Michigan EdTech Pitch Contest awards $22,000 to 5 training innovators
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LANSING, Mich. — Edtech innovators from Spelling Safari have been chosen because the winners of the second annual Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest, sharing $22,000 in enterprise startup grants and authorized and artistic startup help with 4 different finalists. The ideas developed from the remaining pitches shall be used to enhance Michigan school rooms via innovation, expertise and firsthand educator expertise.
“All of our teams did an important job and this wasn’t straightforward. 5 minutes isn’t a very long time to current and this was a troublesome selection for our judges,” defined Matthew Okoneski, a contest choose from Pink Cedar Ventures. “Startups are onerous and I wish to commend our individuals for his or her resolution to focus on this house to unravel a few of our communities’ greatest issues.”
The primary-place prize went to Jonathan Marceau, a instructor at Monfort Elementary within the Utica Group College district, who will obtain $10,000 in enterprise startup grant funding, plus branding and emblem design help, and authorized session for Spelling Safari. Spelling Safari is a spelling curriculum reinvention and software program answer offering elementary college students with enjoyable and adaptive studying.
“Analysis exhibits mastery-based studying is linked with constructive scholar attitudes and better scholar achievement charges for all college students,” mentioned Marceau. “Knowledge from the system in my classroom exhibits college students in any respect ranges greater than tripled the variety of phrases they have been uncovered to and greater than doubled the variety of new phrases realized.”
The second-place winner was Jessie Feliz from Detroit who created Spanish S.W.A.G., an on-demand language studying program designed to make language acquisition enjoyable, interactive, and accessible to all. She’s going to obtain $6,000 in enterprise startup grant funding, plus emblem design help and authorized session.
“With Spanish S.W.A.G., we’re not simply instructing Spanish, we’re igniting a ardour for language, fostering cultural connections, and empowering college students to change into international residents who can confidently talk, join and thrive in an ever-expanding world,” mentioned Feliz.
The third-place successful group was Advait Paliwal and David Yu, college students at Michigan State College, who introduced YouLearn, an adaptive studying mannequin that permits educators to add curriculum for college kids to work with AI tutors. YouLearn will obtain $4,000 in enterprise startup grant funding, plus emblem design help and authorized session.
“College students have advised us how YouLearn has helped them to higher perceive lecture movies, and professors have an interest within the transparency and the perception they’ll acquire into college students’ studying processes,” mentioned Paliwal.
The finalist groups of eKinomy and BiPSE will every additionally obtain start-up grants of $1,000 for his or her remaining spherical pitches.
The Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest is the results of a partnership between Michigan Digital. Michigan State’s Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Spartan Improvements, a subsidiary of MSU Analysis Basis, and Michigan SBDC to carry educators’ concepts to life on methods to unravel widespread classroom issues. Sponsorship is generously offered by Michigan Artistic, Foster Swift, Shoppers Power, Meemic, Michigan Schooling Affiliation, Case Credit score Union, and LearningMate.
“For the second 12 months in a row, the finalists on this contest proceed to astound me. Michigan college students and faculties are extremely lucky to have revolutionary, forward-thinking leaders akin to these winners in our school rooms,” mentioned Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Michigan Digital and a pitch contest choose. “The successful pitches maintain a lot potential for training transferring ahead and I’m so eager for our future with their concepts main the way in which.”
The 2023 contest was open from March 20 via Might 14, and finalists have been notified in late Might. All contest individuals and all different Michigan edtech innovators are eligible to attend a free Innovation Bootcamp the week of July 17. The Bootcamp is designed to assist individuals additional discover and develop a enterprise mannequin round their concept whereas additionally introducing them to sources and helps which might be obtainable to entrepreneurs and innovators in Michigan, in addition to alternatives to carry entrepreneurial and innovation classes into faculties and school rooms
To be taught extra in regards to the contest, go to michiganvirtual.org/edtech-pitch-contest.
About Michigan Digital
Michigan Digital is a nonprofit academic group that’s main and collaborating to construct studying environments for tomorrow. Pushed by scholar success, now we have a powerful file of supporting Michigan training that spans greater than twenty years. Whereas many know us for our research-based, high quality on-line studying choices for college kids {and professional} growth for educators, we additionally do a substantial amount of work behind the scenes to conduct authentic analysis, take a look at improvements in studying, and supply consulting partnerships to advertise efficient practices.
Schooling is altering sooner than ever. Study new fashions and sources to maneuver studying ahead at michiganvirtual.org. For latest information and press releases, go to michiganvirtual.org/information.
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