TEL-AVIV, Israel, January 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Joined by leading EdTech promoters, this year the competition will also include startups using IoT, security and the "Makers movement" to change education
MindCET, an Israeli-based center of Education Technology innovation, today launched the 2nd annual "Global EdTech Startup Awards" competition.
The competition wishes to promote the EdTech ecosystem worldwide, and to highlight "The Most Promising EdTech Start Up in 2015". Last year's winner was US-based BrightBytes, a provider of analytics and assessment data tools for the education market, which was chosen after reviewing more than 350 applications from around the world.
This year also marks the introduction of 3 vertical tracks, in addition to the general competition track: Making Education, IoT in Education and Safety Net - more information and definitions on these new categories are below.
The applications phase will start today and run through April 2015, and the global finals are expected to take place in September 2015, with regional events leading up to the global event. Applicants will be judged on their ability to prove that the product or service (1) answers an actual pain (2) has an innovative pedagogical aspect (3) has an outstanding user experience (4) has a growth potential and (5) sustainable business model.
The competition, initiated by MindCET, is joined this year by a group of esteemed EdTech promoters: EdTech Incubator, London; Inncubated, Bogota; Global accelerator network Wayra (by Telefonica) and the Pan-European incubator of the Open Education Challenge. The competition is sponsored by CET (Center of Educational Technology), an Israeli EdTech leader and holding company of MindCET.
The launch event took place last Thursday at a special gathering of Israeli and British EdTech entrepreneurs, investors and executives, hosted by Wayra UK in their London offices. The event, organized by Wayra, MindCET and the UK Israel Tech Hub (at the British Embassy in Israel), included a panel discussion on the state of EdTech featuring executives from Wayra, Index Ventures, The Open Education Challenge, EdTech Incubator and MindCET.
In addition, 6 Israeli and UK startups presented their EdTech solutions, in an attempt to promote bilateral EdTech cooperation between the UK and Israel. As both countries are considered to be innovative in that field, London was the natural place to launch the competition this year. Earlier that week an Israeli delegation of EdTech startups, initiated by MindCET and the UK Israel Tech Hub, presented at the Bett education show in London, and met with several British education and publishing companies.
Applications to the competitions can be submitted from today (26.1.15) via the competition's website at http://www.globaledtechawards.org
Competition tracks
As stated above, these tracks run in parallel to the main competition, so applicants with products or services relevant to any of these tracks can submit their application in the specific track, and they will automatically be part of the "general" competition.
Making Education - this track calls upon companies developing products which enable users to create physical objects, in ways which were not possible in the past, and creating new ways of engagement for the education and learning market. This channel embraces "The Makers Movement", which is changing the way products are designed, developed, tested, manufactured and used by people.
IoT in Education - this track calls upon innovative products for the education and learning world, based on the concept of the Internet of Things. Competing start-ups would need to demonstrate how physical devices connected to the network are offering new ways of enhancing education and learning.
Safety Net - this track calls upon products or services which help create a safer environment for children online, thus accelerating the move towards e-education. As cloud technologies, mobile devices and wireless always-on net access is common, parents and educators are looking for ways to safeguards the children's digital work and play. Solutions relevant for this track could deal with invasion of privacy, authentication, data security, content filtering and more.
About MindCET
MindCET is an Israeli-based EdTech innovation center, which brings together entrepreneurs, educators and researchers, to develop innovative groundbreaking educational technology in Israel and beyond. MindCET is an independent body within the Center for Educational Technology (CET). For over 40 years, the latter has been the market leader in Israel in technology-based educational solutions, providing state-of-the-art educational material.
About The UK Israel Tech Hub
The UK Israel Tech Hub at the British Embassy Israel helps drive economic growth in both countries by helping British companies partner with the best of Israeli innovation. Launched in 2011, its goal is to create partnerships in which British companies gain a global competitive edge via Israeli innovation, and Israeli innovation goes global via the UK.
About The Open Education Challenge
The Open Education Challenge, launched in 2014 in partnership with the European Commission, is an opportunity for cutting-edge education startups to receive mentoring and seed funding through the European Incubator for Innovation in Education, and get direct access to investors from day one. Its first edition incubated seven edtech startups out of more than 600 applications. openeducationchallenge.eu
About Wayra
Telefónica's startup accelerator, part of Telefónica Open Future, an open innovation platform that integrates all Telefónica Group's investment vehicles and initiatives to foster entrepreneurship and innovation globally. http://www.wayra.co/uk
About Inncubated
Based out of Bogotá, Colombia, Inncubated is running the INNcubation™ program to support Latin American educational startups. http://www.inncubated.com
About EdTech Incubator
UK and Europe's first education technology accelerator programme, led by The Education Foundation, in partnership with Tech City UK. http://www.edtechincubator.com
For more information on the competition and its partners, please contact
Gilad Nass
Director of Marketing and Content
MindCET
gilad@mindcet.org
+972-52-2468859 (Israel)
SOURCE MindCET
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