The Omidyar Network is going through changes. Since 2018, the investment and philanthropic vehicle started by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam, has spun off five independent firms that grew out of its investment activities.
Today, the Omidyar Network does so again—this time for its education portfolio. And this new organization comes with its own name: Imaginable Futures.
Imaginable Futures will exist with its own board within the greater Omidyar Group, says Imaginable Futures managing partner Amy Klement, who previously led Omidyar’s education investment activities.
Since 2009, Omidyar Network has invested $200 million in 100 educational for-profit and nonprofit organizations, according to Klement. They include Andela, Khan Academy and Code.org. Not all of its bets have been home runs. AltSchool (which rebranded as Altitude Learning), has drastically scaled back its team and ambitions. Another, MissionU, was acquired by WeWork in a deal that disappointed investors.
Imaginable Futures assumes the existing Omidyar education portfolio and has $150 million for investments and operations over the next four years. The spin out is a positive signal for the greater education technology sector, Klement says. “We see massive opportunity, still, across the world.”