ABOUT US
The Iowa EdTech Collaborative is building on Iowa's unrivaled record in education to grow a human-centered learning ecosystem that nurtures innovative EdTech companies, connects the brightest minds in education, technology, and entrepreneurship, and guides the future of learning
EdTech and Iowa
Educated. Innovative. Driven. This is Iowa.
What makes our great state, situated in the heart of the Silicon Prairie, a destination for EdTech? Our history, and our people.
With Iowa being home to ACT — founded in 1959 in Iowa City — and consistently ranking as one of the top states for both K-12 and Higher Education, our state has been a leader in the education field for decades. From assessing youth around the world, to educating some of our nation's best and brightest scientist, literary geniuses, educators, and more, we have left our mark, both in America's heartland and beyond.
Our presence in the education field spans far beyond assessing and educating — many major education companies such as Kendall Hunt, McGraw-Hill Education, and Pearson call Iowa home. We also have seen notable EdTech startup activity, with an expanding base of EdTech entrepreneurial ventures, such as Pear Deck, Higher Learning Technologies, College Raptor, and more, successfully growing within Iowa.
Why Iowa?
Over 3,100
employees at 28 sector companies in Iowa
$110.9 billion
the projected size of the global EdTech market by 20222
Our Workforce
Our workforce, especially in terms of work ethic, is a distinct advantage. Iowans are educated, work hard, and are passionate about the work they do.
Companies in the EdTech field have consistently voiced that their employees in Iowa operations are a significant asset for their respective firms.
The Team
Mark Butland
Director, Iowa EdTech Collaborative
Dr. Mark Butland is the Director of the Iowa EdTech Collaborative, promoting the educational technology sector growth and success in Iowa. Previously, Mark served as a community college campus dean and chief administrator, faculty senate president, and has held faculty positions at 2- and 4-year, public and private colleges and universities. Mark has worked extensively with the Higher Education Research and Development Institute, and currently serves on the board of directors for HERDI-South.
Liz Hubing
Director of Community Development and Entrepreneurship, Iowa City Area Development Group
An Iowa City girl born and raised, Liz has a passion for community and connection. After graduating from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, she spent a year working at a local marketing agency doing social media marketing and content creation. After getting an itch to return to her community roots, Liz found her way to the ICAD team in August of 2018 as their “marketing extraordinaire.” When she’s not leading ICAD’s marketing and communications, you can find Liz doing yoga, volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages, hiking, biking, or checking out the newest restaurants and happy hour spots.
Stephanie Verdinez
Marketing & Events Intern, Iowa City Area Development Group
Currently a senior at the University of Iowa, Stephanie is majoring in Enterprise Leadership and pursuing the Event Management Certificate. She joined the Iowa City Area Development Group as the Marketing & Events intern in May of 2021. Aside from ICAD, Stephanie works closely with the Iowa EdTech Collaborative and assists with marketing materials and planning events. Outside of the office, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, staying active, and watching new series on Netflix or Hulu.