Kipin Edutech (Winner), Stick’Em (1st runner-up), and Dive Analytics (2nd runner-up) won the inaugural “Temasek Foundation Education Challenge: Empowering Teachers through EdTech” held at EduTech Asia. EdTech accelerator EduSpaze and Temasek Foundation organized the event.
Kipin Edutech won for their groundbreaking digital transformation solution that allows schools to develop an online presence in minutes, even without internet connectivity. This breakthrough significantly enhances educational opportunities in remote regions. Stick’Em, the runner-up, offers affordable STEAM education using innovative hardware kits and an online platform. This allows schools to deploy programmes independently and at a lower cost. Dive Analytics, the second runner-up, offers a productivity software suite that optimizes administrative processes for K-12 institutions and provides data-driven insights into student well-being, earning recognition from Singapore’s Ministry of Education.
The winners were awarded S$90,000 in grants and market access trips to catalyze their pilot solutions in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region. In addition to the grants, Kipin Edutech will also receive a trip to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the Global EdTech Startup Awards (GESAwards) 2024 boot camp and Bett London in January 2025.
Ng Boon Heong, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Foundation, said:
At Temasek Foundation, we recognize that education is a key enabler to uplift communities. The solutions presented by the finalists in this Challenge embody our goal of improving teaching quality, recognizing that teachers play an outsized role in shaping and inspiring future generations. Our catalytic funding supporting the winning solutions seeks to help these innovators test their innovations in addressing teaching challenges in relevant SEA markets to unlock further opportunities to scale in SEA. Congratulations to KIPIN, Stick’Em and Dive Analytics. We look forward to seeing these solutions as they pave the way for teachers and future learners.
The Challenge attracted more than 250 applications from over 60 countries. Following a rigorous selection process, the top ten finalists were invited to pitch their innovative solutions live at EduTech Asia to a judging panel comprising expert review panellists and education experts. These finalists also received access to up to S$500,000 in cloud credits provided by Tech for Good partner Amazon Web Services.
According to UNESCO’s 2024 Global Report on Teachers, SEA faces a projected 4.5 million gap in teacher shortages. The Temasek Foundation Education Challenge seeks to address underlying factors and challenges faced by educators by discovering and supporting innovative solutions that enhance the effectiveness of teaching, evolve educators’ roles, and introduce new models to reach underserved communities.
Alex Ng, Managing Director of EduSpaze, said:
Congratulations to the winners, KIPIN, Stick’Em, and Dive Analytics, of the Temasek Foundation Education Challenge. We are excited to be part of the journey and to be able to recognize your effort, innovation and impact in contributing to the education ecosystem. To the rest of the top 10 finalists and other startups who have participated, I thank you for your contributions and unwavering efforts in evolving the education scene within the SEA region. Since EduSpaze’s inception in 2019, it has been heartwarming and fulfilling to witness how the EdTech scene has matured. The Challenge served as a testament to the steadfast efforts that EduSpaze, our ecosystem partners and EdTech players have made to contribute to the education transformation across Southeast Asia.
EduSpaze aims to nurture a vibrant EdTech startup ecosystem that serves the education sector in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The company helps early-stage EdTech startups strengthen products and market access and accelerate their growth through ecosystem partnerships. The accelerator supports companies that address sector-specific challenges with innovative solutions to improve learning outcomes and the impact of education. EduSpaze is part of Spaze Ventures.
Ashley Tan, International Head of Social Impact & Sustainability at Amazon Web Services (AWS), added:
We look forward to the robust education solutions presented by our winners, KIPIN, Stick’Em and Dive Analytics and the other finalists, towards addressing teaching challenges in the SEA region. Together with Temasek Foundation and EduSpaze, Amazon Web Services (AWS) will continue to support equitable learning opportunities which drive education and opportunity for underserved learners. We stand ready to provide EdTech innovators with the power of cloud and the latest GenAI to power their mission-driven solutions and increase access to quality education.
Temasek Foundation supports diverse programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and Asia. These programmes are made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek and gifts and other contributions from other donors. These programmes strive to deliver positive outcomes for individuals and communities now and for future generations. Its programmes collectively strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange, catalyze regional capabilities, advance science, and protect the planet.
