ORLANDO — An artificial intelligence-powered, voice-enabled classroom assistant won Pitchfest 2.0, a gamified startup competition at the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) last week in Orlando, Fla.
According to a recent news release, Pitchfest is designed to spotlight early stage ed-tech startups whose products address pressing challenges in schools. The competition allows K-12 educators and education technology leaders to vote on emerging products and companies, indicating which innovations resonate most with those working directly in or with schools.
As districts across the U.S. continue to face staffing shortages and high turnover, a combination of judge and audience scores elevated Socrait among half a dozen finalists for its potential to help teachers reclaim hours each week that they might otherwise spend on documentation and follow-up tasks.
“Winning FETC Pitchfest 2.0 validates that we’re solving a real need for educators: reducing burnout,” the company’s co-founder and Senior Vice President Jim Clor said in a public statement.
As described on the company’s website, Socrait listens to what a teacher says during class without recording or storing audio files, then uses spoken information to create structured, actionable educational documents and data. Those outputs can include attendance records, behavior tracking, lesson summaries, reminders and drafted communications such as emails to parents.
After class, teachers can review and organize this information within the platform, reducing the need for manual documentation during or after school. The company positions the tool as a means to support teachers in real time while minimizing disruptions to instruction.
“Voice-powered AI can be a true class companion that supports teachers,” Clor said in a public statement. “Socrait was built by a teacher, for teachers, to reduce the cognitive and administrative burden of tracking, documenting, and following up on everything that happens in class each day. We’re honored to be recognized for helping teachers focus on what matters most: teaching.”
Moreover, on its security page, Socrait details how privacy and data protection are central to the company’s messaging. For example, the website emphasizes that Socrait does not store classroom audio, follows practices aligned with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and doesn’t sell student or teacher data.
In addition to media exposure, companies that win Pitchfest 2.0 receive special content opportunities and enhanced access to district decision-makers, which can support future sales, pilots and partnerships, according to the FETC.
