The University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE) and the Milken Family Foundation recently announced the winners of the eighth annual Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition (EBPC). The competition required finalists to pitch their ventures to an audience of investors, researchers, and practitioners.

• SPEAK MODalities, of Indiana, won both the Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize ($40,000) and ChanceLight Behavioral Health and Education Prize ($20,000). The company provides evidence-based language learning tools for minimally verbal students.
• Awear Technologies, of Minnesota, was awarded the ACT Prize ($20,000). The company designs neurocognitive eyewear to help correct wearers’ attention deficits and improve reading comprehension and learning.
• GraphLock, of Arizona, received the American Public University System Prize ($20,000). GraphLock offers an affordable scientific and graphing calculator app with a patent-pending lockdown mode. GraphLock also won the Voter’s Choice award of $1,000, determined with a live poll at the event.
• DOT LEARN, of Massachusetts, received the iTutor Group Prize ($20,000). DOT LEARN uses compression technology to make hours of video learning more affordable for emerging markets.

“Our competition is a place for entrepreneurs with bold ideas to create new opportunities for learners at all stages of life,” said Bobbi Kurshan, Penn GSE executive director of academic innovation. “We’re proud of how past winners have already helped educators, students and families, and we’re excited to see how this year’s participants make their mark.”

The EBPC is made possible through the generous support of the Milken Family Foundation, ACT, American Public University System, ChanceLight Behavioral Health and Education, iTutorGroup and McGraw-Hill Education.