About this opportunity
Education technology is only as good as the learning it actually produces. The Tools Competition exists to find the tools that move that needle, and to pay for them properly. Now in its 2027 cycle, the competition is awarding more than $4.5 million across four tracks, and it is open to builders at every stage, from a first idea sketched on paper to a platform already serving tens of thousands of learners.
The competition is run by The Learning Agency as a programme of Renaissance Philanthropy. It looks for digital tools, datasets and data driven technologies that use learning science to solve real problems for learners and educators. The four tracks for 2027 are strengthening teaching, reimagining K 12 assessment, navigating postsecondary learning and work, and building better education datasets.
Money follows the stage you are at rather than the polish of your pitch deck. The Catalyst Prize of $50,000 supports early stage ideas with few or no users. The Growth Prize of $150,000 is for products that already have users and are ready to expand. The Transform Prize of $300,000 is for established platforms with at least 10,000 users, and the datasets track carries a $100,000 prize level.
The first thing you actually submit is a short Phase I abstract, and that is due on October 13, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time in the United States. Invited teams then return a detailed proposal by January 21, 2027, finalists pitch virtually in April 2027, winners are notified in early May and the public announcement comes in June 2027.
What you receive
- Catalyst Prize of $50,000 for early stage ideas and tools with limited or no user base
- Growth Prize of $150,000 for products that already have users and are ready to expand
- Transform Prize of $300,000 for established platforms with at least 10,000 users
- A $100,000 prize level for the Building Better Datasets track
- A global stage for tools built on learning science, with winners announced in June 2027
- Recognition of work that contributes public goods such as datasets, benchmarks and evaluation frameworks
Who can apply
- Open to individuals and teams, including edtech companies, researchers, universities, teachers, students, non profits and independent builders
- The Strengthening Teaching, Reimagining K 12 Assessment and Building Better Datasets tracks accept applicants worldwide
- Individual applicants must be at least 18 years old
- Applicants must be able to legally receive payments from the United States in US dollars
- Teams must identify all team members in the submission
- Funded tools in the K 12 assessment track must be made available for free or at cost
Who should not apply
- The Navigating Postsecondary Learning and Work track is open only to teams based in the United States that serve US learners
- Residents of Cuba, Iran, North Korea and the Crimea, DNR and LNR regions cannot participate
- Persons sanctioned by the United States government are excluded
Documents to prepare
- A Phase I abstract describing your tool or idea
- Your chosen track and the development stage your tool sits at
- Names and roles of all team members
- An explanation of how the tool improves learning or teaching
- A description of how your tool generates or uses learning data that can support research at scale
How to apply
- Read the official rules and pick the track that matches your technology and your stage of development
- Prepare a Phase I abstract that clearly describes the tool, the learning problem it solves and the data it can produce or use
- Submit the abstract through the official Tools Competition submission portal at https://tools-competition.org/27-submissions/
- Complete the abstract before October 13, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time
- If invited, develop the detailed proposal covering methodology, budget and evaluation approach by January 21, 2027
- Finalists pitch to judges virtually in April 2027, with winners notified in early May and announced in June 2027
Selection process
- Phase I: abstracts are reviewed against novelty, potential to improve learning, demand from learners and educators, equity and inclusion, ability to support learning engineering, and potential to scale
- Phase II: invited applicants submit detailed proposals by January 21, 2027
- Phase III: finalists pitch to judges virtually in April 2027
- Winners are notified in early May 2027 and publicly announced in June 2027
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
Do I need previous experience in education technology?
No. The competition welcomes innovators at different stages and does not require prior edtech experience. Early stage applicants can compete at Catalyst level, which is designed for new ideas and early stage tools.
What counts as a tool?
Apps, educational software, algorithms, digital platforms, datasets, data driven technologies and other digital tools that support continuous learning data collection. The organisers say the definition is not exhaustive and can grow with the field.
Can a Nigerian applicant enter?
Yes, for the three global tracks. The Strengthening Teaching, Reimagining K 12 Assessment and Building Better Datasets tracks are open worldwide. Only the postsecondary learning and work track is restricted to US based teams serving US learners.
How much can a winning team receive?
Prize levels are $50,000 at Catalyst, $150,000 at Growth and $300,000 at Transform, with a $100,000 level for the datasets track. The organisers note that final allocations can vary by track.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
