Celebrating 16 years of support for education entrepreneurs.

Announcing the 2025 Finalists—Canopy Nepal, Cloud IX, College Contact, Cosmic Writers, Enlight App, Rézme, and Solve Education! These ventures will make their final pitch live in NYC on September 11, 2025.

Register for the finals Join our mailing list

Considered the most prestigious and well-funded competition of its kind, the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition celebrates and nurtures purpose-driven ventures that seek to advance teaching and learning through innovation.

Since 2010, it has awarded more than $2 million in cash prizes.

Learn about the application process

2025 Competition


  • Jan 15

    Application Opens

  • Feb 19

    Applications Due

  • May 1

    Semifinalists Announced

  • Aug 20

    Finalists Announced

  • Sept 11

    Live Competition

What Sets Us Apart

  • The Brightest Minds

    Thousands of ventures from more than 50 countries have applied to 
the EBPC.

  • The Biggest Ideas

    EBPC winners have championed innovations in virtual STEM education, speech-language technology, college eligibility, and more.

  • Unrivaled Partners

    EBPC is supported by the Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation and Penn GSE.

Congratulations to the 2025 Finalists!

This year’s finalists are redefining what’s possible in education—breaking barriers and reimagining how students learn, grow, and thrive. Their ventures address some of the field’s most urgent challenges, including equity and access, literacy and innovative learning, safety and justice, and representation.

Learn more about the 2025 Finalists

2025 Awards

Since 2010, the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition has awarded more than $2 million in funding and support to education ventures making an impact through innovation. The 2025 awards were:

How to Apply

  • $40,000

    Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize

  • $25,000

    Second place award

  • $10,000

    Third place award

  • $5,000

    Audience Choice prize

Watch: 2024 Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition Finals

Seven finalists pitched their ventures to a live judging panel as well as an audience of investors, researchers, and practitioners. The final competition was a keystone event of the HolonIQ’s 2024 Back to School Summit.