ConnectEDU and Epsilen Join Forces to Increase Student Engagement, Persistence and Success

BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ConnectEDU today announced the acquisition of Epsilen – a cloud-based eportfolio, skills assessment, professional development and social learning management platform.  The majority owner of Epsilen at the time of the acquisition was the New York Times Company.  East Wind Advisors acted as the financial advisor to Epsilen. ConnectEDU and Epsilen have joined forces to advance their shared mission of driving student persistence and success across school-to-college-to-career pathways by improving student engagement and professional development resources.    

The acquisition combines the world's fastest growing K-20 learning and professional development community with ConnectEDU's expertise in aggregating learner level data to develop and inform learner pathways.  With over 20 million combined registered users, the two student-centered product portfolios offer the K12, postsecondary and employer markets complimentary learner and talent solutions focused on driving engagement, persistence and success. Specifically, the combined solutions integrate college and career readiness as well as skill development into the classroom and professional development activities while improving access to data points for identification of "at-risk" learners and employees.

"The integration of Epsilen's tools and solutions into ConnectEDU's existing offerings allows us to further ensure that students are attaining twenty-first century job skills, are graduating college and career ready and that necessary professional development is accessible," said Craig Powell, Founder and CEO of ConnectEDU.  "As the Epsilen management team assumes greater responsibilities across ConnectEDU, and as the Epsilen offerings are further integrated into our operating system and network, I am confident that the paradigm of learner engagement, collaboration and professional development will reach its next frontier."

In combination, the ConnectEDU network expands to more than 20 million registered users, 5,000 educational institutions, 130,000 employers, in more than 40 countries – all dedicated to driving student success by connecting learner pathways and portfolios across K12, postsecondary and employment.

About ConnectEDU (www.connectedu.com)

ConnectEDU is a privately held technology company, committed to preparing and transitioning 21st Century Learners on their pathways from school to college to career, helping them realize their potential, achieve a secure financial future, and ultimately connect to life's possibilities. ConnectEDU was created in 2002, by Craig Powell, an entrepreneur with a passion for ensuring that all students have access to the expertise and resources needed to realize and achieve their potential. Today, ConnectEDU serves more than 20 million registered learners, 5,000 educational institutions, and 130,000 employers throughout 40 countries; all engaging and supporting with learners across their school-to-college-to-career pathway.

About Epsilen (www.epsilen.com)

Serving educators and students in over 600 institutions worldwide, the Epsilen Environment is a hosted online learning solution that focuses on learner engagement and the teaching and learning experience. It situates a robust set of learning tools within a learning community, offering the advantages of both.  Additionally, Epsilen offers clients access to The New York Times Content Repository, a rich collection of digital resources and learning objects.

About East Wind Advisors (www.eastwindadvisors.com)

East Wind Advisors, LLC is a New York City based investment bank dedicated to the media, education and consumer industries.  East Wind¹s senior principals have been involved in hundreds of engagements, including recent transactions on behalf of Berlitz, Carnegie Learning, Community Education Partners, Kaplan, PrepMe, Wimba, and Wireless Generation.  East Wind¹s services include buy-side and sell-side m&a, private placements (undertaken through East Wind Securities, LLC, a broker dealer registered with FINRA and SIPC), divestitures and restructuring, valuation and fairness opinions and strategic advisory services.

SOURCE ConnectEDU, Inc.