We’re excited to celebrate the launch of Spelling Safari, created by our 2023 EdTech pitch contest winner, Jonathan Marceau! This innovative app personalizes spelling education for elementary students and can save educators over 100 hours a year. After his success in our pitch contest and Edtech Innovation Bootcamp, Jonathan is now bringing his vision to classrooms and homeschools everywhere.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2024 EdTech Pitch Contest!
The first-place prize went to Valerie Rackley from MindWired Labs in Lapeer, Michigan. Valerie will receive $10,000 in business startup grant funding, plus branding and logo design support, and legal consultation. MindWired Labs provides affordable hands-on STEM education kits that let learners build and program fun projects like alarm sensors and vending machines, developing knowledge of embedded systems and IoT technologies along the way. Valerie’s innovative approach to STEM education impressed the judges with its potential to inspire and educate students in a practical and engaging manner.
The other finalists were:
2. Devon Riter from CommunityConnect in Ann Arbor, Michigan. CommunityConnect is an online platform that helps K-12 teachers find and connect with community partners to design more authentic and engaging class projects.
3. Jacob Marchywka from NoteClear in Taylor, Michigan. NoteClear is an AI-powered tool that helps students get more value from their classroom notes. By generating practice problems and summaries of past notes, students can easily review for quizzes and exams.
4. Jasmine Woodruff from NexLevel Tech Solutions in Detroit, Michigan. NexLevel provides educational services on digital safety for children and parents, and tools to help parents monitor their child’s online activity and safety.
5. James (JC) Price from Paraillel in Southfield, Michigan. Paraillel is an AI-driven platform to help educators streamline curriculum development, student assessments, and data analysis, automating time-consuming tasks to allow educators more time for impactful teaching and instruction with students.
Watch the full EdTech Pitch Contest event below!
If you’ve got a brilliant idea for an EdTech tool that could transform teaching or learning, prepare to submit your pitch to the 2025 EdTech Pitch Contest. Winners will receive expert guidance and financial support to help turn their concept into a reality.
You may or may not think of yourself as an entrepreneur. But consider this: who’s better equipped than those already within our education system to invent creative solutions to the problems they experience on a daily basis?
This contest will be open to any adult (18+) resident of Michigan with clear ties to our state’s education ecosystem. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference in education!
Start preparing for the 2025 contest now. We will release more information, including the contest timeline and submission details, in spring 2025. Stay connected with us to receive the latest updates!
As you gear up for the 2025 EdTech Pitch Contest, take advantage of this time to explore our pre-pitch supports designed to set you up for success. These resources are packed with tips and tools to help refine your pitch and boost your confidence. By staying connected, you’ll receive timely updates, valuable insights, and exclusive opportunities delivered right to your inbox.
Let’s make your pitching journey smoother—start preparing now and stay tuned for more details. Explore our resources and sign up for our newsletter today!
Do you have a business idea that will improve teaching or learning through the use of technology? Then join us for our 2025 EdTech Innovation Bootcamp. We’ll help you explore the idea, develop a business model, and identify your next steps for making your idea a reality!
There is no cost to attend and Michigan Educators can earn 20 SCECH credits for completing the full Bootcamp. Space is limited.
Stay tuned for more details on our next Bootcamp, dates will be announced early spring 2025. In the meantime, connect with us and keep up to date on the latest innovations in Michigan and our AI Lab.
Getting started with the basics – Pitch Deck and Business Model Canvas, Customer Discovery and Product Development
Value Proposition, Knowing Your Competition, Legal 101 for Startups
Market Potential, Message and Customer Insights, All Things Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Startup Milestones and Use of Funds, Financial Insights, Moving Forward
Join us as we journey back to the excitement of last year’s pitch contest. Rewatch the innovative ideas that captivated audiences and judges alike. Whether seeking inspiration for your own projects or simply relishing in the spirit of innovation, this retrospective is sure to ignite your imagination.
$10,000
+ Startup legal and marketing consultations
$6,000
+ Startup legal and marketing consultations
$4,000
+ Startup legal and marketing consultations
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2023 EdTech Pitch Contest!
The first-place prize went to Jonathan Marceau, a teacher at Monfort Elementary in the Utica Community School district, who will receive $10,000 in business startup grant funding, plus branding and logo design support, and legal consultation for Spelling Safari. Spelling Safari is a spelling curriculum reinvention and software solution providing elementary students with fun and adaptive learning.
The other finalists were:
Watch the full EdTech Pitch Contest event below!
Read the 2023 press release.
Read the 2022 press release.
The pitch contest and Bootcamp are open to any adult (18+) resident of Michigan with clear ties to our state’s education ecosystem. These may include but are not limited to:
Teams are eligible so long as one member is a resident of Michigan with a clear tie to Michigan’s education ecosystem. No one may submit to the pitch contest as part of multiple teams, and no one may submit more than one idea.
For the pitch contest specifically, ideas and concepts pitched must be pre-startup, start-up, or early stage of development. Entities must be unformed or less than two years old. Entities must have less than $20,000 in prior outside investment.
Employees of organizing partners may submit a pitch and participate in the bootcamp but will not be eligible for prizes.
Be the first to know about upcoming EdTech events hosted by Michigan Virtual and our partners. Stay informed and inspired on the latest trends and developments in education technology–all delivered straight to your inbox. Fill out the form below, and we’ll keep you apprised of the latest and greatest!
