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Hosted by Google for Startups, Cyber Legends, Shuriii and English Islands claimed top prizes at the Siakam EdTech Engine Accelerator’s capstone Demo Day.
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Toronto, ON, July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam and startup incubator DMZ celebrated the future of K-12 education with a startup Demo Day held at Google’s offices, marking the finale of the Siakam EdTech Engine Accelerator.
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The afternoon showcased six standout startups in the program’s inaugural cohort, each tackling unique challenges in K-12 learning with tech-driven solutions. Gibbly,
Shuriii,
Cyber Legends,
Factors Education,
Edventive and English Islands pitched their solutions live to a crowd of educators, investors, media and tech leaders.
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From the cohort, three companies emerged as grant recipients selected by a panel of expert judges, including program Co-Founder, Pascal Siakam.
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- Cyber Legends – a digital literacy platform designed to help youth navigate the digital landscape safely received $30,000 and the opportunity to pilot their solution with the Toronto Catholic School Board and Indiana Math and Science Academy West.
- Shuriii – an AI analytics platform for K–12 teachers in underserved schools to pinpoint learning gaps, deliver targeted interventions, and help students progress received $15,000.
- English Islands – an AI-powered reading tutor that empowers students to learn independently received $5,000.
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The Demo Day served as the capstone of the Siakam EdTech Engine Accelerator, which launched earlier this year through a partnership between Pascal Siakam’s foundation PS43, a not-for-profit that finds unique ways to support youth through education, and DMZ to fast-track early‑stage EdTech startups.
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“I founded PS43 because I believe education has the power to transform the lives of youth,” said Pascal Siakam, Founder of PS43 and NBA Champion. “Watching these startups channel their passion into solutions that help students thrive, that is what it is all about. I am proud to stand behind them as they work to change the game in education.”
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Over the course of the program, founders took part in DMZ programming, coaching and hands-on workshops, while also tapping into Google for Startups resources and mentors to refine their products and market strategies. Through PS43’s network, startups collaborated with school boards and educators such as the Indiana Math and Science Academy West and the Toronto Catholic District School Board, gaining feedback, guidance and connections to help scale their solutions and drive impact in classrooms across North America.
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“Technology is opening up entirely new ways for students to learn and thrive,” said Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director of DMZ. “PS43 isn’t just another program; it’s about driving real change in education with solutions that meet students where they are. Pascal brought his heart, vision and leadership to this initiative, and today we’re seeing the results: early‑stage EdTech startups ready to make a real impact in classrooms.”
English (US)