Milken-Penn Education Business Plan 2026
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Quick Answer
Penn GSE's global business plan competition for education ventures. The 2026 grand prize was US$40,000 (about ₹38 lakh); the round closed 11 February 2026 and 2027 dates are not out.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- University of Pennsylvania
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 11 February 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by University of Pennsylvania. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The 2026 round of the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition is closed: applications opened on 14 January 2026 and shut at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 11 February 2026. The official page says ventures for the 2027 competition will apply through Catapult, Penn GSE's free virtual accelerator, but it has not published 2027 dates. The competition is run by the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education with the Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation. It is open to applicants worldwide, including India. Part of the process is live: finalists pitch in person at the finals in Philadelphia.
What the program offers
In 2026 the prizes were US$40,000 (about ₹38 lakh) for the Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize, US$25,000 (about ₹23.75 lakh) for the Flexion Prize, US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) for the Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld Prize and US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) for the Audience Choice Prize, US$80,000 (about ₹76 lakh) in all. The rules say prizes may change or be added at any time, so treat the 2026 list as an example rather than a promise.
Finalists also get a strategic advisor for venture development, the chance to meet investors and potential customers at the finals, and a stipend to help with travel and lodging. Semifinalists work inside Catapult, which offers venture assessment and mentor connections. You keep ownership of your plan and ideas.
Who can apply
Individuals, teams and for-profit or non-profit organisations can enter from anywhere in the world, and no Penn affiliation is needed. Every individual, including each team member, must be 18 or older. Organisations are ineligible if they raised more than US$2 million from investors, or earned more than US$2 million in gross revenue, in the 12 months before applying. Judges and Penn GSE faculty and staff cannot enter, and entry must be legal where you live. Past finalists and winners may enter only with a new plan unrelated to the earlier one, though the FAQ is stricter and says previous finalist and winner ventures may not apply in later years.
The venture should aim to advance teaching and learning in any setting, from early childhood to corporate and adult training. An Indian edtech start-up or education non-profit under the funding and revenue limits is a good fit. A company that has already raised or earned over the limit is not.
How to apply
Register for a free Catapult account and submit the application there, in English. Prepare the materials first: a description of your product or service, team, market and competition, a financial model of actual and projected revenue with its assumptions (preferably a PDF), and a slide deck of up to 15 slides. A 60-second video pitch is optional but highly recommended. Open-ended answers are 200 to 2,000 characters each. You can save and resume, but a submitted application cannot be edited. There is no entry fee.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Entries are randomly assigned to judges from investing, education, research and entrepreneurship. They weigh the importance of the problem, the creativity and feasibility of the solution, and its potential to advance education for all learners, rank each entry and say whether they would fund it. In 2026 semifinalists were named in May and finalists in August. Semifinalists spend about 2 to 6 hours a week in Catapult from May to August. Finalists must attend the in-person finals to be eligible for prizes; the live pitch and the final judging by a panel of education leaders were held in Philadelphia on 14 September 2026. The judges' decision is final.
About Penn GSE and the Milken Family Foundation
The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education runs the competition. Since 2010 it has backed purpose-driven ventures, and the page says thousands of ventures from more than 50 countries have applied. The Michael & Lori Milken Family Foundation is the lead partner.
Things to check before you apply
- Check both the funding and revenue limits for the 12 months before the deadline.
- Finalists must travel to the US, with only a stipend towards costs.
- Winners must accept prize money within 60 days or it is forfeited.
- Entries are not confidential, and Penn may use them for academic research. Speak to an adviser before submitting a patentable invention.
- Winners should take tax advice on prize money.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
In 2026 the competition gave a US$40,000 (about ₹38 lakh) Grand Prize, a US$25,000 (about ₹23.75 lakh) Flexion Prize, a US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld Prize and a US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) Audience Choice Prize, US$80,000 (about ₹76 lakh) in all. The judges can add prizes at any time. Every finalist gets targeted venture development support from a strategic advisor and in-person networking with investors and potential customers at the finals. Winners are responsible for any tax due on prize money.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Judges rank entries on the importance of the problem, the creativity and feasibility of the solution, and its potential to advance education for all learners. Semifinalists and then finalists are chosen, and a panel of education leaders picks the winners after live pitches. The judges' decision is final.
Application Process
- 1
Prepare materials
Business plan sections, financial model, slide deck and optional video.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Milken-Penn Education Business Plan Competition open now?
No. The 2026 round ran from 14 January to 11 February 2026. Ventures for 2027 will apply through Catapult, but the 2027 dates have not been announced.
Can a startup from India apply?
Yes. The competition is open worldwide and needs no Penn affiliation. Any individual 18 or older, or a company or non-profit, can enter if it is legal where they live.
How much were the prizes in 2026?
The grand prize was US$40,000 (about ₹38 lakh), with US$25,000, US$10,000 and US$5,000 for the other prizes. The rules say prizes may be added or changed at any time.
Is there a funding or revenue limit?
Yes. Organisations that raised more than US$2 million from investors, or earned more than US$2 million in gross revenue, in the 12 months before applying are ineligible. Penn decides whether the limit is exceeded.
Does it cost anything to enter?
No. Registration and application through Catapult are free.
What do I need to submit?
A business plan with product, team, market, competition and a financial model (PDF preferred), plus a slide deck of up to 15 slides. A 60-second video pitch is optional but recommended, and everything must be in English.
Do I have to travel?
Finalists must attend the in-person finals to be eligible for prizes. The 2026 live pitch was held at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and finalists receive a stipend towards travel and lodging.
When are results announced?
In the 2026 round semifinalists were named in May and finalists in August, with the finals on 14 September 2026. The 2027 timetable has not been published.
Do I keep my business plan?
Yes. You keep ownership of your plan and ideas, but entries are not confidential and Penn may use them for academic research without identifying you.
Is it a grant or equity?
The prizes are cash awards, and the pages do not mention equity. Winners must accept prize money within 60 days of being named or it is forfeited.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
