Can any of this be considered good for the cause of education?

From Whiteboard Notes …

Microsoft Acquires Tutor Marketplace: Tech giant Microsoft announced that it has acquired the San Diego-based TakeLessons, the tutoring marketplace that allows students to connect with individual tutors in various academic subjects and recreational activities. Details of the deal were not disclosed publicly. The acquisition will allow TakeLessons to improve its products, expand its subject base, and attract higher-quality teachers, as well as give Microsoft the tailwind to expand in the online education space through TakeLesson’s infrastructure. [TechCrunch]

Higher Education EdTech Company Anthology To Acquire Blackboard: Anthology, a higher education software and services company, announced that it will acquire Blackboard in a deal that is expected to close by the end of the year. Blackboard is a leading provider of learning management software to higher education institutions, K-12 schools, governments, and businesses. Anthology CEO Jim Milton will serve as chairman and chief executive of the merged company, and Blackboard CEO Bill Ballhaus will depart once the deal closes. [Higher Ed Dive]

New Analysis Finds Twenty Percent Increase In EdTech Unicorns: An analysis by the global education research company HolonIQ found that a total of 31 edtech companies have a valuation of over $1 billion after eight companies crossed the “unicorn” threshold over the past few months. In addition, the analysis found that the United States hosts the most unicorns, with China and India following behind. The analysis includes a list of unicorns that is meant to be exhaustive, but HolonIQ CEO Patrick Brothers noted that it is possible some companies have exceeded the $1 billion threshold without disclosing their valuation. [EdWeek Market Brief; subscription required]