The Future of Learning: Startups, AI and Human Agency

In this episode of Pulse, Aldo sits down with Houtan Froushan, the driving force behind UCL EdTech Labs, to explore what happens when research, entrepreneurship, and education meet.

By Aldo de Pape // June 18, 2026 @ 03:11 PM Make AlphaWire Logo preferred on Google News

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We discuss why founders need evidence just as much as conviction, how educational impact can coexist with commercial sustainability, and why understanding your competition starts with understanding where people spend their time and money.

We also reflect on AI, human agency, and the role universities can play in helping society navigate technological change without losing sight of what makes us human.

Some ideas explored:

• Why founders need people who disagree with them
• Building a research library before building a product
• Understanding who is really competing for your customer’s attention
• The tension between impact and revenue in education
• What makes UCL EdTech Labs different from traditional accelerators
• How AI can support human agency rather than diminish it
• Why education should focus on learning, not just exam performance
• The importance of founder communities and shared experience

A conversation about evidence, curiosity, and building things that matter.

You can find out more about UCL EdTech Labs here:

https://www.ucledtechlabs.com/

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Aldo de Pape

Aldo de Pape is a British-Belgian entrepreneur, author, and host of Pulse by AlphaWire. As CEO of Genomes.io and founder of TeachPitch, he explores how AI, science, and innovation are transforming society. Recognised by Forbes as one of the 13 digital leaders driving education forward, Aldo regularly interviews pioneers shaping the future of science and education.

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