Explore by Year
A history of success
Like any successful startup, the EBPC has evolved over time, but year after year, we have brought together the best and brightest education entrepreneurs. Learn more about past Winners and Finalists and explore the 11-year history of the Competition below.
2022
- $40,000 Foundations of the Milken Families Grand Prize: Words Liive
- $25,000 Globant, Inc. Prize: HeyKiddo
- $10,000 Cascade Communications Prize: Arbol
- $5,000 Audience Choice Prize presented by Osage Venture Partners: Clarifi
The finalists also received a portion of $50,000 in Amazon Web Services credits; a Padcaster video production system each; grant consulting from TurboSBIR; and, $1000 cash and an iPad bundle each from Catalyst @ Penn GSE.
2022 Winners press release
2022 Finalists press release
2022 Competition press release
2021
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize ($40,000)*: Readlee
- American Public University System Prize ($25,000): HomeWorks Trenton
- Sage Scholars Prize ($10,000): Weird Enough Productions
- Osage Venture Partners Audience Choice Prize ($5,000): 9ijakids Educational Games
All finalists received $1,000 in cash, an all-in-one video production solution from Padcaster, and $5,000 in Amazon Web Services Promotional credits.
2020
-
Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize
($40,000)*: Third Room
- *Third Room also received $25,000 in Amazon Web Services credits.
- American Public University System Prize ($25,000): CloudLabs
- Audience Choice Prize presented by Osage Venture Partners ($5,000 ): Fulphil
2020 Finalists
2020 Semifinalists
2020 Press Release
2019
-
Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize*
($40,000): Social Cipher
- *Social Cipher also received $25,000 in Amazon Web Services credits.
- American Public University System Prize ($25,000): eCLOSE Institute
- NEXT / Shulman Rogers Audience Choice Prize ($15,000): eCLOSE Institute
2019 Finalists
(each received a $1,000 cash award)
2019 Semifinalists
(each received $5,000 in Amazon Web Services credits)
2019 Press Release
2018
-
Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize*
($40,000): MentorPro
- *MentorPro also received $25,000 in Amazon Web Services credits.
- American Public University System Prize ($20,000): MentorPro
- ChanceLight Behavioral Hearth, Therapy, & Education Prize ($20,000): ABAL Therapeutics
- Navitas Ventures Prize ($20,000): Curio Learning
- iTutorGroup Prize ($20,000): SignOn
2018 Finalists
(each received a $1,000 cash award + $5,000 in Amazon Web Services
credits)
2018 Press Release
2017
2017—IdeaFest
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize ($5,000): Sidekick
- American Public University System Prize ($2,500): Lumen Labs
- ACT Prize ($2,500): Hunt Advisory
2017 IdeaFest Finalists
(each received a $1,000 cash award)
2017 IdeaFest Press Release
2017—Venture Path
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize ($40,000): SPEAK MODalities
- American Public University System Prize ($20,000): GraphLock
- ChanceLight Behavioral Hearth, Therapy, & Education Prize ($20,000): SPEAK MODalities
- ACT Prize ($20,000): Awear Technologies
- iTutorGroup Prize ($20,000): DOT LEARN
- Voter’s Choice Prize ($1,000): GraphLock
2017 Venture Path Finalists
(each received a $1,000 cash award)
2017 Venture Path Press Release
2016
Venture Path
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize ($40,000): Tassl
- American Public University System Prize ($20,000): Tassl
-
ChanceLight Behavioral Hearth, Therapy, & Education Prize
($20,000):
- Communication APPtitude ($10,000)
- OgStar Reading ($10,000)
- ACT Prize ($20,000): Pivot Interactives SBC
- McGraw-Hill Education Prize ($20,000): Caseworx
- Voter’s Choice Prize ($1,000): TalkingPoints
Idea Path
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize ($10,000): Torus Teens
- Idea Prizes ($2,000 each): URead Toolbox For Teachers • Mindright • Kids Code
- Voter’s Choice Prize ($1,000): Kids Code
2016 Finalists
2016 Press Release
2015
Venture Path
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize ($40,000): Kinvolved
- Venture Prizes ($20,000 each): AdapTac Games Byndr • Code Monkey • Mosa Mack Science
- Voter’s Choice Prize ($1,000): Mosa Mack Science
Idea Path
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize ($10,000): Yenko
- Idea Prizes ($2,000 each): ActualizeMe • CourseLab Education Modified • JournalUp
- Voter’s Choice Prize ($1,000): Education Modified
2015 Finalists
2015 Press Release
2014
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation First Prize ($25,000): Osmosis
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Second Prize ($15,000): Totus Power
- American Public University System Prize for Innovation in Online Education ($25,000): Osmosis
- Educational Services of America Prize for Innovation in the Fields of Special Education and At-Risk Students ($20,000): ProfessorWord
- K12 Online Learning Prize for Innovation in Technology for Grades K-12 ($25,000): Branching Minds
- McGraw-Hill Education Prize for Open Educational Resources ($15,000): eduCanon
- TSL Education Borderless Education Prize ($10,000): Totus Power
- Halloran Philanthropies Borderless Education Social Impact Prize ($5,000): Ubongo
2014 Finalists
2014 Press Release
2013
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation First Prize ($25,000): Raise
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Second Prize ($15,000): Persistence Plus
- American Public University System Prize for Innovation in Online Education ($25,000): Persistence Plus
- Educational Services of America Prize for Innovation in the Fields of Special Education and At-Risk Students ($20,000): Autism Expressed
- Erudient Education Prize for Innovation in Borderless Education ($10,000): BiblioNasium
- K12 Prize for Online Learning in Grades K-12 ($25,000): Raise
- Startl Prize for Open Educational Resources ($25,000): Raise
2013 Finalists
2013 Press Release
2012
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation First Prize ($25,000): M-Prep Inc.
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Second Prize ($15,000): Mindblown Labs
- American Public University System Prize for Innovation in Online Education ($25,000): Citelighter
- Educational Services of America Prize for Innovation in the Fields of Special Education and At-Risk Students ($20,000): FuelEd
- Erudient Education Prize for Innovation in Borderless Education ($10,000): EyalGPS
- Startl Prize for Open Educational Resources ($25,000): Citelighter
2012 Finalists
2012 Press Release
2011
The second annual Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition was held on June 9th, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nine finalist teams presented to a panel of judges, and to seasoned educational entrepreneurs, reporters and the general public.
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation First Prize ($25,000): thecoursebook
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Second Prize ($15,000): Intellidemia
2010
The first ever Milken-PennGSE Education Business Plan Competition was held on June 3rd, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Six finalist teams presented their ideas to the judging panel.
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation First Prize ($25,000): Awarded to Shaun Sims, 23, and Andrew Mills, 28, for Digital Proctor, which improves security in online education. Digital Proctor analyzes student behavior in online classrooms, identifies suspicious activity through keyboard usage and algorithms, detects financial-aid fraud, and helps to increase student-retention rates.
- Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Second Prize ($15,000): Awarded to Jen Schnidman, 26, of New Orleans for Drop the Chalk, a web-based software that allows educators to track and quantify students’ academic growth by providing an overall picture of what students already know and what they still need to learn.