The 9 Finalists Have Been Picked for the World Edtech Startup Challenge ‘22

Over a hundred startups from dozens of countries applied and on Tuesday 9 August, the final nine will pitch to win the ￡15,000 cash prize.

The Inaugural World Edtech Startup Challenge final is almost here. From the first round, the startups were tasked with focusing on how their edtech innovation will have a positive impact on accessible education (described here by out partners for this year’s Challenge, Global Disability Innovation Hub).

The semi-finals were held over two heats, and saw 18 powerful founders from varying scales of startup presenting products and ideas showing the full gamut of edtech possibility, from AI-powered career guidance to fully immersive virtual learning environments. Originally, only six were to be chosen for the final, but picking between them was impossible, with little separating each one and because of that, the top nine pitches were chosen.

This year’s finalists will be judged by a formidable panel made up of Vinni Bhandari , Impact Investor in edtech and healthtech, Aldo de Pape , edtech and healthtech Founder, Daniel Hajas , Head of Innovation at our WESC partners, Global Disability Innovation Hub, Tanya Zalar , Deputy Head of Education at St Paul’s Prep and Flo Simpson , COO at Atom Learning.?

"In my book they are all winners that deserve our support, time and attention.”

Each brings a unique perspective to the finals, Flo Simpson is keen to see evidence of an holistic approach towards accessibility, “to level an unequal education playing field, all parts of an edtech business needs to be knowledgeable and proactive in their investment in accessibility…A holistic approach results in a product that is truly equitable for all users, and one that has the power to positively impact both the individual learner and learners en masse.” Vinnia Bhandari, on the other hand will be looking for traction, “Based on my experience with education and tech in 3 continents, traction speaks louder than words. It is a way to show the strategy has customers and market fit.”?

Having been through the ups and downs of startup scaling, Aldo de Pape is hoping that his experience can help all contestants in the long run, saying “in my book they are all winners that deserve our support, time and attention.”

They’ll be deciding from a line-up of innovators all striving to improve learning outcomes, each in very different ways. You can read more about them below. And make sure to register and watch the final on Tuesday 9 August .

• Eduardo Loria, Founder, 4thewords . Together, we fight the blank page and bring stories back to life! Together, we, thousands of writers from around the globe, have written over 3 Billion words together while defeating millions of monsters.?We're here to bring our writing adventure to children and schools around the world!
• Lisa-Maria Centeno , Managing Director, bitmark Association . bitmark is the first open-source content-first data standard for digital learning content. Making?it accessible for visually impaired people and can be processed more easily by the computer for inclusive access.
• Aric Whitewood, PhD , Founder, Education AI Limited . Education AI provides educators with a fully supported ecosystem for teaching Computing, including integrated Curriculums, Teaching Resources, Question Banks and Programming Environments, all supported with AI algorithms. This complete platform enables teachers to monitor a cohort or an individual student’s progress and adapt their learning path appropriately. We use a Learning Objective based framework for the Curriculum.
• Rudolph Ampofo , Founder, Hunu Teletherapy / Craft Education . Craft Education's teletherapy platform, Hunu, trains parents and teachers on behavior therapy techniques to help children have a equal shot at quality education and a better quality of life.
• Muhammad Gawish , Co-founder, iSchool . iSchool is an online coding platform for 6 to 18 years old students that offer 1:1 or 1:6 live coding classes in artificial intelligence, data science, game development, VR, AR, with more than 9,000 graduates in 10 different countries helping them to start a technology-based career, freelancing, or even launch their own startups.
• Gavin Mair , Founder, Numberfit . Numberfit combines learning with physical activity, meditation, story, competition and fun. The focus is inclusivity and creating a level playing field so children of all attainment levels can feel the glory of winning. This encourages participation and confidence to grow, which creates a positive relationship with learning.?
• Melina Guelman , Chief Marketing Officer, Plug and Plus Tech Education . Plug and Plus teaches game programming and robotics to young people through live classes within the metaverse environment. With a humanized, inclusive, and accessible approach, Plug and Plus seeks to become a reference in education for low-income families and students with special needs.
• Ali Badshah , Co-founder, Secret Pirates / Lumiii? . Combined with its immersive ecosystem of AR gaming, CPG, Family DeFi and Metaverse platforms, Lumiii is fundamentally reshaping entertainment, education, and finance through technology.
• Melissa McBride ?? , Founder and CEO, Sophia Technologies / Athenaverse . At Sophia we are supercharging education in the digital age by using technology to innovate for good and inspiring a better, more equitable, sustainable, affordable and accessible era of education. This is achieved by our leading online / hybrid model of education and the world we are building for education in the Metaverse.

Event registration link

About UCL Edtech Labs

UCL Edtech Labs is a UCL-led programme that connects the learning innovations community to the world’s best educational research and entrepreneurial practice, developing and growing the brightest learning and teaching innovators whose visions are to fundamentally reshape how people learn. Its pioneering approach aims to build and develop world-class EdTech products and services, based on what works for teachers and learners.?

Enabling entrepreneurs to develop and grow, creating the very best products that are tried and tested with the learner at the heart. UCL Edtech labs is supported by Santander Universities, AWS, OneValley and IDEALondon, and is in an alliance with University College London. For further information visit www.UCLedtechlabs.com and follow on LinkedIn or Instagram .?

About GDI Hub

Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) is a research and practice centre driving disability innovation for a fairer world. Operational in 35 countries, we've reached 21 million people since launching in 2016. We work across domains of research, teaching, innovation, advocacy, and programme implementation, driving change in themes of accessible and assistive technology, inclusive EdTech, inclusive design, culture and participation, and Climate & Crisis Resilience.

For further information visit www.disabilityinnovation.com .

About Santander Universities

Banco Santander is firmly committed to progress and inclusive, sustainable growth, with a long-standing dedication to higher education that sets it apart from the world's other financial institutions.

With more than €1.800 million invested in academic initiatives since 2002 through Santander Universities, and over 430,000 university scholarships and grants awarded since 2005, we’ve been recognised as the business most invested in education in the world (Informe Varkey,/UNSESCO/Fortune 500), with agreements in place with 1,000 universities and institutions in 22 countries.

Get to know the universities and countries which we collaborate with here: www.santander.com/universities

Press enquiries can be directed to Houtan Froushan on +44(0)7717 577 448