The Finals
The 2025 finalists will be announced August 20, 2025. They will present their pitches on September 11 in New York City as part of HolonIQ’s Back to School Summit.
An inspiring day of innovation from purpose-driven ventures advancing teaching and learning through innovation.
Watch the final pitches and Q&A with judges, and vote in real-time for the Audience Choice Prize winner. Network with education entrepreneurs and edtech investors, and gain insights from industry leaders.
Congratulations to the 2025 Semifinalists!
We’re thrilled to introduce this year’s semifinalists. These 25 visionary ventures are tackling some of education’s toughest challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions. They’ll now enter Catapult, the Catalyst @ Penn GSE virtual accelerator, where they’ll refine their models, gain expert mentorship, and take part in dynamic learning experiences. From this talented group, a select few will be selected as finalists to compete live at The Finals in September—don’t miss what’s next.
Adaptive Reader adapts any book for every learner—personalized by language, reading level, and printed on demand.
Alpaca supports K–12 schools with teacher pulse surveys, recognition programs, and leadership tools to boost educator engagement and retention.
Canopy Nepal expands access to quality education through scholarships, creative curricula, and youth leadership, helping underserved students break the cycle of poverty.
Cloud IX is an AI-powered platform helping campus sexual assault survivors report safely and access trauma-informed resources through a confidential, university-specific chatbot.
Cogniphant makes it simple for schools to detect ADHD and equips educators and families to support every child, using AI to guide identification and personalized help.
College Contact connects students with near-peer mentors to navigate education and career transitions—building a continuous, student-centered advising network.
Cosmic Writers uses creative writing to develop children’s literacy, communication skills, and self-confidence.
Enlightapp advances educational equity by adapting educational experiences to meet the diverse needs of students in low-income areas.
I-Stem leverages AI to make learning and work accessible for people with disabilities—offering content conversion, inclusive tutoring, and career coaching through web, WhatsApp, and voice tools.
Journify Learning is the AI co-pilot for special education that maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of special educators, drives student outcomes, and enhances compliance for schools and districts.
Knowalla helps students learn by teaching an AI named Olli to deepen their own understanding—turning explanation, feedback, and concept mapping into a powerful, active learning experience.
Literacy Tree closes multi-year reading gaps in a single school year, advancing students a full year in reading every 12 weeks through targeted skill grouping and instruction by certified literacy specialists.
Making Space is a talent acquisition and learning platform for companies to source, support, and retain Disabled professionals.
Open Admissions is an Admissions Intelligence (AI) platform that streamlines how students and colleges discover, evaluate, and connect—with no applications, no guesswork, and zero friction.
Panglot Labs creates e-learning materials for the world’s most underserved languages, working with language communities to build apps that reflect their culture and unite people around their heritage.
Pathlitics is the only postsecondary navigator that empowers neurodivergent students to discover their optimal next step, offering personalized guidance through a proprietary database, peer insights, and community connections.
Polymath University is a new, nonprofit university that is interdisciplinary, apprenticeship based, and debt-free.
Post Pigeon EDU bridges the gap between classrooms and public lands by connecting students with National Park rangers through engaging, student-driven virtual learning experiences.
Rézme’s Restorative Record helps employers meet Fair Chance Hiring laws by enabling individualized assessments and organizing steps after a background check failure, boosting hiring success and empowering candidates with records to showcase their potential.
Scientist Maker is an interdisciplinary learning platform that equips elementary students with critical thinking and real-world science skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Short Answer helps K12 teachers build better writers through gamified writing activities for any subject.
Signvrse is an assistive technology company using AI, motion capture, and 3D digital humans to make education inclusive and accessible for the Deaf community.
Socrait is an AI-powered class assistant that saves teachers time and reduces burnout by handling behavior management, parent communications, and attendance.
Solve Education! is a tech-driven social enterprise creating a world where everyone reaches their potential through education, using an AI-powered platform to provide essential skills and job opportunities for underserved youth.
Storytime AI is a platform that empowers children, parents, and educators to create personalized, illustrated, read-along books and videos on demand in 194 languages.
The Milken-Penn GSE EBPC Finals have been a hallmark event in the edtech industry for more than a decade.
The live pitch competition will be held September 11, 2025 in New York City as part of HolonIQ’s Back to School Summit.
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Final Pitches
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Award Ceremony
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Networking
The Back to School Summit
The 2025 HolonIQ ‘Back to School’ Summit will take place on September 10-11, 2025 in New York City, bringing together 500 CEOs and influential leaders from leading companies, major institutional investors, and global foundations for two days of presentations, roundtable sessions, and private meetings. The Summit will follow three tracks including private roundtables and dinners, fireside chats and panels, dedicated networking sessions and networking receptions.