Announcing Finalists for the 2023-24 Tools Competition

We are thrilled to announce 101 finalists of the 2023-24 Tools Competition, which will award more than $8 million this year! This year’s competition saw more than 1,900 submissions targeting pressing issues for Pre-K through adult learners, educators, and systems. 

The competition is announcing finalists for five of six total tracks, with finalists for the Building an Adapting and Competitive Workforce track forthcoming in May 2024.

Access the links below to learn about the finalists we’ve recognized so far:

Proposals showcased the vast potential of technologists, researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs to help improve learning outcomes for learners of all ages, while advancing learning engineering as a whole

In the tracks that have so far advanced to Phase III, finalists’ tools address declines in academic progress and equity gaps in education—presenting innovative approaches to leveraging advancements in AI and large language models—in order to accelerate and better assess learning outcomes, strengthen 21st-century skills, boost the impact of early childhood instruction, facilitate the learning science research process, and engage adult learners in higher education. We look forward to sharing additional updates from the Building an Adapting and Competitive Workforce track, sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which will support innovations fostering workforce development.

The Tools Competition has three phases and multiple award levels to help winners create or enhance their tools at all phases of development. As they enter the third and final phase, finalists will pitch their tool before a panel of judges who will nominate winners of the competition. 

The Tools Competition has previously named 80 winners from 35 countries who are impacting more than 107 million learners worldwide. Winners for all tracks in the 2023-24 competition cycle will be announced in summer 2024.

The 2023-24 Tools Competition is supported by: Schmidt Futures, Griffin Catalyst, Walton Family Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Siegel Family Endowment, DARPA, Ballmer Group, Calbright College, Axim Collaborative, Jacobs Foundation, Endless Network, and OpenAI. 

Join our mailing list to be kept in the loop on the next competition cycle—launching September 2024!

RECENT POSTS

Phase III results for the Building an Adaptive & Competitive Workforce track will be released in late May. Meet the finalists for all other tracks here.