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SXSW EDU® Announces Winners of the 2025 Launch Startup Competition and Student Impact Challenge

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AUSTIN, Texas, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — South by Southwest EDU® Conference & Festival is thrilled to announce the winners of its 2025 Launch Startup Competition and Student Impact Challenge. They were announced at the Launch Spotlight and the Student Impact Ice Cream Social, respectively. Constant Contact was presented with the Launch Startup Competition Grand Prize Award, and Spark was named the Student Impact Challenge winner.

For 14 years, the Launch Startup Competition has provided a forum for early-stage startups to pitch emerging ideas, products, and services to a cohort of industry leaders, early adopters, investors, and educators. During this year’s event, presented by the Walton Family Foundation, participants were given the chance to showcase their ideas in front of a panel of distinguished judges, including Amelia Kelly, CTO of SoapBox Labs, John Gamba, Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Katie Fang, CEO of SchooLinks, and Missy Testerman, 2024 National Teacher of the Year.

After hearing from the 7 finalists, the judges awarded Constant Contact, based in Austin, TX with the Grand-Prize Launch Award for its focus on helping students become college and career-ready through their near-peer mentorship model. The following awards were also announced as part of the Launch Startup Competition:

Impact Award: This honor, recognizing the potential to impact student learning based on the science of learning, was given to Making Space, based in Los Angeles, CA for its work to create new and improved pathways to employment and career advancement, ensuring Disabled professionals have equitable access to meaningful careers.Community Choice Award: This award, which acknowledges the finalist that received the most votes from the audience during SXSW EDU, was presented to Bili, based in Houston, TX, which empowers families and educators with tools that make bilingualism a natural and exciting part of kids’ lives and help them maintain a strong connection to their heritage languages and cultures.

“This award is a powerful recognition of the impact we’re making—connecting hundreds of thousands of students with mentors who help them see and shape their futures,” said Sophie Smith and Leah Guesman, co-founders of Constant Contact. “What excites us most is the hope and ambition we see in our high school and undergraduate students every day. Winning this competition validates that same hope among educators, investors, and the broader community, reinforcing the bright future ahead.”

“This is a pivotal moment in education where we must do good while doing well. Supporting entrepreneurs in building strong business fundamentals—from early stage to sustainability, scalability, and ultimately exit—is critical,” said John Gamba, Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, who served as a judge in the competition.

In addition, SXSW EDU proudly awarded the Student Impact Challenge, presented by The Allstate Foundation, to Spark, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as this year’s winner. Spark promises to revolutionize support for autistic children by offering personalized therapy supplements, a wealth of resources, and interactive tools designed to empower caregivers. In addition Swype AI and Household Appliances Innovation Powered by Solar were recognized as the first and second runner-ups respectively.

This year, the Student Impact Challenge expands from its previous year to focus on how students can solve pressing social, economic, and environmental problems facing the world today. The winner was chosen by judges Kate Nack, Vice President, The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, Juanita Soranno, Head of Impact at Cengage Group, Rohit Srinivasan, Founder of Trashbots and former winner of the Student Startup Competition, and Tiana Day, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Advocates for Change.

“I’m so excited and honored to receive this incredible award,” said Nandana Menon, founder of Spark. “Winning the Student Impact Challenge will lead me to so many more opportunities to help children all along the way. This is really going to set up Spark for more success.”

To learn more about the competition programming at SXSW EDU, visit https://www.sxswedu.com/competitions/.

About SXSW EDU:

The SXSW EDU® Conference & Festival is a reflection of the world’s most critical social issues as seen through the lens of education. This year’s event will bring together the learner, the practitioner, the entrepreneur, and the visionary to share their groundbreaking stories, tackle complex issues, and build reimagined paths forward. As a community of diverse people who are united around a like-minded vision for the future, SXSW EDU serves as a place for attendees to renew their purpose in practice from both a personal and professional perspective. It is a place to reinforce the core principles of teaching and learning as well as an opportunity to express your creativity and passion for education. Join the passionate and innovative community at SXSW EDU, March 3-6, 2025.

For more information, please visit sxswedu.com. 

Contact:
Liz Stein
SXSW EDU Press & Publicity
press@sxswedu.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sxsw-edu-announces-winners-of-the-2025-launch-startup-competition-and-student-impact-challenge-302393777.html

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PS Hogan highlights investments from Spring Economic Update 2026: Canada Strong for All to support Canada’s sport system

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CALGARY, AB, May 2, 2026 /CNW/ – In Budget 2025, we outlined our plan to build Canada Strong. Since then, we have moved fast to build the major infrastructure, homes and industries that grow Canada’s economy and create lasting prosperity; empower Canadians with better careers and a more affordable life; and protect our communities, our borders and our way of life.

We delivered concrete savings for Canadians while supporting key national priorities and keeping investments focused on results. We are maintaining a strong fiscal position, with the Spring Economic Update 2026 showing that projected deficits are lower over the fiscal horizon and that we are on track to meet our fiscal anchors.

