How Schools Can Learn from Startups: Derrick Franco at TEDxTexasTechUniversity

At only 21 years old, Derrick is already an entrepreneur and software engineer who started his first company at the age of 17. He has worked with and on multiple technological start-ups over the past five years and is now a Senior Computer Science major at Texas Tech University. He recently took a semester off to work on his current start-up, Easy-Launch in San Francisco, which is currently in talks with Google Ventures and ICG. Additionally, he is planning his next venture launch for December. Meanwhile, he works as a software engineer at Amplisine Labs in Lubbock. Derrick speaks on how college classes should be run and taught like tech start-ups, using the same principles being employed in Silicon Valley and around the world. His premise is that these techniques would disrupt the education system as it is now known and lead to more successful student learning.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)