Cogent Education, an Athens education software company that began at the University of Georgia and graduated from its startup incubator, is one of six innovative ed-tech startups from around the country named to the 2016 AT&T Aspire Accelerator class.

The six-month program, now in its second year, supports student success and career readiness through accelerating education technology. It is part of a $350 million commitment by AT&T to help students succeed by supporting organizations driving student success and career readiness. Participants receive financial investment of $100,000, plus mentorship and access to expert services from AT&T and others.

Cogent CEO Tom Robertson said, “AT&T is continuing to invest in education, and we’re honored to be chosen as one of the winning companies for their Aspire Accelerator. The program will give us great opportunities over the coming months as we continue to grow as a science education company in Athens.”

Cogent Education was founded in 2010 as IS3D by eight UGA faculty and staff members — including CEO Tom Robertson, at the time an associate professor of veterinary medicine — who wanted to improve science comprehension and inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math, known as STEM fields.

IS3D graduated in 2013 from UGA’s Innovation Gateway startup incubator, which supports companies with research and technology ties to UGA. The company has received funding from the Georgia Research Alliance, NIH, and NSF, and has received numerous awards and recognitions from the software industry and education community.

Through partnerships with more than a dozen school districts, the company’s team of artists, designers and programmers has developed a robust catalogue of products based on student and teacher feedback, and the software has made many students excited about science for the first time.

For example, in one interactive case study, students act in the role of a veterinarian to help a young calf, named Clark, who is having seizures. To determine the cause, the students “fly into” Clark’s brain to learn about osmosis and apply their learning to save Clark. Other case studies explore topics like homeostasis, membrane potential, photosynthesis, the nitrogen cycle, cell respiration, and diffusion.