The Spring Economic Update 2026 is the next step in our plan to build Canada Strong for All. It provides a clear update on the strength of Canada’s economy, giving Canadians confidence in our plan. It delivers targeted relief to make life more affordable, support workers and accelerate the construction of homes and major infrastructure. It also strengthens Canada’s competitiveness and economic growth while investing in strong, safe communities across the country.

Today, Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation, met with athletes at Foothills Athletic Park to highlight key investments in sport from the Spring Economic Update to build stronger and safer communities.

The Government of Canada is investing $755 million to support and expand Canada’s sport system, which will help athletes safely train and perform at the highest levels. This will increase sport participation across the country by strengthening national sport organizations, infrastructure and local sport communities.

Canada’s new government is transforming our economy from reliance to resilience. The Spring Economic Update 2026 ensures all Canadians can participate in building Canada strong and share in its success. Other key measures include:

The Canada Strong Fund — Canada’s first national sovereign wealth fund. This will invest in key, strategic Canadian projects and companies. While Canadians will benefit from these nation building projects through jobs, economic growth and greater security, the government is determined to ensure that Canadians also have a stake in the projects themselves. That’s why a unique and important feature of the Canada Strong Fund will be its new retail investment product. This allows Canadians to receive financial returns as we build Canada strong together.Team Canada Strong — a new nationwide effort to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new skilled trade workers by 2030–31. This initiative creates new opportunities for Canadians and attracts the workers needed to build more homes and major projects at speed and at scale.Building Stronger Communities — by making communities safer, more connected and more resilient. We are building more homes, getting tougher on crime and fraud and funding essential infrastructure, including small craft harbours that sustain coastal communities and local jobs. We are also investing to build healthier, safer and stronger Indigenous communities.

Our new government is building a Canada that is not just strong, but good; not just prosperous, but fair. A Canada that is not just for some, most of the time, but for all, at all times. We’re building Canada strong, for all.

Quote

“The Spring Economic Update 2026 builds on the momentum of our budget, combining strategic investments with sustained fiscal discipline to keep building Canada Strong for All — delivering prosperity today and strengthening our economy for tomorrow. At this pivotal moment in Canada’s history, we’re charting a course through the fog of uncertainty and global headwinds with strength, determination and ambition — and building one strong Canadian economy, by Canadians, for Canadians.”
— The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue 

“The Government of Canada is building Canada Strong by investing in what brings us together — our people, our communities and our athletes. By strengthening the foundation of Calgary and  Canada’s sport system, we are building a resilient economy and strong communities for all.”
— Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation

Quick Facts

The Spring Economic Update 2026 proposes to provide $755 million over five years, starting in 2026–27, and $118 million ongoing to Canadian Heritage to support Canada’s sport system to: Host and compete with the best: $50 million over five years to bring more world-class sporting events to Canada. Funding will be tied to legacy-building projects that deliver lasting benefits well beyond the events themselves. Facilities built or upgraded for major events will continue to serve communities, support grassroots participation and strengthen local sport systems for years to come. Support our athletes in performing at the highest levels: $45 million over five years and $8 million ongoing to help our athletes train, compete and perform, including support for better mental health and funding that will be linked to robust safe sport measures and frameworks. These actions will strengthen the sport system and respond to some of the findings of the Final Report of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission while the government continues to consider all of its Calls to Action. Get more Canadians involved in sport: $660 million over five years and $110 million ongoing for National Sport Organisations, increasing funding that has remained largely unchanged since 2005, so that they can invest in a strong and safe sport system and grow participation among children and youth nationwide.

Related products

Spring Economic Update 2026: Canada Strong for AllSpring Economic Update 2026: Key MeasuresSpring Economic Update 2026: Address by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue  

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POVADDO AND PROLEGIS ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO PUBLIC POLICY PROFESSIONALS FOR OPINION RESEARCH

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Partnership connects policy professionals using Prolegis’ modernized Congressional platform with Povaddo’s exclusive paid research panel, combining forces to serve the policymaking community

ST. LOUIS and WASHINGTON, May 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Povaddo, a leading provider of public opinion and policy elite research, has announced a strategic partnership with Prolegis, a nonpartisan technology platform serving thousands of policy professionals in Congress and the advocacy community. The partnership will expand the reach of the Povaddo Panel—an exclusive network of nearly 5,000 public policy professionals worldwide—while providing Prolegis users new opportunities to contribute their expertise to policy research.

Prolegis provides nonpartisan technology solutions designed to modernize Congress. Built specifically for the policymaking community, the platform serves as a natural intersection where policy professionals and issue advocacy campaigns meet, making it an ideal environment for connecting researchers with the experts shaping public policy.

Beginning this month, users of the Prolegis platform will be invited to join the Povaddo Panel and become eligible to participate in research studies tailored specifically for public policy professionals.

