Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


U.S. Department of Education Asks Students for Education Startup Ideas

  • By Mike Hohenbrink
  • 02/23/12

The United States Department of Education is asking students to contribute ideas for a unique education startup as part of its National Education Startup Challenge going on right now.

The purpose of the competition is to encourage students to come up with solutions for helping fellow students enter college and the workforce more ready to tackle real-world challenges as well as to encourage students as innovators and entrepreneurs.

The competition is open to students across the United States, and entries can be made by submitting a business plan as well as a video pitch. Videos should introduce a unique, original idea for a startup venture covering one of the four challenge topics.

Challenge topics include:

  • "Middle Grades Matter," covering ideas for helping students transition to high school and beyond;
  • "Skills, Skills, Skills," for encouraging skill-building ideas;
  • "Education Pays," which covers entries allowing students to pick affordable postsecondary education; and
  • "Finish Faster," covering ideas to help increase retention rates.

The exact nature of the startup is up to the discretion of each entrant and may consist of either for-profit or non-profit ideas designed to offer products, services, or strategies designed to help students. Entries can address any of the four challenge topics.

The challenge competition is open students who have begun the sixth grade up through high school graduates and students continuing their education at the postsecondary level. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2012.

Entrants and their submissions will be judged as part of three categories based on age including:

  • Grades 6-8;
  • Grades 9-12; and
  • Undergraduate/postsecondary students.

A panel of educators and entrepreneurs will judge all of the submitted entries.

Winning entries will receive national recognition and may be eligible for further honors and opportunities.

More information is available online at nesc.challenge.gov or at challenge.gov. Questions can also be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] or to [email protected].

Information is also available by phone by calling Scott Hess at 202-245-7772.

Featured

  • Abstract background with digital shield made of data particles glowing blue blocking against cyber attacks

    AI Attacks Push Organizations Toward Autonomous Cybersecurity Defense

    Artificial intelligence is raising the stakes of cyber conflict as attackers use the technology to accelerate reconnaissance, uncover vulnerabilities, and launch attacks faster than many security teams can respond, according to a new report from agentic AI security company Kai.

  • Businessman using laptop analyzing data and growth graph chart

    Report: AI Budgets in Education Show No Sign of Decline

    The vast majority of education organizations (98%) expect their AI infrastructure budgets to either increase or hold steady over the next year, according to a report from cloud storage provider Wasabi.

  • broken digital lock and glowing chain

    Check Point Researchers: AI Has Crossed into the Live Attack Chain

    AI is moving beyond assisting cybercriminals and beginning to operate within live attacks, according to a recent report from Check Point Research. The technology is making sophisticated capabilities faster and more accessible while creating new security risks for businesses deploying their own AI systems.

  • child stands with a laptop, in front of various drawings related to math and science

    Why Screen Time Limits Are Not the Answer

    At a fundamental level, screen time policies and laws aim to address academic achievement by balancing digital instruction with traditional teaching methods. But they do not tackle how devices are used.