Top 10 Grants for EdTech Startups in South America (2025)
As the education technology landscape continues to evolve in South America, numerous funding opportunities arise for innovative EdTech startups. Below is a detailed list of the Top 10 Grants for EdTech Startups in South America in 2025, complete with essential details to guide potential applicants.
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1. Tinker Foundation Institutional Grants
Description: The Tinker Foundation provides funding aimed at improving the lives of Latin Americans through projects that enhance access to quality education.
Focus: Foundational learning recovery and building effective educational systems.
Funding Amount: Varies, typically significant for institutional projects.
Geographic Focus: Latin America
Application Deadline: Expected to mirror the second half of 2025 based on previous cycles.
2. Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and HundrED.org Spotlight Project
Description: This initiative supports effective models for cultivating 21st-century skills in students across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Focus: Innovations in learning that foster transversal skills.
Funding Amount: Varies based on project specifics.
Geographic Focus: Latin America and the Caribbean.
Application Deadline: Upcoming calls expected in 2025.
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3. Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Community Development Grants Program
Description: IAF funds grassroots initiatives to improve living conditions for disadvantaged populations, focusing on educational projects.
Focus: Enhancing access to education through community-driven projects.
Funding Amount: $25,000 to $400,000.
Geographic Focus: Latin America and the Caribbean.
Application Deadline: Ongoing program with several application calls throughout the year.
4. NBME Latin America Grant Program
Description: Encourages collaboration among health professions schools in Latin America, supporting innovative educational projects.
Focus: EdTech solutions in health professions education.
Funding Amount: Up to $50,000 over a two-year period.
Geographic Focus: Latin America
Application Deadline: Ongoing program with multiple calls for applications throughout the year.
5. PADF STEM Americas Program
Description: A Pan American Development Foundation initiative aimed at promoting STEM education through effective partnerships.
Focus: Integrating STEM education with workforce development.
Funding Amount: Varies based on project scale and partnerships.
Geographic Focus: Latin America and the Caribbean.
Application Deadline: Ongoing program with various application cycles throughout the year.
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6. American Jesuits International Education Projects
Description: Supports various education projects in Latin America, particularly initiatives focused on teacher training and inclusive education.
Focus: Removing barriers to education and promoting inclusive learning environments.
Funding Amount: Variable, with significant amounts available (upwards of $280,000 in some cases).
Geographic Focus: Latin America
Application Deadline: Check the organization’s website for updates on application cycles.
7. UNICEF Blue Unicorn EdTech Program
Description: Provides funding for EdTech tools intended to transform learning outcomes, especially in low-resource settings.
Focus: Evidence-backed EdTech solutions.
Funding Amount: Up to $150,000.
Geographic Focus: Global, focusing on low-resource regions, including South America.
Application Deadline: Check the organization’s site for future cycles.
8. Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
Description: Primarily focused on South Africa, this fellowship may offer valuable insights and connections applicable to EdTech startups in South America.
Focus: Supporting growth-stage EdTech companies.
Funding Amount: Direct grant funding varies.
Geographic Focus: Mainly South Africa, but potentially valuable for South American startups.
Application Deadline: The next round’s details will be available through ongoing updates.
9. Google.org Accelerator
Description: Offers funding, technical support, and cloud credits to innovative projects, including EdTech startups with a strong technological focus.
Focus: Projects utilizing technology for social impact.
Funding Amount: Ranges from $500K to $2M.
Geographic Focus: Global inclusive of Latin America.
Application Deadline: Ongoing; check for specific cycles on their site.
10. European Research Council (ERC) Grants
Description: Supports high-quality research projects, with the possibility for involvement from Latin American researchers.
Focus: Various fields with a focus on quality research.
Funding Amount: Up to €2.5 million for a duration of five years.
Geographic Focus: Research primarily in EU member states, with room for international collaboration.
Application Deadline: Regular updates on specific cycles are available on their site.
This selection of grants represents a promising opportunity landscape for EdTech startups in South America in 2025. Each grant offers unique support aimed at fostering innovation and addressing the educational needs in the region.
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FAQ
Q: What is the Tinker Foundation Institutional Grant?
A: The Tinker Foundation provides funding for organizations focused on improving quality education access in Latin America, particularly for vulnerable populations. The typical funding amount can be significant for institutional projects. Learn more about Tinker Foundation.
Q: What support does the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and HundrED.org Spotlight Project offer?
A: This initiative identifies and supports effective education models for cultivating 21st-century skills in students across Latin America and the Caribbean. Funding amounts varies. Discover more about IDB and HundrED.org.
Q: What does the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Community Development Grants Program support?
A: IAF provides grants to grassroots organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on initiatives that improve access to education, with funding amounts ranging from $25,000 to $400,000. Learn more about IAF's grants.
Q: How much funding can one expect from the NBME Latin America Grant Program?
A: The NBME Latin America Grant Program supports EdTech projects related to health professions and offers up to $50,000 over two years. Explore more about NBME grants.
Q: What is the primary goal of the PADF STEM Americas Program?
A: This program aims to promote STEM education across Latin America and the Caribbean through partnerships, with funding amounts dependent on specific projects. Learn more about PADF STEM Americas Program.
Q: What types of projects are supported by the American Jesuits International Education Projects?
A: This initiative supports education projects in Latin America, focusing on removing barriers to education and promoting inclusive learning environments. Funding amounts can vary, with previous funding exceeded $280,000. Discover more about American Jesuits programs.
Q: What is the target audience for the UNICEF Blue Unicorn EdTech Program?
A: The UNICEF Blue Unicorn EdTech Program funds tools that can transform learning outcomes for children, especially in low-resource settings, with support of up to $150,000. Find out more about UNICEF Blue Unicorn.
Q: What does the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship provide?
A: The fellowship supports growth-stage EdTech companies with grants, product evaluation, mentorship, and market access opportunities, although primarily focused on South Africa, it may offer insights for South American startups. Explore Mastercard Foundation's EdTech Fellowship.
Q: What benefits does the Google.org Accelerator offer to startups?
A: Google.org's Accelerator provides funding, Google support, and cloud credits to innovative projects that utilize technology for social impact, with funding amounts ranging from $500K to $2M. Learn more about Google.org Accelerator.
Q: How can the European Research Council (ERC) Grants be relevant to EdTech initiatives in South America?
A: ERC grants support high-quality research projects, allowing collaborations that involve Latin American researchers or institutions, with funding up to €2.5 million for five years. Discover more about ERC grants.
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.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
