Pando PR Tips No. 83
EdTech Funding Opportunities
USC Rossier Education Technology Accelerator — Applications close Sept 30
Applications are still open for the next cohort of the USC EdTech Accelerator. They are looking for entrepreneurs developing promising technology solutions that solve some of the most pressing challenges in education or that improve educational access and outcomes.
Techstars Anywhere Accelerator — Apply by Nov 18
Companies that are innovating in any industry can apply for Techstars' remote-first accelerator program. Stop in a learn about the opportunities available to your start up.
Upcoming Awards & Conference Submissions
ISTE 2027 — Call for speaking submissions closes Sept 30
The International Society for Transforming Education (ISTE) helps educators worldwide fuse pedagogy, curriculum, and technology as catalysts for innovative solutions to education’s greatest challenges. They invite proposals from educators at all career stages, backgrounds, and locations for their June 27-30 conference in Boston.
SmartBrief Innovation Awards in AI 2026 — Entries due Oct 2
SmartBrief Innovation Awards in AI celebrate the most cutting-edge products and solutions leveraging AI to solve business challenges and unlock opportunities. Cost is $495 for one entry, discounts for multiple entries.
Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies — Submit your application before Oct 2
Fast Co recognizes the organizations that are redefining what’s possible. There are more than 50 categories open to public and private companies of every size and industry.
THE Journal and Campus Technology Product of the Year Awards — Entries due Oct 16
The 2026 THE Journal and Campus Technology Product Award programs honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered particularly noteworthy in the transformation of education technology.
Association for Talent Development (ATD) 2027 BEST Award — Entries close on Oct 26
The ATD BEST Award recognizes organizations that use talent development as a strategic business tool to produce enterprise-level results. Application fee is $450.
The 33rd Annual Communicator Awards — Early entry deadline is Nov 13
These awards honors the craft and people behind the best marketing, communications. and creative, recognizing work from every industry for any audience worldwide. Any work created after January 1st, 2025 is eligible.
2027 GSV Cup 50 — Entries close on Dec 1
Planning on attending ASU+GSV Summit next spring? The GSV Cup gives 50 of the world’s most promising early-stage EdTech startups a platform to get noticed, build meaningful relationships, and connect with the investors, education and workforce leaders, buyers, operators, and partners who can help move their companies forward.
Crisis Communications
Crisis Comms 101: Build Your Crisis Response Before It's Needed — Sept 24 at 1pm ET
Join Qwoted's Shelby Bridges and crisis communications expert Elliot Sloane, a two-time Crisis Agency of the Year advisor, for a session on the fundamentals of effective crisis response.
Education and EdTech Publications We Read
We read A LOT of articles and we recognize that journalism faces many challenges. Therefore, we are starting a series that will introduce one education or edtech publication in each issue of PR in EdTech.
This week, we shine the spotlight on the family of publications from publisher and editor, Charles Sosnik. Charles publishes Learning Futures, ET Magazine, Educate AI, and news content for The Learning Counsel. I recommend subscribing to all of them and consider doing these two things:
- Share and tag articles from these publications to help them grow and thrive.
- Spend some money to support education journalism. Charles has advertising and content options available. Reach him at editorbytrade@gmail.com
Upcoming October News and Social Pegs
October | National Book Month
October | National Learning & Development Month
October | National Principals Month
October | National Arts and Humanities Month
October | National Bullying Prevention Month
Oct 12 – 16 | National School Lunch Week
Oct 12 – 18 | Week of the School Administrator
Oct 16 – 22 | America's Safe Schools Week
Oct 19 – 23 | Digital Citizenship Week
Oct 19 – 23 | National School Bus Safety Week
Oct 23 – 31 | Red Ribbon Week
Oct 2 | National Custodian Day
Oct 5 | World Teachers Day
Oct 6 | National Coaches Day
Oct 12 | Indigenous People's Day
Oct 24 | United Nations Day
I’m the founder and CEO of Pando Public Relations, recently named the Best EdTech PR Firm by EdTech Digest. If you liked this issue of PR Tips, subscribe here. New issues publish on Thursdays alternating between articles with insights and advice on the PR profession and PR in EdTech Tips.