
• Education-related entrepreneurs enjoy the learning emphasis provided by the state, and want to stay in Oregon.
• The cluster partners with many universities in Oregon.

Cluster Challenges

• It is difficult for smaller education technology companies to access start-up funding and resources, though many of this cluster's companies are new or small businesses with the desire to grow. There is limited access to venture capital in Oregon compared to Washington, despite the State's attempts to invest in start-up companies.
• Access to Oregon's K-12 education market is a main challenge for the cluster. Most organizations in the cluster receive less than 15% of their revenue from Oregon Schools and school districts.
• The cluster companies have trouble hiring executives from within Oregon.

Key Initiatives

• Develop mentoring activities/relationships between some of the larger companies and newer, younger companies.  Explore opportunities for articulating shared needs, and addressing common challenges within the industry.
• Continue to raise awareness of the cluster and the companies within the cluster in the local community through partnerships with other associations or groups.  Explore opportunities for effective interface with public, non-profit, and private-sector agencies, groups, and associations.
• Get nationally prominent speakers to talk at upcoming NW Education Cluster meetings.
• Encourage new investment in the cluster with empirical data and improved access to venture and seed capital. Carry out an economic impact study for the long-term economic potential of Education Technology in Oregon.

Key Organizations

Launched in 2003, the Northwest Education Cluster has over 250 members and convenes representatives of the education technology and services industry on a quarterly basis.  There are no member fees and the organization's structure is informal, though the NW Education Cluster is currently exploring the possibility of becoming a 501c(3) organization with an advisory board.  The cluster is currently affiliated with the Software Association of Oregon and has received no direct financial government support aside from the participation of some state education-related agencies. The NW Education's LinkedIn group includes over 100 members.

Notable Companies

The largest member company in the cluster is Knowledge Learning Corporation, which is a childcare and learning provider headquartered in Portland. Knowledge Learning has over 41,000 employees and revenue in excess of $1.6 Billion. There are also at least five other organizations that have over 40 employees in the Portland area, including Learning.com, Inspiration Software, Vernier, ViaTraining, and Clarity Innovations. In addition, there are two organizations with more than 200 employees, and they are Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and Insight Schools.

Cluster Contact

Jim Snyder
Northwest Education Cluster
503-702-7420