Education-tech ecosystem grows in Boston

AcceptU is part of a growing cluster of technology companies focused on innovation in education and taking root among the region’s universities, education researchers, and textbook publishers. Hatched by former teachers with dreams of using technology to improve schools, or entrepreneurs who see opportunity in learning, these so-called ed-tech firms number about 100 in Greater Boston, each employing anywhere from two to dozens of workers, according to EdTechup, a monthly gathering for education entrepreneurs. The companies range from Web platforms meant to improve students’ test-taking skills to start-ups trying to make it easier to learn foreign languages. Many of these entrepreneurs are bootstrapping, using their own money to launch companies, while some are backed by venture capital firms or education publishing corporations.