2025 Tools Competition
Official Rules
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Goal
The 2025 Tools Competition (the “Competition”) is focused on the discovery of new tools and technologies that can address pressing challenges in education, facilitate the improvement of student outcomes, and advance Learning Engineering.
Sponsor, Financial Supporters, and Fiscal Sponsor (the “Competition Entities”)
The Learning Agency LLC (the “Sponsor” or “we” or “us”), which is located at 715 H Street NE PWB 93369, Washington, DC 20002, is the sponsor and administrator of the Competition. For legal purposes, the financial supporters of the Competition (the “Financial Supporters”) are not sponsors, and are just providing financial support for the Competition and the prizes and as such, are not responsible for the implementation of the Competition or the enforcement of these Official Rules (as modified from time to time, these “Rules”). Sponsor is working with Digital Harbor Foundation (the “Fiscal Sponsor”) to facilitate the administration of the Competition. In addition to other involvement in the Competition, the Fiscal Sponsor will directly distribute prizes to select winners while other prizes will be distributed by Sponsor or Financial Supporters. Winners will be notified as to which is distributing their prize upon notification of winning. You acknowledge that neither the Financial Supporters, Fiscal Sponsor, nor the Sponsor will be responsible or liable for any acts and omissions of the other.
Eligibility
Subject to these Rules, individuals and entities from any background who satisfy the eligibility requirements specific to their opportunity are eligible to compete in the Competition, including students, teachers, researchers, small and large companies and not-for-profit foundations (collectively, the “Entrants” or “you”). To the extent possible, the Sponsor will work with all Entrants to attempt to overcome any issues that may arise due to the global nature of the Competition; however, each Entrant bears the ultimate responsibility for adherence to all applicable laws and compliance with these Rules.
In addition to the general eligibility requirements set forth in this section and other sections of these Rules, eligibility requirements for each opportunity are set forth in the “Competition Opportunities and Eligibility” section of these Rules.
Individuals and entities residing in Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions of Ukraine are not eligible to participate in the Competition.
Participation as an Individual
To be eligible to participate in the Competition and be awarded a prize as an Entrant who is an individual, you must (a) be at least eighteen 18 years old; (b) be able to receive payments legally from the United States in US dollars; (c) be competing in a jurisdiction in which the Competition is not prohibited by applicable law or otherwise by these Rules; (d) have a bank account into which funds can legally be deposited from the United States in US dollars (or if part of a Team, the Team or a participant on the Team has a bank account); (e) not have withdrawn, been terminated, or disqualified from the Competition; and (f) be in full compliance with these Rules.
Participation as an Entity
To be eligible to participate in the Competition and be awarded a prize as an Entrant that is an entity, you must (a) be validly existing, duly organized, and in good standing in the jurisdiction of your entity; (b) be able to receive payments legally from the United States in US dollars; (c) be competing in a jurisdiction in which the Competition is not prohibited by applicable law or otherwise by these Rules; (d) have a bank account into which funds can legally be deposited from the United States in US dollars; (e) not have withdrawn, been terminated, or disqualified from the Competition; and (f) be in full compliance with these Rules.
Teams
Individuals and entities, otherwise eligible to participate in the Competition and be awarded a prize, may form and submit a team entry (a “Team”). Each Team member must be clearly identified on the Team’s submission form for the Team to be eligible and must identify a single point of contact for the Team (the “Team Lead”). Team prizes, as determined by the Sponsor, will be distributed solely to the designated Team Lead for further distribution to Team members. Sponsor’s and the other Competition Entities’ sole obligation as to Team prizes is to distribute the Team prizes to the Team Lead, and Sponsor and the other Competition Entities shall have no obligation or liability for any distribution of Team prizes to Team members. In the event a dispute regarding the identity of the Entrant who actually submitted the entry cannot be resolved to the Sponsor’s satisfaction, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible.
Ineligible Parties
Employees, directors and officers of the Sponsor and each of the Financial Supporters and Competition and fulfillment agencies, and each of their respective immediate family members and persons living in their same household (whether legally related or not), are not eligible to participate in the Competition or be awarded a prize.
It will be Sponsor’s sole decision as to whether any eligibility requirement has or has not been met. We may require evidence or confirmation from Entrants at any time, including before administering prizes.
Rules
Participation in this Competition constitutes each Entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Competition.
These Rules are subject to change at any time. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to notify you of any changes to these Rules, including by posting the modified Rules on our website at https://tools-competition.org/ (the “Site”). Your continued participation in the Competition after the posting of changes to these Rules constitutes your binding acceptance of such changes to these Rules. You should check the Site frequently for any updates to these Rules. IF AT ANY TIME YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS COMPETITION OR THESE RULES, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW FROM, AND TERMINATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN, THE COMPETITION.
