4.0 Alumni Are Transforming Education

At 4.0, we've always believed that those closest to education's challenges are best positioned to create the solutions. 

We're thrilled to share compelling evidence of this belief in action through our 2025 Alumni Survey Report, conducted in partnership with the Center for Research in Education and Social Policy (CRESP) at the University of Delaware.

Led by researchers Dr. Allison Karpyn, Evyn Apple, John Oluwadero, Nicole Kennedy, and Gabrielle Dakko, this study reached out to our entire alumni network to understand their journeys, celebrate their successes, and identify how we can better support them moving forward.

The study represents a significant milestone in our journey to understand and amplify the impact of our alumni network. 

The findings not only validate our approach but also inspire us to deepen our commitment to early-stage education innovators.

A Deep Dive into Alumni Impact

The research team at the University of Delaware contacted 1,325 alumni for whom we had email addresses, conducting the survey from March through May 2025. 

With 385 total respondents (a 29% response rate) and 335 completing the survey (86% completion rate), the study analyzed responses from 255 alumni who answered the majority of questions, providing rich insights into our community's ongoing work.

The three-month collection period and multi-channel outreach approach (including both emails and newsletter distribution) ensured we captured diverse perspectives from across our alumni network, from recent graduates to those who participated in our earliest programs.

Ventures That Last: The Power of Persistence

One of the most encouraging findings is that 57% of alumni are still working on the same venture they developed during their time with 4.0. 

Among those who have moved on, nearly half (47%) are pursuing new ventures, often building on or evolving their original ideas. We're proud to see the lasting impact of the entrepreneurial mindset and skills developed through our programs.

This persistence rate is particularly meaningful in the context of education innovation, where systemic challenges and resource constraints can make it difficult to sustain new ideas. These numbers reflect not just the strength of alumni's commitment, but also the effectiveness of 4.0 approach: starting early, backing boldly, and building for the long term. 

When investing in people at the idea stage and surrounding them with community, coaching, curriculum, and capital, we're not just launching ventures, we're cultivating lifelong education innovators.

Spotlight: Alumni Ventures Making a Difference

The survey highlighted inspiring examples of alumni ventures creating real change:

STEM is Child's Play 

This K-12 education group helps teachers, parents, and students build strong STEM skills through training, workshops, and easy-to-use resources. They offer hands-on programs like clubs, maker events, and projects that let students explore real-world STEM in fun and meaningful ways. 

Their inclusive, standards-based lessons make STEM learning exciting and accessible, with a particular focus on underserved communities. We're inspired by how they've taken the simple insight that STEM should be playful and turned it into a comprehensive support system for educators and families. (https://www.stemischildsplay.com/)

The Tithe Well 

A wellness organization supporting the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health of K-12 educators and leaders. They're working toward a future where educators lead with energy, not exhaustion, and wellness is part of everyday school life. Their healing practices create caring, supportive learning environments for all. We've watched this venture grow from recognizing educator burnout as a systemic issue to building holistic solutions that transform school cultures.

These ventures exemplify what  community-centered innovation is. Both started with founders who experienced firsthand the challenges they're now solving, and both have grown into organizations serving thousands while staying true to their original missions.

Reaching Communities at Scale

The collective impact of our alumni ventures is amazing. Since beginning of their ventures all the way through 2025, alumni reported serving:

• 18.7 million students (served by 75% of ventures)
• 19.2 million people across all population groups

These numbers represent real lives touched, real communities strengthened, and real change happening on the ground. 

We're moved by the fact that three-quarters of our ventures directly serve students, children, or youth, staying true to our mission of transforming education from the ground up.

These numbers represent organic, community-driven growth. At 4.0 we don't prescribe how big our alumni ventures should become; instead, we provide the foundation for them to grow authentically in response to community needs. 

The fact that 4.0 alumni have collectively reached over 19 million people shows that when you start with the right support and let communities lead - scale happens naturally and sustainably.

Financial Growth: From Ideas to Investment

Perhaps one of the most interesting findings is the financial success of our alumni. 

Key funding insights:

• 62% of respondents successfully raised external funding post-program
• Amounts ranged from $300 to $70 million
• 59% are actively seeking or currently engaging with funders
• 37% expressed clear intention to launch new ventures in the near future

We're particularly proud that our approach of "starting earlier" translates into long-term funding success. 

The fact that over half of our alumni have successfully raised external funding validates our belief that investing in people early, when others might see their ideas as "too risky," builds the foundation for future investment.

Where Alumni Focus Their Work

Our alumni primarily operate in:

• Education (86%)
• Non-profit sector (28%)
• Technology (19%)

Many ventures operate at the intersection of multiple sectors, combining educational approaches with technology solutions and nonprofit models to create innovative solutions.

This interdisciplinary approach reflects the program design - bringing together diverse perspectives and encouraging cross-pollination of ideas. 

We're seeing alumni leverage technology not as an end in itself, but as a tool to amplify human-centered educational approaches. The strong presence in the nonprofit sector shows the community's commitment to mission over margin, while still building sustainable organizations that can create change.

The 4.0 Impact on Entrepreneurial Journeys

When asked about how 4.0 shaped their entrepreneurial journey:

• 75% said 4.0 was instrumental in launching their venture
• 71% credited 4.0 with helping refine their venture

We're humbled that the majority of our alumni see us as instrumental to their journey. These numbers tell a story we hear often: 4.0 provides the catalyst that transforms an idea scribbled on a napkin into a venture serving thousands. 

What these percentages don't fully capture is the transformative personal journey our fellows experience. We've seen introverted educators become confident pitchers, parents with an idea become CEOs, and community members become recognized education leaders. 

The venture is often just the visible outcome of a deeper transformation in how our alumni see themselves and their power to create change.

The Power of Community

Perhaps the most telling fact of this study is that 76% of respondents indicated willingness to participate in follow-up interviews. 

This underscores the strength of our alumni community and their commitment to supporting both 4.0 and future education innovators.

This level of engagement brings tears to our eyes. Alumni don't see 4.0 as just a program they completed, but as a community they belong to. They're willing to share their time and insights to help us improve, to support future fellows, and to strengthen the broader movement for education innovation. 

This spirit of giving back is exactly what we hope to cultivate, and seeing it reflected so strongly in the data reaffirms our approach.

Our Commitment Moving Forward

This research, expertly conducted by the University of Delaware, provides invaluable insights into our alumni's journeys and needs. 

The data tells a powerful story: early-stage support for education innovators creates lasting change. 

From the 57% still working on their original ventures to the $206 million raised collectively, our alumni are proving that when you back bold ideas early, the impact multiplies over time.

These findings energize us to push even harder toward our goal of sparking and investing in 10,000 innovative ideas. We're not just celebrating these numbers, we're using them as a roadmap for how we can better serve our community. 

Every data point represents an opportunity to refine our programs, deepen our support, and amplify our collective impact.

We're committed to strengthening our funding connections, expanding networking opportunities, amplifying alumni achievements, and providing the ongoing resources our innovators need to thrive.

To our alumni: thank you for your continued dedication to transforming education. Your persistence, creativity, and commitment inspire us every day. 

To the University of Delaware research team: thank you for capturing these powerful insights with such rigor and care. 

And to future innovators: we're here to back your bold ideas from day zero, because we've seen what happens when we do.

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