Announcing Launch Startup Competition & Student Impact Challenge Finalists, Semifinalists, Judges, and Emcees for SXSW EDU 2025

It’s a new year, and we are thrilled to announce 20 incredibly innovative startups and initiatives for the SXSW EDU 2025 Launch Startup Competition & Student Impact Challenge, as well as 26 new sessions added to the program!

These competition finalists and semifinalists offer solutions to various challenges in the education space and beyond, through innovative approaches that create networks of support, increase economic opportunity, improve access to education, and more.

We are also proud to share the judges who will provide feedback to the finalists, emcees who will lead the competition, and the organizations providing coaching to help prepare the finalists to rock the stage in March.

Launch Startup Competition

The Launch Startup Competition, presented by the Walton Family Foundation, showcases early-stage startups in the education sector. The competition provides a platform for emerging companies to share their ideas and solutions with industry leaders and educators.

This year’s finalists and semifinalists will present an array of innovations focusing on creating career pathways and upskilling opportunities for professionals, building networks of mentorship for learners, providing adaptive and personalized learning with AI, promoting culturally responsive and holistic language learning, and learning science through play.

One international and six domestic finalists will be taking the SXSW EDU stage to pitch the panel of judges and live audience, competing for three awards, which will be announced at the Launch Spotlight, presented by the Walton Family Foundation. Finalists and semifinalists will have access to coaching provided by StartEd.

In addition to competing in the Launch Startup Competition, this year’s finalists will have additional opportunities to expand their impact at SXSW 2025.

Finalists

Ambessa (New York, NY)
Bili (Houston, Texas)
College Contact (Austin, Texas)
Genius Academy (Los Angeles, California)
Making Space (Los Angeles, California)
Mathos AI (San Francisco, California)
Polymath University (Chicago, Illinois)

Semifinalists

Adaptive Reader (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Junior Scientist Maker (New York, New York)
Peadbo (Washington, DC)
SmallTalk2Me (Austin, Texas)
Voiceblocks (Fishers, Indiana)

Judges & Emcee

Offering their expertise at the judges panel will be experts Amelia Kelly, CTO of SoapBox Labs; John Gamba, Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education; Katie Fang, CEO of SchooLinks; and Missy Testerman, 2024 National Teacher of the Year. Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose, will be emceeing the competition.

Student Impact Challenge

The Student Impact Challenge, presented by The Allstate Foundation, empowers high school students to showcase their innovative projects and startup ideas that address real-world challenges and create meaningful change in their communities.

This year’s finalists and semifinalists are empowering communities with sustainable energy and agricultural solutions, revolutionizing water quality testing, providing holistic support for children with autism, innovating assistive technology for people with motor-neurodegenerative diseases, and creating unique curricula that center underrepresented populations.

Two international finalists, with the first-ever finalist from Nigeria, and four domestic finalists will be competing for the Student Impact Award, awarded at the Student Impact Ice Cream Social presented by The Allstate Foundation. Finalists will have access to coaching provided by CASE at Duke.

Finalists

Household Appliances Innovation Powered by Solar (Odeda, Nigeria)
InSpec (Chula Vista, CA & Ontario, Canada)
Organic Fertilizers for Everyone (Adubo Orgânico para Todos) (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Spark (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Swype AI (Herndon, Virginia)
Unfold4All (Dublin, California & Kirkland, Washington)

Semifinalists

GreenifyAI (Lafayette, Colorado)
Learning Quest (San Jose, California)

Judges & Emcee

Taking the judges table are Greg Weatherford II, Managing Director at The Allstate Foundation & Social Impact; Juanita Soranno, Head of Impact at Cengage Group; Rohit Srinivasan, Founder of Trashbots; and Tiana Day, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Advocates for Change. Founder, Filmmaker, and Futurist of Reimagine Story Lab Anatola Araba will be emceeing the competition.

Don’t miss your chance to watch these finalists compete live at SXSW EDU 2025. Mark your calendars for the Launch Startup Competition on Tuesday, March 4 and the Student Impact Challenge on Wednesday, March 5.

Have a startup of your own? Check the SXSW EDU Startup Bootcamp, a curated itinerary that will provide you with the skills you need to scale your education startup.

Explore New Sessions

An exciting 26 new sessions have been added to the 2025 lineup, with conversations tackling new technologies and their effects on education, the value of postsecondary education, and more.

Explore 26 New Sessions

See You at SXSW EDU 2025

Registration is open for SXSW EDU 2025! Book your hotel early for the best rates and hotel options March 3-6, 2025 in downtown Austin.

Sign up for SXSW EDU email updates, check out the News feed, watch videos, and follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok to get the most up-to-date information.

SXSW EDU 2025 judge and emcee photos provided by the participants.