Tools Competition 2027

The 2027 round of the Tools Competition has closed to new entries: Phase I abstracts were due on 13 October 2026 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern time, and only invited entrants are now moving on. The official rules do not say whether the competition will run again, so no next round is announced; the dates below describe the rest of this cycle, and the rest of this page is a guide to help you prepare in case a later round opens. Everything in this competition happens online: the rules say all events are virtual unless noted otherwise, and no in-person stage is listed.

The Tools Competition is a multi-million-dollar prize programme for edtech that uses digital technology, data and learning science to meet the needs of learners of all ages. Renaissance Philanthropy (based in Washington, D.C.) is the Sponsor, and The Learning Agency runs the competition as its Administrator.

What the competition offers

You pick a prize level that matches your stage:

• Catalyst, US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh): for early-stage ideas or products, or tools with few users.
• Growth, US$150,000 (about ₹1.43 crore): for a product with at least a minimum viable product and some users.
• Transform, US$300,000 (about ₹2.85 crore): for established platforms with 10,000 or more users.
• Building Better Datasets, US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh): for high-quality, open-access education datasets.

The organisers may change prize amounts, and amounts can vary with how funding is divided between tracks. Half of the prize is paid after winners are notified. The other half may be paid after Product Review Day, if the winner has made substantial progress toward its milestones. Winners also join a 12-month impact evaluation, which involves phone calls, surveys, written deliverables and a final report. Winners are responsible for their own taxes, and the rules warn that amounts may be withheld for non-US winners.

Who can apply

Individuals (18 or older), teams, students, teachers, researchers, companies and non-profits can enter. A team names one Team Lead, who receives the prize. Entrants must be able to legally receive US dollar payments from the United States into a bank account. People in Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and certain regions of Ukraine are excluded, as are people on US restricted-party lists and the staff and families of the organisers.

Three of the four tracks are open worldwide: Strengthening Teaching, Reimagining Assessment (the tool must be offered at no more than cost) and Building Better Datasets. The fourth, Navigating Postsecondary Learning and Work, is only for US-based entrants serving US learners, so an Indian team cannot enter it. This is not an India-only programme; it is an international one where Indian teams are welcome in three tracks. It suits edtech teams with a live product and users, or a dataset builder. It does not suit anyone who cannot receive US dollar payments.

How to apply

The 2027 cycle had three phases. In Phase I you submit an online abstract form with your requested prize level and a description of you or your team. In Phase II, invited entrants send a detailed proposal with a budget and an execution plan. In Phase III, finalists pitch virtually to a panel of judges. Every entry must explain how the tool will create public goods, such as datasets, benchmarks or evaluation frameworks. No entry fee is mentioned in the rules.

How applications are judged and what happens next

Reviewers score Phase II proposals against track-specific rubrics, though the rules do not list the criteria. The judges recommend winners, and the Administrator makes the final decision. For this cycle: invitations to Phase II go out on 24 November 2026, detailed proposals are due 21 January 2027, finalists are chosen on 18 March 2027, pitches take place in April 2027, and winners are notified in early May 2027. Winners must accept within five days and return documents, including tax forms, within ten business days. Product Review Day is planned for fall 2027.

About the organisers

Renaissance Philanthropy is the Sponsor and host of the programme and distributes prizes with the Administrator. The Learning Agency LLC organises and runs the competition. The rules do not name the financial supporters.

Things to check before you apply

Check which track fits before the next window opens, and be honest about your stage: choosing a level above your user numbers is likely to weaken a proposal. A practical tip: start gathering evidence of learner outcomes and a plan for public goods such as open datasets early, because the 12-month evaluation expects you to work closely with the organisers. Also confirm with your bank how you would receive US dollars, and with an adviser how tax would apply to you as a non-US winner. Dates and prize amounts in the rules can change at the Administrator's discretion.