Competition Timeline
The Competition shall run according to the below timeline. Sponsor’s computer is the official timekeeping device for the Competition.
| Benchmark | Timeline*✝ |
|---|---|
| Competition Open | September 12, 2024 |
| Entries due** | October 25, 2024 (11:59:59 PM PDT) |
| Select entries invited to submit detailed proposals | November 22, 2024 |
| Detailed proposals due | January 16, 2025 (11:59:59 PM PDT) |
| Finalists selected | March 14, 2025 |
| Pitches with judges*** | April 2025 |
| Winners notified | Early May 2025 |
| Product Review Day***: Winners present early progress towards defined benchmarks. | Fall 2025 (TBA) |
| Impact Study: winners to complete surveys, phone calls and other written deliverables | Ongoing over 12 months from Summer 2025. |
* Timeline is subject to change by Sponsor in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
** Sponsor may accept late entries in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
*** All events will occur virtually unless otherwise noted.
✝ Evaluation timeline for the Dataset Prize may differ.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Theme and Criteria
The Competition seeks to leverage technology, data, and learning science to meet the urgent needs of learners across all age groups.
Competition Opportunities and Eligibility
Entrants will be required to select the relevant opportunities in which their submission will be evaluated. Different opportunities have varying objectives, target users, and competitive priorities.
The Competition opportunities and associated eligibility requirements include:
Different opportunities may be more or less competitive than others depending on the number of Entrants to each opportunity. Submissions will be evaluated according to their designated opportunities based on Sponsor’s chosen criteria, which may be published and revised from time to time by Sponsor in its sole discretion.
Size of the Prize
Different opportunities may have different prize amounts depending on final funding allocation to each opportunity.
Entrants to a competition Track are encouraged to seek prizes in the prize level that is best suited for their specific capabilities and needs. Entrants will be subject to different requirements depending on the prize level in which they are competing. Entrants seeking prizes in the highest prize level will be subject to the most rigorous requirements and aggressive deliverables.
Track prize levels include:
- Catalyst Level ($50,000): These prizes are aimed at new Entrants with early stage ideas or products. This may also include Entrants with an existing tool with a non-existent or limited user base.
- Growth Level ($150,000): These prizes are designed for Entrants that have at least a minimum viable product with some users and scale.
- Transform Level ($300,000): These prizes are designed for established platforms with 10,000 or more users.
Entrants to the Dataset Prize are eligible for a $50,000 prize, which may be awarded in addition to or independently of Track funding.
The Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, increase the amount of any prizes.
Entries
Initial proposal entries to the Competition must be submitted using the online form by the deadline indicated above.
As part of your entry form, you can also indicate whether you wish for your entry to be considered by Sponsor for the Dataset Prize. Should you choose for your entry to be considered , you will be required to complete additional requirements when you submit your detailed proposal for the Competition.
All proposals must be original to the Entrant (or the applicable Team). By submitting a proposal, Entrant represents that such proposal and all information in the proposal do not violate the rights of any third party, including without limitation intellectual property rights.
In participating in the Competition, you agree (i) to provide true, accurate, current, and complete information about yourself (and your Team as applicable) and (ii) to maintain and promptly update such information, including your proposal, to keep it true, accurate, current, complete and non-infringing at all times.
You understand that any material misrepresentation, including omissions, may disqualify you from the Competition and consideration for a prize.
Cancellation of the Competition
The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend or suspend this Competition should any virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its reasonable control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Competition, and no compensation will be payable.
Process
The Competition will have a three-phase review, each with increasingly intensive requirements.
- Phase 1 Abstract. Entrants will submit an abstract using a designated form that includes the prize level requested and a description of themselves and/or their team. A certain number of Entrants will be asked to continue to Phase 2. Sponsor has not put a limit on the number of Entrants that could be asked to continue to Phase 2 to maintain the flexibility to be able to give as many meritorious proposals as possible the opportunity to succeed
- Phase 2 Detailed Proposal. Entrants will submit a detailed proposal, including a budget and plan for execution. Reviewers will review and score proposals according to rubrics for the applicable opportunity. A certain number of Entrants will be asked to continue to Phase 3 as finalists. Sponsor has not put a limit on the number of finalists to maintain the flexibility to support as many meritorious proposals as possible.
- Phase 3 Pitch. Finalists prepare a pitch and present to a panel of judges. Judges will provide recommendations for the winners. Using these recommendations and other considerations, the Sponsor will make the final determination of the winners and the amount of the prizes to be given.
