XPRIZE has launched XPRIZE Accelerate Learning, a US$6 million, two-year global competition. It challenges innovators to help first-graders master foundational reading and maths in one year instead of four, at a cost as low as US$10 per child. Solutions will be tested in schools in Sub-Saharan Africa and India, and the registration fee is waived for teams based in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The competition is sponsored by the Gates Foundation and other funders, with partners including the Republic of Rwanda, AUDA-NEPAD, Equity Group Foundation, IDinsight, ShikshaNext and the British Asian Trust.
At a Glance
| Organiser | XPRIZE Foundation |
| Prize purse | US$6 million (Core Track US$5M; Last Mile Moonshot Track US$1M) |
| Who can enter | Anyone: startups, NGOs, universities, companies, government agencies, consortia and individuals, from anywhere |
| Where solutions are tested | Sub-Saharan Africa and India |
| Registration fee | US$700 (Core) / US$300 (Moonshot), waived for teams headquartered in Sub-Saharan Africa or India |
| Deadlines | Moonshot Track: 15 February 2027 · Core Track: 15 March 2027 (19:00 UTC) |
The Two Tracks
Core Track (US$5 million): “Design for Scale”
Bring the most first-graders to mastery of foundational literacy and numeracy within one school year, with a gain of at least 25 percentage points at under US$10 per child per year. Finalists deploy at district scale in their chosen region.
Last Mile Moonshot Track (US$1 million)
Build tech-based solutions with teachers in last-mile, underserved communities, achieving a gain of at least 50 percentage points at under US$40 per child per year.
Each track is a separate competition with its own requirements, fee and Qualifying Submission. Teams can enter one or both, and each entry deploys in one region. Results are measured by an independent randomised controlled trial in real schools.
Benefits
- A share of the US$6 million prize purse
- Your solution tested in real schools, paired with local schools and districts
- Independent evaluation that proves whether your solution works
- Visibility with governments, funders and partners such as the Gates Foundation, AUDA-NEPAD and Rwanda’s Ministry of Education
- A free registration fee for teams headquartered in Sub-Saharan Africa
Eligibility
- Open to everyone: startups, nonprofits, universities, corporations, government agencies, consortia and individuals. Teams can be based anywhere in the world.
- Your solution must target first-grade learners in Sub-Saharan Africa or India.
- Fee waiver: a team’s headquarters is the country where its registered legal entity is (for an individual, their main residence; for joint entries, the lead entity’s). Teams in other low- and middle-income countries can apply for a waiver.
- You’ll need to sign the Competitor Agreement and meet all submission and testing requirements in the official guidelines.
How to Apply
- Read the official competition page and the Competition Guidelines (links below).
- Choose your track: Core, Moonshot or both.
- Register through XPRIZE’s official registration portal and form or join a team.
- Submit your registration and Qualifying Submission by 15 February 2027 (Moonshot) or 15 March 2027 (Core), at 19:00 UTC, which is 20:00 in Lagos and 22:00 in Nairobi.
Official XPRIZE Accelerate Learning page · Official launch announcement
XPRIZE says all dates are preliminary and may change, so check the official page before you submit.
Tips for African Teams
- Partner locally. A team that combines ed-tech, teachers and local-language experts will be stronger.
- Design for low cost from day one. The Core Track cap is US$10 per child per year.
- Register your team’s headquarters in Africa to qualify for the fee waiver.
- Start early. The Qualifying Submission is due with registration.
