Ben Castleman
Newton and Rita Meyers Associate Professor in the Economics of Education
Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, University of Virginia
2025 Tools Competition
Phase I results released on Nov. 22nd.
2025 Tools Competition
*Note: This track is open to US competitors only.
Tools that expand access to quality post-secondary learning and broaden connections to career success. This track addresses barriers to social and career mobility, particularly for underserved learners, by increasing the effectiveness and relevance of higher education, supporting learners in bridging their learning and career goals, expanding innovative technology-enabled learning models, and strengthening the workforce.
Competitors may propose solutions that, for example:
Competitive proposals will demonstrate a commitment to learning engineering. Tools should facilitate continuous data collection in order to drive timely and effective interventions, and support research insights on factors affecting outcomes for diverse learner populations and learning conditions.
Tools should target learners, educators, or administrators at the post-secondary level as the primary user group. This may include higher education or workforce development.
Competitors in the United States are eligible to submit. We welcome proposals from teams or individuals from all backgrounds, including edtech companies, researchers/universities, educators, or students (undergraduate or graduate).
Based on the most pressing needs in learning and learning technologies, a subset of prizes will be reserved for for proposals that:
While the Tools Competition has different tracks and priorities from year to year, the past winning tools below are examples of what could be competitive.
Tools Competition judges play a critical role in selecting Tools Competition Winners and bring expertise spanning philanthropy, research, industry, and education. Judges will hear virtual pitches from finalists in Phase III of the competition.
Ben Castleman
Newton and Rita Meyers Associate Professor in the Economics of Education
Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, University of Virginia
Vice President and Program Officer, Jobs & Skills, Global Philanthropy
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Executive Vice President, Policy, Advocacy & Communications
Strada Education Foundation
When submitting a proposal, competitors must select the relevant prize level based on the size and scale of their tool. Proposals at all prize levels should detail how the proposed tool will solve a defined problem, rather than focus on past achievements.
These prizes are designed for early-stage competitors.
These prizes are designed for competitors with a tool with some users and scale.
Learning Engineering requirement : Teams must include a plan to support learning science research in their Phase II proposal. Learn More.
These prizes are designed for advanced competitors with an established tool.
Learning Engineering requirement : Team must include a plan to support learning science research in their Phase II proposal. Learn More.
Novelty of the tool
and technology
Potential impact and likelihood to improve learning
Attention to equity to support learning of historically marginalized populations
Demand from learners
and educators
Ability to support learning engineering
Ability to scale to additional users and/or domains
The Tools Competition funds edtech tools and technologies that support learning outcomes and can contribute to learning science research.
Eligible tools have the potential to generate novel learning data that researchers can study to better understand learning at scale. This may include an app, software, algorithm, dataset, or other digital technology that facilitates or supports continuous data collection and has the potential to scale at minimal cost.
Please note that this definition is not exhaustive. As technology continues to develop and innovations are created globally, other tool concepts may also be competitive.
Not sure your tool is eligible? Explore winning tools from previous years.
Competitors submit an abstract describing the concept for their tool and responding to the evaluation criteria.
Competitors develop a proposal and budget detailing their tool and its technology and responding in detail to the evaluation criteria. Rubrics will be posted when Phase II opens.
Finalists pitch before a panel of expert judges.
Winners are announced and receive the first installment of their prize.
Winners track impact metrics in the year following their prize and receive guidance to set up internal evaluation processes.
Winners present on their progress to date and receive feedback from other winners and leaders in the field.
For teams that will prepare and release datasets that can make innovation and research related to education less expensive and more inclusive.