From Non-profit To IPO: The Turnaround Of Grand Canyon University: Brent Richardson (Part 2)

SM: In 2001 you sold the company. Is that when you ran into Grand Canyon University? BR: We sold, and like most entrepreneurs I had started another company with my brother. That was Masters Online, in which we were using all the things we had learned about the Internet and online education. We were partnering

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From Non-profit To IPO: The Turnaround Of Grand Canyon University: Brent Richardson (Part 1)

Brent Richardson is the executive chairman of the board for Grand Canyon University. He joined GCU in 2003 as the CEO and led the transformation of a near-bankrupt university into an IPO success story. Prior to GCU, he was the founder of multiple companies and CEO of Masters Online. In his early career, he gained

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Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 7)

SM: How much philanthropy money have you raised so far for Reasoning Mind? AK: Overall, we are funded by 70 donors. We have generated huge support from both individuals and private foundations. In total we have raised just over $12 million, plus in-kind contributions such as Oracle giving us free database support.

Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 6)

SM: In moving out of state, have you had to adapt the curriculum at all? Is there any difference between curricula state to state? AK: Not much. There is some difference, but we covered it through offline lessons that we develop quickly. In our experience, 80%–90% is already there.

Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 5)

SM: In 2002 were you focusing only on math? AK: Yes, that alone was a daunting task. Our vision was to go beyond mathematics because the engine itself could deliver content in any subject.

Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 4)

SM: Is your system entirely based on AI, or do you have teachers integrated into the process? AK: In additional to the artificial intelligence system that would teach students, we have given teachers a very powerful control panel. They can get access to all kinds of just-in-time reports to see how each student is doing

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Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 3)

SM: Tell me more about your design principles. What are the core principles of the system? AK: The first shift was moving towards a curriculum program versus a math club environment. We also knew we had to deliver our curriculum to students in a very interactive way. We decided to take a curriculum that had

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Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 2)

SM: What year did the math camp occur? AK: That was around 1998. It was a Spartan moment in my thinking. If it took that much effort for my wife and I to get our son interested in mathematics, including paying $3,000 for a summer camp, which is something that not every parent is going to

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