Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition 2025 (Over $200K in cash and prizes)

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The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition celebrates and nurtures purpose-driven ventures that seek to address inequities in education through innovation.

The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition (EBPC) is open to applicants worldwide advancing teaching and learning through innovation. Finalists get targeted venture development support from a strategic advisor, and opportunities for in-person networking with investors and potential customers.

Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition Prizes

$40,000: Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize
$25,000: Second-place award
$10,000: Third place award
$5,000: Audience Choice prize

Finalists are required to participate in the EBPC Finals for the opportunity to win cash and prizes. This includes making a pitch and being present for conversations with judges at the live finals on September 10 in New York City at the Holon IQ Back to School Summit. A stipend is awarded to Finalists to defray the costs of travel and lodging in New York City.

Eligibility Criteria

The EBPC welcomes entrepreneurs from around the world who have innovative ideas in education.
Applicants are encouraged to explore how their product or solution can be applied to address issues in the field of education and impact teaching, learning, and education outcomes.
Additionally, organizations entering the competition may not have generated more than the equivalent of US $2,000,000 in gross revenue during the prior twelve (12) months before the date the organization submits its Application Form.

Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition Focus Areas

EBPC welcome education ventures with innovative solutions to educational inequity from around the world, especially those ventures founded by and serving individuals from marginalized and historically underrepresented communities. We encourage applicants working in every conceivable educational setting–from early childhood through corporate and adult training. We also welcome both nonprofit and for-profit submissions. Since 2010, areas of focus have included (but are not limited to):

Urban Education
Connecting Research to Practice
Teaching & Learning
Technology in Grades K through 12
Special Education & At-Risk Students
Open & Collaborative Solutions: The Education Ecosystem
Online & Distance Learning in Higher Education
Global/Borderless Education Solutions
Early Childhood Education
Workforce Learning

Announcement

Semifinalists will be announced May 1, 2025.
Finalists will be announced August 20, 2025. Finalists will compete in-person at the EBPC Finals on September 10 in New York City at the Holon IQ Back to School Summit.
Semi-finalists should expect to invest 2–6 hours per week, from May to August, working within their Catapult virtual accelerator. Catapult enables you to assess your venture’s strengths and weaknesses, connect with mentors, and prepare for the finals event in September. The Catapult experience is self-paced and fully flexible and will align with your busy schedule.