Launch Event
September 21, 2023 | 12-1 PM ET | Virtual
Join us for the 2023–24 Launch Event
The Tools Competition is a multi-million dollar funding opportunity for edtech tools tackling the most pressing issues for learners worldwide and catalyzing learning science research at scale. The 2023-24 Tools Competition launched on September 21, 2023 with a virtual event marking the official start of the annual cycle. This year’s Tools Competition will award millions of dollars to the most innovative technologies supporting learners worldwide—and we expect this cycle’s prize purse to be the largest yet.
Replay the Launch Event to hear from Tools Competition sponsors and leaders in the edtech space, learn about this cycle's tracks that span Pre-K through adult learning, and discover what made previous winners successful.
![learning resources](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AdobeStock_277211645.jpeg)
Agenda
Opening
Kumar Garg, Schmidt Futures
Keynote Address
Dr. M. Brian Blake, President of Georgia State University
Tools Competition Overview
Kumar Garg, Schmidt Futures
A Word from our Sponsors: Introduction to Tracks
Featured Competition Partners
The OpenAI Learning Impact Prize
Sherry Lachman, OpenAI
Winners Highlights
Closing & Next Steps
Kumar Garg, Schmidt Futures
Speakers
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dr-brain-1.jpg)
Dr. M. Brian Blake
![](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dr-brain-1.jpg)
Dr. M. Brian Blake
President
Georgia State University
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Marisa-Bold-v30.jpg)
Marisa Bold
![](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Marisa-Bold-v30.jpg)
Marisa Bold
VP of Sustainable Growth & District Development
Calbright College
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/joanna-cannon.jpg)
Dr. Joanna Cannon, PhD
![](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/joanna-cannon.jpg)
Dr. Joanna Cannon, PhD
Fellow
Walton Family Foundation
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/josh.jpg)
Josh Elder
![](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/josh.jpg)
Josh Elder
Vice President & Head of Grantmaking
Siegel Family Endowment
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Kumar-Garg-1.png)
Kumar Garg
![Kumar Garg](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Kumar-Garg-1.png)
Kumar Garg
Vice President of Partnerships
Schmidt Futures
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Alvin.png)
Alvin Irby
![](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Alvin.png)
Alvin Irby
Founder & Executive Director
Barbershop Books
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sherry.png)
Sherry Lachman
![sherry profile](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sherry.png)
Sherry Lachman
Head of Social Impact
OpenAI
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Snow-Li-1.png)
Snow Li
![Snow Li](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Snow-Li-1.png)
Snow Li
Program Officer, Early Learning
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/katie.jpg)
Katie McCarthy
![](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/katie.jpg)
Katie McCarthy
Assistant Professor
Georgia State University
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Caitlin-Mills-v3.png)
Caitlin Mills
![](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Caitlin-Mills-v3.png)
Caitlin Mills
Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology
University of Minnesota
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bryan-Richardson-1.png)
Bryan Richardson
![Bryan Richardson](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bryan-Richardson-1.png)
Bryan Richardson
Senior Program Officer
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
![Speaker Image](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/kavindya.png)
Kavindya Thennakoon
![](https://tools-competition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/kavindya.png)
Kavindya Thennakoon
Co-Founder & Head of Product
Tilli
Additional speaker announcements forthcoming
More About the Tools Competition
In 2020, the Tools Competition first solicited individuals and organizations worldwide to fund edtech tools, technologies, and platforms to address pressing problems and opportunities in education and to build the field of learning engineering.
Now in its fourth annual cycle, the Tools Competition has funded nearly $10 million to edtech innovations that leverage digital technology, data, and learning science to meet the urgent needs of learners around the world. To date, 80 previous winners—composed of entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, and students—from 35 countries are poised to impact more than 107 million learners by 2026.
The Tools Competition invites participation from individuals and teams from all backgrounds and phases of development—from early stage ideas to established products. Join us for this year’s cycle and bring your impactful idea to life!