A Run for the GSV Cup

 

ASU+GSV Summit, the annual education technology conference hosted by GSV Ventures and Arizona State University, recently announced the selection of 200 pre-seed and seed education technology startups as finalists in its annual GSV Cup competition. These companies were selected based on rigorous criteria by a panel of 152 esteemed judges from global venture capital firms and strategic education companies.

The GSV Cup Elite 200 are semifinalists and will compete for $1 million in prizes. They will be invited to pitch at the ASU+GSV Summit live and in person August 9-11, 2021 in San Diego, California. The prizes will consist of $550,000 in non-dilutive capital and $450,000 in Google Cloud credits.

“We believe all people should have equal access to the future through scaled innovations in learning,” said Deborah Quazzo, managing partner of GSV Ventures. “As the world moves from a BC to AD reality — before coronavirus to after disease — we have arrived at the dawn of the age of digital learning. Given the quantity and quality of this year’s applicants, we’ve doubled the prize package to $1 million in non-dilutive capital and Google Cloud credits. We received more than 700 strong applications, and we’re proud to name the 200 semifinalists to the GSV Cup Elite 200.”

The second annual GSV Cup is the world’s largest pitch competition for “Pre-K to Gray” early stage EdTech startups developing what GSV calls “Weapons of Mass Instruction.” These innovative companies provide greater access and participation in education through technologies in early childhood, K-12, higher education, postsecondary education, corporate learning, adult learning and beyond. This year’s Elite 200 represent diverse backgrounds and locations:

  • 58% of companies have female founders
  • 44% of companies have founders that identify as people of color
  • 39% of companies are based outside the United States

The GSV Cup is proud to partner with Google Cloud, HubSpot for Startups, HolonIQ, and GSV Ventures. Applicants were evaluated by the world’s leading investors, including Accel, Alexa Fund, Brand Capital International, Bessemer Venture Partners, Founders Circle Capital, Owl Ventures and Reach Capital, among others.

To see the full list of companies selected to the GSV Cup Elite 200 please visit the website.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Build the Why, Not Just the What
June 11, 2025

There comes a point where you stop asking what you’re building and start asking why you’re building it. That shift is where high-impact work begins. It’s when you move from shipping features to shaping purpose. Anyone can launch a roadmap, spec out a feature, or refine a UI. But the heartbeat of the product lives…

Read More
bringing hospitality to retail
Bringing Hospitality to Retail as an Authentic Community Anchor: 15 Minutes with Coach’s Giovanni Zaccariello
June 11, 2025

Luxury retail is no longer confined to storefronts and seasonal campaigns. Brands are bringing hospitality to retail, building deeper emotional connections, and extending their presence beyond the product. Coach, among other heritage labels, is experimenting with cafés, branded bars, and immersive spaces that offer more than a transaction—they offer belonging. According to MG2 Advisory,…

Read More
professional equity
Reclaiming Your Voice Is a Leadership Move That Grows Professional Equity
June 11, 2025

In the very first episode of PQ: Conversations That Build Equity, host Jason Winningham , the CEO and Founder of Professional Quotient, shares his inspiring journey, applauding the transformative power of ‘Professional Quotient’ or PQ. This podcast series aims to explore the concept of PQ, defined as a sum of one’s professional equity, encompassing…

Read More
The Power of Research to Transform Specialty Nursing | Oscar Noel Ocho | EP#1 - Live from ICN
The Power of Research to Transform Specialty Nursing – Live from ICN
June 11, 2025

In this special episode recorded live from the 2025 International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress in Helsinki, host Lea Sims welcomes Dr. Oscar Noel Ocho, Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies School of Nursing. With more than four decades of experience in specialty nursing and education, Dr. Ocho brings a…

Read More