These days education-tech startups are hot... Investments in education-technology companies nationwide tripled in the last decade, shooting up to $429-million in 2011 from $146-million in 2002. An confusing assortment of new players are hoping to profit as colleges try to do more with less through tech. Coursekit, Courseload, CourseRank, Udacity, Udemy, and UniversityNow.