Deadline: February 11, 2026
The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition 2026 is now open for applications! Recognized as the world’s leading competition for education entrepreneurship, this prestigious annual event invites education innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs from across the globe to present ground-breaking ideas that transform teaching, learning, and workforce development.
Organized by the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE) in collaboration with the Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation, the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition 2026 continues to spotlight global solutions addressing the most pressing challenges in education.
About the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition 2026
The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition (EBPC) provides a global platform for entrepreneurs reimagining education through innovative business models and technology-driven solutions. Each year, the competition attracts top talent from around the world — from early-stage edtech founders to social innovators and education-focused nonprofits.
Participants gain access to expert mentorship, an accelerator community, and global visibility, all while competing for significant cash prizes. The EBPC is designed to nurture ventures that are scalable, sustainable, and capable of creating measurable educational impact.
Competition Timeline
- Applications Open: January 14, 2026
- Application Deadline: February 11, 2026
- Semifinalists Announced: May 2026
- Finalists Announced: August 2026
- Live Pitch & Finals: Fall 2026
Finalists will pitch their ventures live before an expert panel of judges, investors, and education leaders during the grand finale in Fall 2026.
Who Can Apply
The competition is open to entrepreneurs worldwide — individuals, teams, startups, nonprofits, or for-profit companies developing solutions that enhance education.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be 18 years or older.
- Past EBPC winners or finalists may reapply only with a new and unrelated business plan.
- Faculty or staff of Penn GSE, and judges of the competition, are not eligible.
- Ventures that have raised over US $2 million in funding or generated more than US $2 million in revenue in the past 12 months are ineligible.
The competition welcomes submissions from any part of the world and supports diverse educational innovations, including formal, informal, and technology-based learning solutions.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a comprehensive business plan that clearly articulates their innovation, market opportunity, implementation strategy, and projected impact.
Supporting materials such as a slide deck and an optional pitch video can be included to strengthen submissions.
Applications are submitted through Catapult @ Penn GSE, a virtual accelerator platform that offers access to mentorship, resources, and innovation content.
✅ Registration is free, and all participants gain valuable exposure and professional development support.
Benefits of Participating
The Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition 2026 offers much more than cash prizes. Participants receive:
- 💰 Cash awards to help grow and scale their ventures.
- 🎓 Mentorship and expert feedback from education and business leaders.
- 🌐 Networking opportunities with global investors and innovators.
- 🚀 Access to Catapult’s accelerator resources and entrepreneurial community.
Past finalists have gone on to raise significant funding and make lasting impacts in the education sector worldwide.
Global Opportunity
The competition proudly embraces an international perspective, welcoming education entrepreneurs from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond. Whether your solution focuses on early childhood education, workforce development, edtech, or accessibility, this platform provides a powerful opportunity to scale your impact globally.
Summary
- 🌍 Global competition for education innovators
- 💡 Applications open January 14, 2026 and close February 11, 2026
- 💼 No entry fee required
- 🚀 Access to mentorship, expert guidance, and international exposure
- 🏆 Final live pitch event in Fall 2026
📩 Contact us for proposal drafting, refining, and review to boost your chances of success in the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition 2026.
