The GSV Cup Elite 200 Announced; Startups Will Compete For $1 Million In Prizes

ASU+GSV Summit, the annual education technology conference hosted by GSV Ventures and Arizona State University, announced today 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!

Image

Latest

summer melt
From Freshmen to Founders: Michigan Students Take on Higher Ed’s Summer Melt Crisis with MeetYourClass
May 29, 2025

A growing number of colleges are struggling to convert applicants into enrolled students—and to keep them engaged through graduation. With Gen Z students relying heavily on familiar digital platforms like Instagram and Discord for social interaction, traditional college tools for orientation, enrollment, and community-building often miss the mark. According to research, between 10 to 40…

Read More
Aviation maintenance
The Future of Flight Depends on Mechanics, Not Machines: How Jets MRO is Solving the Aviation Maintenance Talent Gap
May 28, 2025

Private aviation is booming—but behind the sleek jets and luxury cabins lies a hidden crisis. A looming shortage of qualified aviation maintenance technicians threatens to ground growth. According to Boeing’s 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook, the industry will need about 690,000 new maintenance technicians by 2042. While private jet usage is skyrocketing, the infrastructure to…

Read More
digital learning ecosystem
Stride at 25: Redefining the Digital Learning Ecosystem for Today’s K–12 Learners
May 28, 2025

As virtual learning matures and school choice accelerates across the U.S.,the 25th anniversary of Stride Inc. offers a moment to reflect on how far the digital learning ecosystem has come and where it’s headed.. Once known as K12 Inc., the company helped pioneer online education at scale. But in a landscape shaped by evolving…

Read More
search
From Search (SEO) to Answers with Generative AI
May 27, 2025

In this episode of The Marketing AI SparkCast, Aby Varma—founder of Spark Novus, which partners with marketing leaders to adopt AI responsibly and strategically—hosts Mike Ensing, Founder and CEO of Revere AI. They explore how LLMs are revolutionizing search, shifting the customer journey, and forcing a new marketing playbook where brand discovery is increasingly…

Read More