Introducing NextEdu 23
We are pleased to announce the launch of the second edition of NextEdu, starting at OGR Torino, the Innovation and Networking partner of the project.
As the first international accelerator programme specialising in EdTech in Italy, NextEdu aims to foster the growth and success of promising startups in the education sector. In doing so, it draws on xEdu's experience as an accelerator, known for its ongoing commitment to supporting the growth and development of startups in the education technology sector.
The 2023 edition, made possible with the support of the Fondazione Sviluppo e Crescita CRT - an instrumental entity of the Fondazione CRT - and in collaboration with OGR Torino, will last for 4 months and take place at OGR Tech, the innovation and research hub of OGR, an ideal place for fostering collaborations and innovative projects.
Out of over 60 applications received from around the world, 8 companies have been selected, including 4 from Italy: Babilon (Italy); Discentis (Italy); Feed Their Minds (Italy); Knolyx (Romania); Medvoice (Ukraine); Three Cubes (Lithuania); ProjectMint (Japan); UniversApp (Italy).
The participating companies are active in e-learning, learning management systems (LMS), online training, open innovation, artificial intelligence, new technologies and other important areas of EdTech. Their goal is to develop solutions to reduce educational inequality, cultivate and enhance cross-cutting skills, promote language learning, create inclusive and effective learning environments to support students on their learning journey and realise their growth potential through personalised education pathways.
The NextEdu 23 acceleration program will involve mentors, investors, and entrepreneurs from around the world who will share their experiences with the selected startups. Additionally, participation in a series of European events, including XcitED, the only EdTech side event of Slush, the world’s largest gathering of Venture Capital investors, is planned. XcitED provides practical advice for building startups and serves as a meeting point for EdTech founders from across Europe.
The acceleration program will also allow startups to test their products in the Turin region, thanks to collaborations with prestigious entities such as the Torino City Lab and the Educational Living Lab of the Municipality of Turin. The program will conclude with a Demo Day where startups will showcase their progress to a potential audience of investors with a special interest in Educational Technology.
“NextEdu represents a milestone in the field of education in Italy, marking a significant evolution from the previous year,” said Antti Korhonen, CEO of xEdu. “We are paving new ways to address some of the most relevant educational challenges of our time and promote widespread, fair, and sustainable change. The strategic collaboration with the Fondazione Sviluppo e Crescita CRT and the creation of the first Italian Advisory Board dedicated to EdTech offers a concrete opportunity to explore the potential of the Finnish pedagogical method at OGR Torino, with the goal of fostering the development of education-oriented and socially impactful enterprises.”
Here are the 8 selected companies and their missions:
Milano, Italy
Babilon is an innovative mobile application that revolutionises language learning through interactive storytelling and Artificial Intelligence conversations, focusing on communication rather than mere mechanical memorisation. By embedding words in real-world contexts, a deep understanding of vocabulary, grammar and cultural nuances is ensured.
Torino, Italy
Discentis is an innovative education startup dedicated to the social problem of educational inequality. It provides comprehensive support to schools and educators to create inclusive and effective learning environments that improve student outcomes and opportunities.
Milano, Italy
Feed Their Minds trains teachers and parents to recognise and nurture talent in primary and middle school students. The startup develops children’s intelligence through divergent thinking and creates edutech solutions to assess talent and soft skills. The offer includes training courses for teachers and parents as well as learning games to promote divergent thinking and assess a child’s potential.
Romania
Knolyx aims to unlock the growth potential of individuals and teams by promoting continuous learning through personalised learning paths. The platform creates customised learning paths that allow each team member to develop specific skills in a flexible way, which is particularly suitable for modern teams that often work in remote or diverse environments.
Ukraine
In a world where medical sciences are advancing rapidly, keeping up is a major challenge for healthcare professionals who are constantly under stress. Medvoice is an EdTech company that aims to improve the quality of healthcare by providing healthcare professionals with up- to-date knowledge.
Japan
ProjectMint aims to improve the lives of mature adults and those nearing the end of their careers through a 10-week online programme. This programme creates a community where individuals can rediscover their existential purpose, build connections and reinvent themselves. Professionals affirm themselves through empathetic listening among peers while developing an adaptive mindset to cope with the uncertain times they face.
Vilnius, Lithuania
Three Cubes is developing a platform with an innovative vision in the field of sandbox games. The platform is inspired by the best aspects of Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite, offering children educational adventures, social spaces and sandbox worlds.
Palermo, Italy
UniversApp uses artificial intelligence to prepare young people for future skills. It does this through an online learning platform that offers tailored programming courses and allows users to use AI to improve their productivity and efficiency. The system is based on the use of generative artificial intelligence to create personalised exercises and provide targeted feedback. In addition, a virtual tutor helps students overcome difficulties they encounter on their learning journey.
At the heart of NextEdu 23 is a desire to explore new technologies for education and to assess the impact of these technologies on our society. We warmly welcome all our startups to Turin!
