Tech Beetle briefing CA AI

Pascal Siakam's edtech accelerator awards three startups with $50,000

Essential brief

Pascal Siakam's edtech accelerator, a collaboration between his foundation and Toronto Metropolitan University's DMZ, awarded $50,000 in grants to three startups focused on educational technology.

Key topics

pascal siakam edtech accelerator awards three startups edtech accelerator awards three startups Toronto Metropolitan University AI-powered Classwise Training Ground.ai

Key facts

Pascal Siakam's foundation and Toronto Metropolitan University's DMZ run the Siakam EdTech Engine accelerator.

Three startups received a total of $50,000 in grants for their educational technology solutions.

Classwise won the top prize with its AI-powered assessment platform.

The 12-week program connects startups with education leaders and facilitates pilot testing in schools.

Highlights

The Siakam EdTech Engine demo day took place in July 2026, awarding $50,000 to three startups.

Classwise, Training Ground.ai, and CoLab Education were the winning startups.

The accelerator launched in February 2025 and runs for 12 weeks.

Pascal Siakam played for the Toronto Raptors until 2024 and now plays for the Indiana Pacers.

Siakam's foundation provided digital education platforms to Indiana Math and Science Academy West in December 2025.

Why it matters

This initiative highlights the growing role of athlete-led philanthropy in supporting educational technology innovation. By funding and mentoring startups, the program fosters solutions that can improve learning experiences for students and educators. The expansion of such accelerators can drive broader community impact and inspire youth engagement in technology and education.

Pascal Siakam, former Toronto Raptors player and NBA champion, returned to Toronto to announce the winners of his edtech accelerator program. The Siakam EdTech Engine, a partnership between Siakam's foundation PS43 and Toronto Metropolitan University's DMZ, hosted its demo day on Tuesday, awarding a total of $50,000 in grants to three startups. These startups presented solutions aimed at improving educational technology.

The top prize went to Classwise, an AI-powered assessment platform. The second and third prizes were awarded to Training Ground.ai, a tailored learning platform, and CoLab Education, a professional networking service for educators, respectively. The program supports startups by connecting them with industry and education leaders and facilitating pilot projects with school boards, teachers, and students.

Siakam expressed hopes for the program's growth, aiming to increase prize amounts and broaden the accelerator's reach. Launched in February 2025, the 12-week program is designed to foster innovation in edtech and create meaningful community impact.

Siakam played seven and a half seasons with the Toronto Raptors, including their 2019 championship win, before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2024. Despite the trade, he continues to support educational initiatives in Toronto and beyond. In December, his foundation provided Indiana Math and Science Academy West with two digital education platforms focused on cyber safety and AI-powered reading tutoring.

The Siakam EdTech Engine represents a significant effort to advance educational technology through collaboration and funding, with a focus on benefiting youth and communities in Toronto and Indiana.

Key topics in this update include pascal siakam, edtech accelerator awards three startups, and edtech accelerator awards.