Edtech investor Cool Initiatives has launched The Cool Initiatives Education Challenge 2019, offering a total of £17,500 in prizes to students, teachers, or early-stage start-ups that offer an edtech solution that could conceivably change education as we know it.
The winner will receive £10,000 with the runner up receiving £5,000. A £500 prize will be awarded to each of the four finalists, as well as to the winner of The People’s Choice category.
Judges are looking for an edtech solution aimed at early years or secondary education. The solution must address at least one of the following three challenges as set out by education secretary Damian Hinds in August 2018:
- Teaching practices to support access, inclusion, and improved learning outcomes for all;
- Assessment processes to become more effective and efficient;
- Administration processes to reduce the burden of ‘non-teaching’ tasks.
The competition is open to entrants nationwide, and requires a response to a selection of questions online, and a two-minute video pitch.
Cool Initiatives’ founder, and one of the competition’s judges, Jon Thornes MBE, told Education Technology: “As judges, we’ll be looking for great ideas that could improve education. Teachers and all those who work in schools, really know what could make a difference and the Education Challenge is to enable them to turn an idea into reality. We’re not necessarily looking for the finished article, but for potential. The potential to be a great educational business.”
The shortlist will be announced on Friday March 22, finalists on Friday April 26, and The People’s Choice Award on Friday May 10th. Final winners will be announced on Friday May 17.
The deadline for entries is Friday March 8.
To enter, visit coolinitiatives.com/competition
