The best edtech events for founders in 2027 put you in front of the schools, universities and training teams that buy learning tools, and the investors who fund them. These are the ten worth planning your year around, from London, Karlsruhe, Barcelona and Hannover to Austin, San Diego, São Paulo, Sydney and Boston.
Edtech covers tools for schools, universities, corporate training and lifelong learning. We chose events with a startup zone, a pitch competition or the right buyers in the room, with Europe first and the best of the rest of the world. We checked every date on the organiser's own website and mark each one as Confirmed (date published by the organiser), Announced (reliable second source only) or Expected (based on past editions only). All ten below are Confirmed.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.
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Top 10 Edtech Startup Events of 2027 at a Glance
The 10 best edtech startup events of 2027
1. Bett UK: 20–22 January 2027, London
The biggest week of the edtech year in Europe. Startups can book a pod in the Startup Zone, which comes with a speaking slot in the Innovation theatre, and the GESAwards global finals take place during Bett week. The Women in EdTech programme brings back the EdTech 10 list, mentoring circles and networking drinks on 21 January.
2. LEARNTEC: 2–4 February 2027, Karlsruhe
It calls itself Europe's leading event for digital education in schools, higher education and the workplace. There is no startup programme, but it is the best European fair for founders selling learning tools to companies and German-speaking buyers.
3. EdTech Congress Barcelona: 3–4 February 2027, Barcelona
Southern Europe's main edtech congress, organised with Fira Barcelona; about 3,000 people attended in 2026. It runs in the same week as ISE, the big audiovisual trade show, so classroom technology buyers are already in town.
4. didacta: 23–27 February 2027, Hannover
Europe's largest education trade fair, from early childhood to vocational training. Go if your customers are German schools and teachers; there is no startup programme, so plan your own meetings.
5. SXSW EDU: 13–16 March 2027, Austin
Its Launch Startup Competition is open to early-stage education startups that have raised no more than US$8 million. Apply by 1 November 2026. It is one of the most open global pitch stages in edtech.
6. ASU+GSV Summit: 4–7 April 2027, San Diego
The place with more edtech investors in one building than anywhere else. Nominations for the GSV Cup are open: the 50 selected early-stage startups get complimentary access to the summit and present at the GSV Cup Demo Day. In 2026, 34% of the GSV Cup 50 companies were founded by women.
7. Bett Brasil: 4–7 May 2027, São Paulo
The largest edtech show in Latin America. Bett Startups has its own stage and exhibition area, and the Bett Brasil Edtech Awards are open to startups at different stages.
8. Learning Technologies UK: 5–6 May 2027, London
If you sell to companies rather than schools, this is the event. The exhibition is free for learning professionals, so it is a cheap way to meet the people who buy training technology.
9. EduTECH Australia: 9–10 June 2027, Sydney
The main door into the Australian education market. Its EdTech Start-up Zone is for emerging businesses that want exposure, contacts and investment.
10. ISTELive: 27–30 June 2027, Boston
The biggest gathering of US school teachers who use technology, the people who decide whether a classroom tool gets adopted. There is no startup programme, so it suits founders with a product ready for US schools.
Also worth a look
- GESAwards global finals, London, January 2027 (during Bett week): the Global EdTech Startup Awards pick finalists from regional semifinals around the world; entries for this round have closed. gesawards.io
- NOT, Jaarbeurs Utrecht, 19–23 January 2027: the biggest Dutch education fair, with free tickets. not-online.nl
- Learning Technologies France, Paris Porte de Versailles, 20–21 January 2027: workplace learning for French buyers. learningtechnologiesfrance.com
- Educa, Messukeskus Helsinki, 29–30 January 2027: the largest education event in the Nordics, with free registration. educa.messukeskus.com
- Didacta Italia, Fortezza da Basso, Florence, 10–12 March 2027: Italy's education fair. fieradidacta.indire.it
- SETT, Kistamässan, Stockholm, 6–7 April 2027: the Swedish school technology fair, with a Nordic track. settdagarna.se
- EDUCAUSE Annual Conference, Orlando and online, 18–21 October 2027: for founders selling to university IT teams. educause.edu
- Bett USA, Nashville, 8–10 November 2027: a new Bett show for US schools, free for educators. usa.bettshow.com
Dates not announced yet
- EdTechX Summit and London EdTech Week: the 2026 summit ran on 16 June at County Hall, London; the organiser says to stay tuned for 2027.
