Odisha-based startup in race for Next Billion EdTech Prize

Bhubaneswar: Odisha-based online tutoring startup Aveti Learning has been chosen as one of 30 finalists to compete in the Next Billion EdTech Prize, which recognises the most innovative use of technology that has the potential to radically impact education in low income and emerging economies.

The 30 finalists will compete in a pitch contest taking place at the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) 2019 on the 22-24 March in Dubai. The forum brings together over 1500 delegates from around the world to solve the most pressing issues in global education, culminating in the award of the Next Billion EdTech Prize and the US $1 million Global Teacher Prize.

While at the forum, the finalists will also have an opportunity to meet the most important players from the spheres of both education and technology–from venture capitalists to education ministers, foundations, academics and some of the world’s best teachers. They will be able to draw on their expertise and support to build products that will work as well in the classroom as they do at a pitch competition.

The Next Billion Prize was named to remind the world of the billion young people – a number growing every day – that are being denied an education that allows them to make the most of their talents.

Vikas Pota, CEO of Tmrw Digital, which runs the Next Billion Prize, said: “Congratulations to Aveti Learning for making the final 30 start-ups to compete in the Next Billion Prize 2019. The Next Billion Prize was created to shine a light on those gifted entrepreneurs that are not only ingenious, but also bold and persistent enough to bring forward the revolutionary ideas that are desperately needed to transform education in those parts of the world where there is limited access to high quality teaching.”

“Our fervent hope is that the prize inspires this new breed of entrepreneur the world over to come forward with the fresh thinking that is needed to help give every child their birthright; access to a great education,” Vikas added.

Aveti Learning Limited offers Shikhya as a flagship e-learning program aimed at providing high-quality digital education to underprivileged students in Odisha. Aveti Learning as a recognised under Start-up Odisha aims to capitalize on the Digital Movement and provide crucial digital education content for students studying in Odia medium. For students without the economic ability or simply the access to quality in-school instruction, Aveti shows the way. Now over 5000 students in different parts of Odisha have benefited from educational content developed by Aveti Learning.

The final 30 startups selected for the Next Billion Prize are:

Talk2U, OxEd, Whetu, Signa, SimBi, Moi Social Learning, Kuwala, Etudesk, PraxiLabs, Langbot, Seppo, Lesson App, Eneza, Aveti Learning Pvt. Ltd., Utter, Dost, Solve Education, M-Shule, eLimu, Wizenoze Ltd, ScholarX, Sabaq, Silabuz, Zelda, MTabe, Ubongo, Fineazy, TeachPitch, Big Picture Learning/Imblaze, and Augmented Learning.