Education Challenge
Business Competition
The Cool Initiatives Education Challenge

We have our winners for 2019.

Many congratulations to:

Steam School: Winner of the Cool Initiatives Education Challenge 2019

ExamScreen:  Runner-up AND People's Choice Award winner 2019


Congratulations MUST also go to the other finalists - Applefortheteacher, NinoCity, Prospela and  Step-Its, who were all worthy entrants and well worth a look. The competition had many who did not get this far and the founders of these companies should be very pleased with being in great company. 

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How did the competition work for 2019? Well, all the entry details are below. If you were not able to enter this time around, no worries. We are always looking for great ideas in education that meet the same criteria . If you have one and need some investment - get in touch!

We believe that Ideas are the mother of invention, not necessity. And we know that many people have GREAT ideas that just need a little extra to turn them into reality.

What can you win? Cash prizes are just that. No strings attached. 
£10,000 first prize
£5,000 second prize
£500 finalist prize (remaining 4 of 6 finalists)
£500 ‘people choice’ prize

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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You can contact the Cool Initiatives team at our contact us page.