In this special episode, Dustin joins as a panelist for this wide ranging conversation in collaboration with PeakSpan Capital. The panel is moderated by Russell Perkins, a Senior Associate and features Sanket Merchant, a Partner at PeakSpan covering a wide variety of trending higher ed topics. They explore how EdTech is impacting everything from admissions, vocational education, and student success.

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About

Dustin Ramsdell (Host)

Dustin Ramsdell is a Higher EdTech content creator and influencer who aims to drive meaningful conversations with top leaders in the field. His show, The Higher Ed Geek Podcast, explores all the nuances of higher education, with a focus on innovative technology and practices from his fellow professionals. Dustin also currently works as the Community Engagement Lead at Pathify. He loves craft beer, good pizza, and sustainability. Dustin lives happily in Delaware with his wife, Jenn, their daughter, Ellie, and their dog, Chelsea.

Sanket Merchant (Partner at PeakSpan Capital)

Sanket has worked with growth-stage technology businesses his whole career and has been a partner to over a dozen portfolio companies at PeakSpan. He leads PeakSpan’s EdTech (including L&D), HR Tech, and IT/Infrastructure investment themes. Of note, he has led investments in and currently sits on the Board of Directors at several relevant EdTech/HR Tech scale-ups, including Bongo (AI-powered video assessments), Epignosis (high-velocity LMS), Fuel50 (Enterprise internal mobility and AI talent marketplace), among others. Before joining PeakSpan, Sanket worked in the Technology, Media, and Telecom Group at Houlihan Lokey (NYSE: HLI), where he spent almost four years supporting B2B software businesses through M&A and capital markets transactions. Sanket holds a B.B.A. in Finance with a minor in Economics from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder (Go Buffs!). Sanket lives in the Bay Area with his wife and is the father of toddler twin boys – hands down the best job (or responsibility) in the world!

Russell Perkins (Moderator & Senior Associate at PeakSpan Capital)

Russell joined PeakSpan Capital in 2022. Prior to joining PeakSpan, Russell sourced and advised growth stage technology companies on M&A and capital raises as a member of the Investment Banking team at Vista Point Advisors, covering vertically focused SaaS and internet businesses. Before Vista Point, Russell began his career in the Investment Banking Division of Financial Technology Partners.