What sort of ideas are we looking for?
You might have a startup already, or just have the ideas germinating in your head. Or you may know someone else who does! In which case… please pass this on.
All we ask is that it is an idea or service aimed at servicing early years to secondary education and aims to solve one or more of the following three challenges for technology identified by Damien Hinds (Secretary of State Education) Aug 2018
i.e. to develop innovative:
- Teaching practices to support access, inclusion, and improved learning outcomes for all;
- Assessment processes, making assessment more effective and efficient;
- Administration processes to reduce the burden of ‘non-teaching’ tasks.
Entrants can exist as a sole trader, Ltd company or partnership and has to have a
UK base. The competition is open to those who have just an idea and are maybe in full/part time work elsewhere with no current business in place, as well as those who have already started their business. BUT
entrants should not have raised any external equity-based finance already. Having used grants or personal/friends/family finance is fine and entrants to last year's challenge are free to apply again.
The first stage of the competition will consist of an entry form and a video explaining the idea (You automatically save your entry as you go along, so can revisit over the competition period).
Stage 2 shortlisted companies will be asked to expand on those ideas, and the final 6 will be picked from that shortlist to present virtually to the Judging panel. The 6 final pitches will also be open for the 'People's Choice' awards.
The Judging panel will consist of Cool Initiatives staff that have not partaken in the shortlisting process, and representatives from the Education and Technology world.
If you have any further questions, contact CI team using the
contact us page.
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