New year, new ideas! SXSW EDU is thrilled to showcase the groundbreaking projects shaping the future of education and innovation. Today we announced this year’s Launch Startup Competition and Student Impact Challenge finalists, along with the selected semifinalists, emcees, judges, and coaches.
The Launch Startup Competition, presented by the Walton Family Foundation, champions early-stage companies on the cutting edge of teaching and learning. This year’s finalists will pitch a range of innovations that focus on post-secondary mentorship, personalized learning with AI, upskilling and career pathways, hands-on learning, and more.
Watch the finalists deliver their pitches live to a panel of judges as they compete for three awards. The top seven finalists selected to pitch their startups are Ambessa, Bili, College Contact, Genius Academy, Making Space, Mathos AI, and Polymath University. The competition will be emceed by Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose; and judged by Katie Fang, CEO of SchooLinks; John Gamba, entrepreneur in residence at University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education; Amelia Kelly, CTO of SoapBox Labs; and Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year.
This year’s Student Impact Challenge, presented by The Allstate Foundation, honors young innovators from around the globe, including the first-ever finalist team from Nigeria, who are creating a better tomorrow with solutions tackling sustainability, accessibility issues, and increasing economic opportunity. The top six finalists selected to present their business ideas are Household Appliances Innovation Powered by Solar, InSpec, Organic Fertilizers for Everyone (Adubo Orgânico para Todos), Spark, Swype AI, and Unfold4All.
The competition will be emceed by Anatola Araba, founder of Reimagine Story Lab; and judged by Juanita Soranno, head of impact at Cengage Group; Greg Weatherford II, managing director at The Allstate Foundation & Social Impact; Rohit Srinivasan, founder of Trashbots; and Tiana Day, founder and executive director of Youth Advocates for Change.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to watch the finalists compete for victory live! Explore the full lineup of sessions and events for March 3-6, 2025 in the SXSW EDU Schedule.
