Penn’s Education Business Plan Competition will be a bit different this year

Do you have an idea or venture that could change the face of education? Get your business plan pens ready.
The sixth Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition began accepting applications Jan. 7. This year, the Milken Family Foundation and University of Pennsylvania are making your educational dreams more accessible by separating ideas from ventures.
Instead of plans for ideas and plans for ventures going head to head, there will be separate prizes for each path — and $140K in cash prizes on the line.
Apply by Feb. 24
“We believe each group brings great value to the innovation space and feel it’s important for each to have a path devoted specifically to their stage of development,” Penn GSE doctoral candidate Cat McManus told Technical.ly Philly.
McManus says that in addition to the cash prizes, winners will be given access to the Education Design Studio, Inc. fellows program as well as in-kind entrepreneurial support. Last year’s victor, medical education app Osmosis, took home $50K in cash prizes.
The importance of the educational problem being addressed, as well as the creativity and viability of the plan’s solution will determine whether or not plans can make it to competition finals.
Finalists will be announced April 13, with the finals being held May 12-13.