Social science and humanities (SSH) publishing encompasses a broad range of subject areas, from anthropology and religion to music and philosophy. Types of media include print and electronic books and journals, as well as online services and databases.

In the next four years, the global market for mobile education is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 21 percent, according to a report by TechNavio – Infiniti Research. With rising adoption of tablets and mobile devices, education tools are becoming increasingly digitized. A variety of new education apps have the potential to improve learning outcomes and help educators engage their classroom more effectively, but the market is already highly competitive. Large companies like Adobe and Blackboard dominate the industry, and high upfront costs often present a barrier to entry for new players.

Even so, a variety of new companies have appeared on the scene in the last several years — with a mission to revolutionize the way students learn, apply to college, and take classes. To find out about a range of new educational apps and online platforms, check out this post.

New education technology companies have entered the market and are attracting millions of dollars in funding from venture capitalists. In different ways, these companies are working to provide innovative solutions to on-going problems in education.

To learn more, check out the eight education tech companies listed below. The startups highlighted in this article are less than seven years old and have all been profiled in the Ed Tech Startup Dashboard Q3 2015 by Simba Information, a leading provider of market research and analysis.

As schools gradually shift away from print products and move to innovative, technology-based formats, a new digital evolution is occurring in the classroom. In the U.S., growth in the number of schools, implementation of modern technological devices, and new standards and tests are all major factors contributing to the increasing demand for digital instructional materials. 

“Experiential education is all the rage,” observes Steven Mintz, executive director of the Institute for Transformational Learning, in a recent article for Inside Higher Ed. From internships to study abroad programs to service-learning projects, universities are offering a wide variety of hands-on learning opportunities for students.

The experiential education trend is partly driven by demand from employers. According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, 79 percent of employers would like colleges to place more emphasis on internships and field experiences in order to help teach students critical thinking skills. Currently, more than half of all college seniors have engaged in experiential learning activities such as a practicum or internship.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin.

Experience-based learning has always been a well-known education model, dating back to the Middle-Ages when apprenticeships were often the only way to learn a specific craft. Nowadays, more and more colleges are adopting this approach in the form of experiential learning programs, bringing real-world experience to students in the classroom.  

Mention the market for e-books and most folks flash to a vision of fashion-forward urbanites wielding the latest reading device or tablet while sipping a latte in the park.

Newspapers, magazines and bloggers love to discuss consumer e-books—it’s sexier, more connected to leisure, art, culture and how people read these days—but it is not the heart and soul of the e-book market.

The educational publishing industry traditionally has been dominated by the large textbook publishers and a few large instructional software providers. However, that has shifted. New technology companies are sprouting, changing and challenging traditional ways of providing education in schools and colleges. Investors are paying attention and pouring millions of dollars into ed tech startups in the hopes of a huge return.

The K-12 and higher education publishing industry got its digital sea legs in motion in 2014, and that digital momentum is expected to continue to power growth in 2015. With the digital migration solidly under way, publishers are looking for continued growth in revenue from digital products and continued decline in the portion of their revenue generated by print. Simba Information projects the combined K-12 and higher education industry will reach $16.56 billion in 2015, up 4.7% from 2014.

Schools have clearly changed in the last decade. Classrooms, the way students are learning and interacting, and learning devices are not what they used to be. With technology becoming a prominent force for our education systems, spending for education has increased. With the market size increasing 8% from the 2012-13 to 2013-14 school year to $20.9 million, many tax payers are wondering where funds are being directed.