Applications are open for the 2027 Tools Competition, a global funding opportunity supporting innovative education technology, digital tools, datasets, and technologies designed to improve learning and teaching. The competition supports technology that uses digital tools, data, and learning science to address challenges facing learners and educators. Applicants can enter as individuals or teams, open to edtech companies, researchers, universities, educators, and students, depending on the requirements of the selected track. The 2027 cycle places particular attention on tools that can improve learning outcomes, strengthen teaching, support learner transitions, and build high-quality education datasets.
Four Tracks Available
- Strengthening Teaching: Tools that improve instructional effectiveness and help make the teaching profession more sustainable. Open worldwide.
- Reimagining K-12 Assessment: Technologies that provide more continuous, actionable, and inclusive information about K-12 student learning, including curriculum-embedded assessment, interactive assessment, simulations, and games. Open worldwide, but funded tools must be made available for free or at cost.
- Navigating Postsecondary Learning and Work: Tools that help learners build skills, connections, and support through postsecondary education and the workforce. Only open to teams based in the United States that serve U.S. learners.
- Building Better Datasets: Development of high-quality, open-access education datasets that capture diverse learners, educational environments, and learning contexts. Open worldwide.
Key Eligibility Criteria
- Age: Individual applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to legally receive payments from the United States in U.S. dollars.
- Team Applications: Teams can apply, provided all team members are identified in the submission.
- Experience: No previous edtech experience is required. Early-stage applicants can compete at the Catalyst level.
Prize Levels
- Catalyst Prize: $50,000 for early-stage ideas and tools with limited or no user base.
- Growth Prize: $150,000 for products that already have users and are ready to expand.
- Transform Prize: $300,000 for established platforms with at least 10,000 users.
- Building Better Datasets Track: $100,000 prize level.
Final prize allocations can vary by track.
Competition Stages
- Phase I: Abstract — Deadline October 13, 2026, at 11:59:59 PM ET.
- Phase II: Detailed Proposal — For selected applicants, covering the tool, methodology, budget, and evaluation approach. Deadline January 21, 2027.
- Phase III: Virtual Pitch — Finalists pitch to judges in April 2027, with winners notified in early May and announced publicly in June 2027.
What Applicants Are Evaluated On
Novelty of the technology, potential to improve learning, demand from learners/educators/families, equity and inclusion, ability to support learning engineering, and potential to scale to additional users or contexts.
Enjoying this article? Share it with your network!
How to Apply
Select the track matching your technology and development stage, then submit the required Phase I abstract through the official Tools Competition website before the deadline of October 13, 2026, at 11:59:59 PM ET.
Disclaimer
Edfrica shares opportunities for informational purposes only. Results and outcomes are not guaranteed.
