EdTech Together - London: Validation Matters: Pilots, Evidence & Impact

Validation Matters: Pilots, Evidence & Impact
As the education technology sector becomes increasingly evidence driven, innovative ideas alone are no longer enough - credible validation is essential.
Validation Matters: Pilots, Evidence & Impact brings together founders, educators, researchers, investors, and ecosystem leaders to explore how EdTech solutions can be effectively tested, evaluated, and refined to demonstrate meaningful real-world outcomes.
Attendees will gain practical insights from experienced leaders working across the EdTech ecosystem, sharing lessons learned from successful pilots, validation frameworks, and impact measurement strategies. The discussion will explore how evidence can support product development, build trust with stakeholders, and drive sustainable growth.
Speakers
Moderator:
Dr Yuliana Topazly – Head of Strategic Partnerships, EdTech Hub, DOHE
Panel Speakers :
Michael Forshaw – CEO, EdTech Impact
Ernest Gavor – EdTech Strategist & Ecosystem Builder
Atul Thakor – Founder, SchoolGPT & DOHE Go-Together Alumni
Event Agenda
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Registration & Welcome
6:30 PM – 7:15 PM
Panel Discussion: Validation Matters: Pilots, Evidence & Impact
Including an introduction to EdTech Hub and wider initiatives.
7:15 PM – 8:00 PM
Networking Session
Connect with fellow founders, educators, investors, and ecosystem partners over light refreshments.
8:00 PM Onwards
Networking and FIFA World Cup Viewing Event
Event Address
Level 7, XCHG Spaces
22 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4BQ
Meet the Speakers
Michael Forshaw – CEO, EdTech Impact
Michael is an education technology leader with over 20 years of experience deploying, managing, and evaluating EdTech in schools. As CEO and co-founder of EdTech Impact, he has built the world's largest independent EdTech evaluation platform — trusted by schools, providers, and testbed programmes across the globe to make more evidence-informed decisions.
He is also a co-founder of the Global EdTech Testbed Network and an advisor to the Department for Education's EdTech Evidence Board in England. Michael is driven by a belief that better evidence leads to better outcomes for learners — and by the power of collaboration to make that happen at scale.
Ernest Gavor – EdTech Strategist & Ecosystem Builder
Ernest is an EdTech strategist and ecosystem builder with over a decade of experience advancing digital learning and startup innovation across Africa.
He leads the Africa EdTech Exchange and advises global partners, driving scalable, policy-aligned solutions that unlock opportunity for educators, entrepreneurs, and youth.
Atul Thakor – Founder, SchoolGPT & DOHE Go-Together Alum
Atul is the founder of SchoolGPT, a platform providing self learning AI for schools. His journey in educational technology started when he tried teaching his own children about AI and found existing products unsuitable. Leveraging a 20 year career in technology, Atul built a solution that rapidly gained over 100,000 users.
After seeing its profound impact on children with the highest needs, as well as frequently overlooked high achievers, Atul is driven by a mission to ensure AI is safe and accessible to all schools. Officially launched in January, SchoolGPT is currently growing by six schools a day, cementing Atul’s vision of leaving a lifelong impact on future generations.