The WISE EdTech Accelerator anchors WISE’s edtech work by nurturing startups and fostering a global community committed to reimagining teaching and learning. Since its inception, the accelerator has supported edtech founders from around the world in building and scaling innovative solutions to key challenges in education. Each year, the program delivers a bespoke support system focused on startup growth through one-to-one coaching, masterclasses with industry experts, and access to a global network of investors and education specialists. Cumulative program figures include 54+ alumni ventures, 100+ hours of coaching and mentoring, three in-person bootcamps at major education conferences, and more than 15 million beneficiaries impacted across 130 countries.
Program Tracks
• Local Track (Qatar-Focused): Delivered in collaboration with local partners, including Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar Development Research Institute (QRDI), and others.
• Local Track Purpose: Unlock an edtech startup’s potential in Qatar’s thriving education ecosystem.
• Local Track Focus: Designed for early-stage startups from seed to pre-Series A that are ready to scale and enter the Qatari market.
• Local Track Benefits: Receive mentorship from top industry experts and local innovators to tailor products for the Qatari market; connect with key stakeholders from top industry experts and local innovators; participate in high-level networking events and showcase solutions to a global audience of decision-makers and influencers; gain quick access to local funding and grants via partners; and access world-class innovation hubs and opportunities to accelerate growth.
• Local Track Positioning: For startups ready to transform education and establish a foothold in the Middle East, the Local Track supports becoming part of Qatar’s visionary future in education.
• International Track: Scale an edtech solution globally with the support of a world-class accelerator.
• International Track Focus: Welcomes innovative early-stage startups from seed to pre-Series A from across the globe, offering an opportunity to scale without the need to focus on any specific market.
• International Track Benefits: Leverage the accelerator’s global network of mentors, investors, and educational leaders to drive international product growth; participate in high-level networking events and showcase solutions to a global audience of decision-makers and influencers; and gain expert mentorship in product development, business strategy, and market expansion tailored to unique needs.
• International Track Positioning: Whether aiming to disrupt the global edtech landscape or expand into new markets, the International Track provides tools and connections to scale faster and smarter.
Program Benefits
• Global Network: Access to an extensive network of investors and education specialists; international visibility through partner events and the WISE Summit; and membership in a community of edtech founders from 22 countries.
• Coaching & Mentorship: A hand-picked team of experts specializing in marketing, sales and fundraising; product strategy, development, and roadmapping; and market insights and positioning.
• International Visibility: Selected ventures have the opportunity to attend international events and receive promotion on global platforms, including global events such as the IFC Global Education Conference, Web Summit Qatar, and London EdTech Week; WISE social media platforms; and the WISE Summit in Doha, which convenes over 4,000 attendees from 100 countries.
Selection Criteria
• Selection Process: Each year, a committee of leading experts in education and entrepreneurship supports the WISE Accelerator team in the selection process.
• Acceptance Rate: The program has a 5% acceptance rate.
• Team Ability to Execute and Deliver: The accelerator prioritizes ventures with co-founders rather than single founders. Co-founders bring diverse expertise across different areas such as product development, marketing, and sales. The team must demonstrate strong leadership and an ability to execute their vision, with relevant backgrounds in education, technology, or entrepreneurship.
Target Startup Profiles
• Stage: Startups beyond the MVP stage, with evidence of traction and sales. Typically, ventures are early stage, from seed to pre-Series A, having raised less than $500,000.
• Geography: The accelerator is agnostic to geography, with past cohorts including ventures from both developed and developing countries.
• Impact: Startups must show proven traction and measurable impact within their operating markets. Impact is a key consideration in the selection process.
• Business Model: The accelerator targets for-profit ventures; NGOs and nonprofits are not eligible.
• Sub-sectors: Ventures from a variety of educational subsectors, including K12, higher education, and professional development, are eligible.
• Team: Preference is given to ventures with co-founders, as this promotes broader engagement across different areas of support.
Application Process and Contact Information
• Application Window: Applications open on Monday 28 September 2026 and close on Saturday 31 October 2026.
• Submission Platform: All applications must be submitted through the Awards Force platform.
• Application Requirements: Applicants must complete the official online application form in English, providing details including the edtech solution and how it works, the problem it addresses, the target beneficiaries, and the motivation for joining the WISE EdTech Accelerator.
• Deadline: 31 October 2026 is a hard deadline; no submissions are accepted after this date.