- Impact Study of Funded Tool. All winners will, on an ongoing basis during and until the end of the 12 month period after being named as a winner, conduct an evaluation of their tool with the Sponsor that conforms to the guidance and requirements of the Sponsor (the “Impact Study”). The Impact Study will include without limitation regular phone calls, surveys, other written deliverables, and a final report.
Prize Dissemination
All prizes will be paid as follows. 50% will be paid after winners are announced. The remaining 50% may be paid after Product Review Day, on the condition that the winner has made sufficient progress based on their plan for execution by Product Review Day, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.
The prizes shall be paid by check or direct deposit or as otherwise agreed between a winner and the Sponsor.
All of Sponsor’s decisions regarding the winners of a prize (including any supplemental prizes), including without limitation whether the winner met the eligibility requirements for the prize, the size of the prize and whether the winner will receive the second half of their prize, are final and binding in all respects. Reasons that may lead Sponsor to cause a winner to forfeit a prize include, without limitation, failure of the winner to meet eligibility requirements, failure of the winner to submit any required materials or documentation, failure of the winner to meet any deadlines, failure of the winner to perform and submit the required assessment of the funded tool, failure of the winner to perform its ongoing obligations as to the funded tool, and failure of the winner to otherwise comply with these Rules.
Notification of Winners
All potential winners will be notified via email, on or about the date indicated above. “Notification” is deemed to have occurred immediately upon sending of an e-mail. In order for a potential winner to claim their prize, the potential winner must respond within two (2) days of Notification accepting their prize and will be required to sign and return additional documents, including without limitation a prize agreement, within five (5) days of the date of Notification, or within the time requested by Sponsor if Sponsor allows for a longer period. Failure to comply within this time period, or if prize notification is returned as non-deliverable or not returned properly executed, or if a potential winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Rules, will result in the potential winner forfeiting the prize and being disqualified and an alternate potential winner being selected from among the remaining eligible Entrants.
Competition Publicity
By participating in the Competition, and to the extent not prohibited by law or regulation, you grant Competition Entities a non-exclusive right (a) to use your name and likeness in connection with this Competition, including on our Site and marketing materials and (b) to publish and otherwise display materials submitted to the Competition. Being selected for Phase 3 or acceptance of a prize constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law or regulation) to use such winners’ names, likenesses, biographical data, and statements for advertising and publicity purposes without notice or additional compensation.
If you submit a statement, photograph, logo, video clip or other materials in connection with the Competition (collectively, “Content”):
- You warrant and agree that we have the right to publish and communicate to the public the Content in any media including, but not limited to, online, at all times without restriction or limitation throughout the world and not only for the purposes of the Competition;
- You acknowledge that we may edit the Content in our sole discretion;
- You agree that we have the right to use Entrants’ names, likenesses and other personal information in conjunction with the Content; and
- You unconditionally waive your right to seek or obtain an injunction to prevent or restrict our use of the Content.
You shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions from third parties for the Competition Entities to use the Content for the above purposes.
If you publicize or recognize the prize, you should list the prize as from the “Tools Competition” and follow brand guidelines or instructions provided by the Sponsor.
Compliance with Laws
Each Entrant must fully comply with all applicable local, regional, national, and international laws, orders, directives, ordinances, treaties, rules, declarations, decrees, orders, enactments, judgments, regulations or other binding restrictions issued by any legislative, judicial or administrative body, whether effective before or after the effective date of the Competition. The Sponsor shall not be responsible for providing to any Entrant any advice or counsel, legal or otherwise, with regard thereto.
Taxes
Each Entrant shall be solely responsible and liable for all international, federal, state, and local taxes arising from any prize that may be given.
Privacy
For non-US citizens, Sponsor may withhold certain amounts from the prize as required by tax laws, reducing the total amount received by winning Entrants. The Sponsor will determine the withholding percentage after winners submit appropriate tax forms.
Each Entrant agrees to the collection, processing and storage of his, her or their personal information by the Sponsor for purposes of this Competition and as otherwise described in any then-current posted privacy policy. We may use this information (a) in connection with the Competition, including for marketing, (b) as necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests (or those of a third party), (c) as necessary to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation and (d) for any other purpose not prohibited by applicable law. We may share this information with others associated with the Competition and otherwise without restriction to the extent not prohibited by law. We will not sell your personal information. All personal information collected will be treated in accordance with all applicable law.
