Winners announced in educational technology Tools Competition, partner of UMN/CEHD

The Tools Competition is a multi-million dollar funding opportunity for educational technology (edtech) innovation. It is a program of Renaissance Philanthropy and run in partnership with the University of Minnesota and the Digital Harbor Foundation. It uses digital technology, big data, and learning science to meet international learner needs.

The 2025 competition's 20 winning tools were divided into three tracks. These were Accelerating K-12 learning, Enhancing post-secondary learning, and the Dataset prize. Many of the winners utilize AI, ensuring that teachers can easily access and integrate the newer technology into their teaching. View the Tools Competition winners here.

Dr. Caitlin Mills, associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology's psychological foundations of education program, was a member of a previous winning team in the 2021-2022 Tools Competition. Mills took part in the competition this year, supporting competitors and advising on competition design, evaluation, and research objectives. Moving forward, she will work with the winners to evaluate the impact of their innovations.

The 2026 cycle of the Tools Competition will launch in September 2025.