• Program Contact: For WISE EdTech Accelerator related queries, contact accelerator@wise.org.qa.
• Media Contact: For media related queries, contact media@wise.org.qa.
• 2026–2027 Cycle: Applications for the 2026–2027 cycle of the WISE EdTech Accelerator open on Monday 28 September 2026 and close on Saturday 31 October 2026.
Timeline & Key Dates
• Call for Applications Opens: 28 September 2026 — Full communications and outreach campaign begins; open webinars are held for prospective applicants throughout the call-for-applications period; applications are submitted through the WISE application platform.
• Applications Close: 31 October 2026 — Hard deadline; no submissions are accepted after this date.
• Review & Selection Process: November – December 2026 — The WISE team conducts initial screening and eligibility review; a selection committee composed of leading experts in education and entrepreneurship reviews applications against the published criteria; shortlisted applicants are invited for interviews.
• Cohort Announcement: December 2026 / Early January 2027 — Four to six selected startups are announced publicly; successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified.
• Program Begins: January 2027 — Selected startups join the accelerator program; onboarding, initial mentorship matching, and program kick-off take place.
• Accelerator Program: January – December 2027 — Year-long bespoke program featuring one-to-one coaching, masterclasses with industry experts, access to the global WISE network and international events, and promotion across WISE platforms.
• WISE 13 Summit Participation: Q4 2027 — The accelerator cohort presents at the WISE 13 Summit in Doha, with visibility to more than 4,000 attendees from 100 countries.
2025–2026 Cohort
• AlGooru (Saudi Arabia): Saudi Arabia’s leading tutoring hub, founded by Khalid W. Abou Kassem, Omer Awad, and Muhanad AlJaser. With 150,000+ sessions delivered, AlGooru connects learners to trusted tutors, making personalized learning simple and accessible.
• Wonderly (Global): Reaching classrooms across Latin America, the US, Europe, and the Middle East, Wonderly gives any teacher the tools to teach coding, data science, and AI, bringing digital education to millions.
• Nyansapo AI (Africa): Through its Hekima Learning App, Nyansapo AI helps teachers assess literacy and numeracy in real time, improving outcomes for over 23,000 learners. Built on local realities, its goal is to double learning outcomes across Africa.
• iSchool (MENA): As the MENA region’s largest AI and coding platform for K12 learners, iSchool has trained 131,000+ students in coding, game development, data science, and cybersecurity, building the next generation of tech leaders.
• SkillUp MENA (MENA): SkillUp MENA designs hands-on, practical learning experiences that go beyond theory, helping individuals and organizations build future-ready skills that stick.
• Xertify (Global): With 700,000+ users in 15 countries, Xertify offers AI-powered, blockchain-secured digital credentials, turning qualifications into trusted passports to global opportunity.
• Musa (LatAm & Africa): By transforming WhatsApp into a microlearning hub, Musa has reached nearly 500,000 learners with AI- and behavior science-based courses, making education accessible anytime, anywhere.
• InvestEd (Philippines): InvestEd provides smart student loans to ambitious Gen Z learners without credit history. With 10,000+ loans disbursed and repayment rates above 90%, they are unlocking education access at scale.
Committee Members
• Yalda Aoukar — Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Bracket Capital
• Mohammed Al-Emadi — Executive Director, Incubation & Venture Capital, Qatar Development Bank (QDB)
• Prof. Rose Luckin — Founder & CEO, Educate Ventures Research; Professor Emerita, UCL
• Dr. Chibeza Agley — CEO and Co-Founder, OBRIZUM
• Nada Al-Olaqi — Senior Director, Innovation Development & Piloting Programs, Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI)
• Dr. Michael Fung — Executive Director, Institute for the Future of Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
• Tokunboh Ishmael — Co-Founder and Managing Director, Alitheia Capital
• Rwodah Al Naimi — Director of Investment, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD)
With a 5% acceptance rate, a global alumni community, and a year-long bespoke support structure, the WISE EdTech Accelerator positions early-stage edtech ventures for international visibility, mentorship, and access to education stakeholders. The 2026–2027 application cycle is open from 28 September to 31 October 2026, and the next cohort is expected to be announced in December 2026 or early January 2027. Interested founders should submit a detailed English application through the Awards Force platform before the hard deadline, using the listed program and media contacts for any inquiries.