David Cumberbatch
New Market Thoughts
Nov 14, 2025
4
min read
News & Updates
Edtech and Workforce Development News Roundup - 11/14
In this week's News Roundup, we've found stories about leveraging innovative strategies, technology, and targeted interventions to address pressing educational and workforce challenges. From the resurgence of community colleges and non-degree credentials to the ethical integration of AI in classrooms and efforts to combat learning loss, a shared focus emerges on expanding access, improving quality, and preparing diverse student populations for the evolving economy.
Nov 7, 2025
4
min read
News & Updates
Edtech and Workforce Development News Roundup - 11/7
The articles featured in this week's News Roundup shine a light on a common thread: technology and smarter workforce linkages are reshaping education for today’s job market. From data-driven career coaching and expanded apprenticeships to virtual career fairs and AI-enabled learning, edtech and workforce development firms have opportunities to widen access, align curricula with in-demand skills, and support responsible, humane use of AI in student success and mental health.
Oct 31, 2025
4
min read
News & Updates
Edtech and Workforce Development News Roundup - 10/31
Education and workforce development continues to evolve, with recent research highlighting both exciting opportunities and pressing challenges. From the transformative potential of augmented reality in classrooms to the declining aspirations for higher education among high schoolers, and the persistent issues surrounding quality employment and mental health, these developments underscore the need for innovative solutions.
David Cumberbatch is currently a Senior Advisor for K-12 Solutions, with a focus on commercialization, at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Cumberbatch is also a Senior Advisor to Apogee Equity Partners, New Markets Ventures, and is a member of the board of advisors for Village Capital and Riiid Labs.
Mr. Cumberbatch served as the Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President at Stride, Inc. (formerly K12, Inc.) from 2014 to 2016 where he focused on K12’s expansion into career readiness and education technology solutions, including the acquisition of LTS. Mr. Cumberbatch also served as the Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer of ACT Inc. (the non-profit leader in college and career readiness assessment in the US) from 2011 to 2014. At ACT, he re-positioned the ACT brand and collaborated on the development of the digital ACT test and the launch of ACT Aspire.
Mr. Cumberbatch has held leadership positions with the start-ups such as Imagitas, and Simpletuition. Prior to that, Mr. Cumberbatch played an instrumental role at Microsoft Corporation where his business development work was featured in Fortune magazine. Mr. Cumberbatch also served as a Brand Manager of Procter & Gamble in Europe, and Latin America. Mr. Cumberbatch earned a B.A. in Computing and Economics (Hons, First Class) from the University of Kent at Canterbury, and an MPhil in Management Studies from the University of Oxford where he attended as a Rhodes Scholar.
He began his working life as an Assistant Teacher in the public school system of his native Trinidad and Tobago and remains passionate about the potential for technology to transform global education. He resides in the Washington DC metro area with his wife and two sons.