Confidential Information
No entries, proposals or other materials or information submitted or provided by Entrants to the Sponsor in connection with the Competition, including any proposals, documents and communications (collectively, the “Submitted Information”) will be considered confidential information of the Entrants, except as specifically provided in the terms of any then-current posted privacy policy. The Sponsor may disclose any Submitted Information to the Competition Entities and each of their employees, contractors, consultants, independent subject matter experts, judges and other organizations without restriction, including to evaluate proposals for the Competition. Please carefully consider the information included in the Submission Materials. If you have any doubt about the wisdom of disclosure of any confidential or proprietary information, you should consult with your legal counsel and take any steps you deem necessary to protect your confidential information or intellectual property.
Indemnification
Each Entrant and prize recipient agrees to release, defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Competition Entities and each of their respective officers, employees, directors, parent and related companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, production partners, advertising agencies, promotional suppliers, participating vendors and any other companies participating in the administration or fulfillment of the Competition (collectively, “Released Parties”) from and against any and all liability, claims, damages, demands, causes of action, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees), now and/or in the future, no matter how caused, resulting from participation in this Competition, or acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a prize or parts thereof, including, without limitation, liability for any injury, damage, death, loss or accident to person or property. You further agree that in the event you bring a claim or lawsuit in violation of these Rules, you will be liable for any attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the Released Parties in connection therewith.
The Released Parties are not responsible for any printing, typographical, mechanical, human or other errors in these Rules, in the administration of the Competition, in the announcement of the prize winners, and/or in any advertising or other associated Competition materials in connection with the Competition. Further, the Released Parties are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, electronic, network, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, errors in transmission, lost or unavailable network connections, telephone connections, dropped dial-up internet connections, interrupted broadband, cable, or wireless internet connections, cell phone dropped calls, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestions, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed transmissions which may limit or restrict an Entrant’s ability to enter the Competition, including any injury or damage to Entrant’s or any other person’s phone or other electronic computing or telephone equipment, or other matter relating to or resulting from participation in this Competition.
Release of Liability
You agree to and hereby release the Released Parties from and against all liability with respect to or in any way arising from by tax liabilities and/or use of your name, likeness, voice, or any materials you submit for participation in the Competition, including, but not limited to, any claim based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of action, or otherwise in connection with or related to the Competition.
Conflict of Interest
Individuals participating as reviewers or judges are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest to Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to determine if a conflict of interest is present.
If a conflict of interest is identified, reviewers and judges will abstain from evaluating and/or discussing that proposal with fellow judges. Potential conflicts of interest may include:
- The reviewer, judge, or a member of their immediate family has financial interest in the outcome of the proposal.
- The reviewer or judge works for an organization that has a financial interest in the proposal.
- The reviewer or judge has a personal relationship with a member of the proposal Team that could affect the impartial evaluation of the proposal.
- The reviewer or judge has a professional relationship with a member of the proposal Team that could affect the impartial evaluation of the proposal.
Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Rules or the rights and obligations of Entrants, Sponsor, the other Competition Entities, or the Released Parties in connection with the Competition will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of any other state’s laws. The parties hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts located in Washington, D.C. in any action to enforce (or otherwise relating to) these Rules or relating to the Competition. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION, PROCEEDING, CAUSE OF ACTION OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY CLAIM OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE COMPETITION.
BY ENTERING THE COMPETITION, EACH ENTRANT AGREES THAT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (A) ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THE COMPETITION, OR ANY AWARD GIVEN, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION; (B) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL THIRD-PARTY, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED, (IF ANY), NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($250.00), BUT IN NO EVENT WILL ATTORNEYS’ FEES BE AWARDED OR RECOVERABLE; (C) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY ENTRANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND ENTRANT HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO SEEK, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS, AND/OR ANY RIGHTS TO HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR OTHERWISE INCREASED; AND (D) ENTRANTS’ REMEDIES ARE LIMITED TO A CLAIM FOR MONEY DAMAGES (IF ANY) AND ENTRANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR EQUITABLE RELIEF. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
MISCELLANEOUS
The names of individuals, groups, companies, products, and services mentioned herein, and any corresponding likenesses, logos and images thereof reproduced herein, have been used for identification purposes only and may be the copyrighted properties and trademarks of their respective owners. The mention of any individual, group or company does not imply any association with or endorsement by such individual, group or company or the manufacturer or distributor of such product or service and, except as otherwise indicated, no association or endorsement is intended or should be inferred. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Rules will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision of these Rules is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, the other provisions will remain in effect and will be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision. To the extent that there is a conflict between these Rules and any terms of use or other agreement posted on the Site or otherwise, these Rules control.
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