Founder empathy, Global EdTech & Long-term vision | Alberto Arena and Michael Narea

This episode of Learning Can't Wait features Transcend Network co-founders Alberto Arena and Michael Narea in a deep, human-centered conversation about what it really means to build in EdTech for the long term. They describe their own journeys—Michael seeking a true “co-pilot” for multi-decade visions, and Alberto being shaped by transformative opportunities like his experience at Minerva—and how these led them to create a founder network that prioritizes soul-nourishing support over short-term wins. They explain how Transcend’s highly personalized onboarding, six-week fellowship, revenue-focused cohort programs, and early-stage fund are all designed to help founders clarify the transformation they want for their users before obsessing over features, capital, or growth hacks. Throughout, they emphasize empathy, global diversity, and the rise of end users (like teachers and school leaders) as founders, arguing that the future of learning will be shaped by humble, collaborative builders committed to decades-long impact rather than quick exits or yet another tool in an already overcrowded tech stack.​