- EdTech Week NYC: last held on 13–15 October 2026 at Teachers College, Columbia University; applications for its 2027 pitch are open, but dates are not.
- OEB Global, Berlin: the 2026 edition is on 2–4 December; 2027 dates are not out.
- EduTECH Asia, Singapore (4–5 November 2026), GESS Dubai (10–12 November 2026) and SIMO Educación, Madrid (11–13 November 2026): 2027 dates are not on the official sites yet.
- Bett Asia: 29–30 September 2027 is on the official site, but the 2027 city is not; past editions were in Kuala Lumpur.
- UNESCO Digital Learning Week, Paris: last held on 8–11 September 2026; 2027 dates are not out.
Why these events matter: edtech funding in numbers
- Edtech companies worldwide raised $2.6 billion in 2025, roughly 11% more than in 2024, according to HolonIQ.
- In Europe, venture funding for learning and work startups more than doubled from €710 million in 2024 to €1.6 billion in 2025, according to Brighteye Ventures' research, as reported by Tech.eu. Brighteye counts learning and work more broadly than edtech alone.
- 34% of the 2026 GSV Cup 50 companies, the early-stage edtech startups picked for the ASU+GSV Summit, were founded by women, according to ASU+GSV.
Fe/male Switch is an edtech startup itself: a startup game that teaches entrepreneurship. See our list of business simulation games for students.
How to choose the right edtech event
- Know your buyer. Schools: Bett, didacta, ISTELive and Bett Brasil. Universities: EDUCAUSE and LEARNTEC. Companies: Learning Technologies UK and LEARNTEC.
- Apply early. The SXSW EDU Launch competition closes on 1 November 2026, GSV Cup nominations are open now, and Bett's startup pods are limited.
- Travel to the school calendar. January and February are the busiest months in Europe: Bett, NOT, Educa, LEARNTEC, EdTech Congress Barcelona and didacta all fall within six weeks.
- Bring proof it works in class. Teachers and buyers want to see results from real schools, pilots and testimonials, not only a pitch deck.
- Follow up. Schools buy on budget cycles, so write to the people you meet within 48 hours and ask when they plan next year's spending. See more startup competitions.
List your event
Do you organise an edtech conference, an education pitch competition or a learning technology demo day? Send us the name, dates, city and official link, and we'll check whether it fits this list.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.
🔗 Add an awesome event
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FAQ
What are the best edtech startup events in 2027?
Our top picks are Bett UK in London, LEARNTEC in Karlsruhe, EdTech Congress Barcelona, didacta in Hannover, SXSW EDU in Austin, the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego and Learning Technologies UK.
When is Bett 2027?
Bett UK 2027 is on 20–22 January 2027 at ExCeL London. Educators go free, and startups can book a pod in the Startup Zone.
Which edtech events have pitch competitions in 2027?
The SXSW EDU Launch Startup Competition (apply by 1 November 2026), the GSV Cup at the ASU+GSV Summit, the GESAwards global finals during Bett week and the Bett Brasil Edtech Awards.
What is the biggest education fair in Europe?
didacta in Hannover calls itself Europe's largest education trade fair; the 2027 edition runs on 23–27 February.
Are there edtech events for women founders?
Bett UK runs a Women in EdTech programme with the EdTech 10 list, mentoring circles and networking drinks, and Bett Asia has a Women in EdTech page too. See also our list of startup events for women founders.
How much money goes into edtech?
Edtech companies worldwide raised $2.6 billion in 2025, roughly 11% more than in 2024, according to HolonIQ.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