“There is no shortage of so-called ‘expert network’ firms, but Povaddo is setting the standard when it comes to building the most rigorous and credible network of public policy professionals in the U.S. and beyond,” said William Stewart, President of Povaddo. “What makes Prolegis the right partner is the quality and relevance of their community—these are precisely the professionals our clients most want to hear from. Prolegis users are actively engaged in policy work daily, making them ideal participants for our research studies. This partnership will meaningfully accelerate our efforts.”

“Prolegis exists to serve the policy community with tools that make their work more effective,” said Jim Gianiny, CEO of Prolegis. “Partnering with Povaddo allows our users to contribute their expertise in a new way and take part in rigorous research that helps organizations better understand the policy landscape. It’s a natural extension of what our platform already does: connecting policy professionals with the resources and opportunities that matter to their work.”

Launched in 2018, the Povaddo Panel was built to meet growing demand for research insights from individuals who shape, influence, and analyze public policy as part of their daily work. Over the past eight years, the panel has grown to nearly 5,000 public policy professionals worldwide, including over 2,000 in the United States. Many panelists are former elected officials, including former Members of Congress.

This partnership is part of a broader period of momentum for Povaddo. The company recently announced it is launching a quarterly omnibus survey among public policy professionals in the United States and Europe.

“Companies and other organizations that want to understand what public policy professionals think—whether about their brand or an issue they are facing—now have a new way of doing that. Our new omnibus survey among public policy professionals fills an important need in the research services marketplace,” said Brooke Hayes, Executive Vice President of Povaddo, who oversees the Povaddo Panel and the firm’s new omnibus research service among public policy professionals.

Additionally, Povaddo recently released select findings from its survey of public policy professionals in the U.S. and Europe regarding their attitudes towards AI. In an era when political consensus is elusive, this study finds widespread agreement within policy communities on both sides of the Atlantic that government regulation of AI should be increased.

About Povaddo: Povaddo specializes in public opinion and policy elite research. Founded in 2009, Povaddo is recognized as a trusted advisor to top-tier organizations seeking to navigate complex issues management, strategic communications, corporate reputation, and business transformation challenges. Most of the firm’s clients sit within external affairs, corporate affairs, public affairs, government affairs, regulatory affairs, scientific affairs, corporate communications, business planning and strategy. For more information, please visit www.povaddo.com.

About Prolegis: Prolegis provides nonpartisan technology solutions designed to modernize Congress. Built specifically for the policymaking community, Prolegis delivers innovative solutions, efficient tools, and engaging content, all on one easy-to-use platform. The platform serves Congressional staff, think tank scholars, and public affairs professionals, creating a unique intersection where policy expertise and advocacy meet. For more information, please visit www.prolegis.com.

Media Inquiries: William Stewart, +1 (855) 768-2336, stewart@povaddo.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/povaddo-and-prolegis-announce-strategic-partnership-to-expand-access-to-public-policy-professionals-for-opinion-research-302760432.html

SOURCE POVADDO LLC

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POVADDO AND PROLEGIS ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO PUBLIC POLICY PROFESSIONALS FOR OPINION RESEARCH

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Partnership connects policy professionals using Prolegis’ modernized Congressional platform with Povaddo’s exclusive paid research panel, combining forces to serve the policymaking community

ST. LOUIS and WASHINGTON, May 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Povaddo, a leading provider of public opinion and policy elite research, has announced a strategic partnership with Prolegis, a nonpartisan technology platform serving thousands of policy professionals in Congress and the advocacy community. The partnership will expand the reach of the Povaddo Panel—an exclusive network of nearly 5,000 public policy professionals worldwide—while providing Prolegis users new opportunities to contribute their expertise to policy research.

Prolegis provides nonpartisan technology solutions designed to modernize Congress. Built specifically for the policymaking community, the platform serves as a natural intersection where policy professionals and issue advocacy campaigns meet, making it an ideal environment for connecting researchers with the experts shaping public policy.

Beginning this month, users of the Prolegis platform will be invited to join the Povaddo Panel and become eligible to participate in research studies tailored specifically for public policy professionals.

“There is no shortage of so-called ‘expert network’ firms, but Povaddo is setting the standard when it comes to building the most rigorous and credible network of public policy professionals in the U.S. and beyond,” said William Stewart, President of Povaddo. “What makes Prolegis the right partner is the quality and relevance of their community—these are precisely the professionals our clients most want to hear from. Prolegis users are actively engaged in policy work daily, making them ideal participants for our research studies. This partnership will meaningfully accelerate our efforts.”

“Prolegis exists to serve the policy community with tools that make their work more effective,” said Jim Gianiny, CEO of Prolegis. “Partnering with Povaddo allows our users to contribute their expertise in a new way and take part in rigorous research that helps organizations better understand the policy landscape. It’s a natural extension of what our platform already does: connecting policy professionals with the resources and opportunities that matter to their work.”

Launched in 2018, the Povaddo Panel was built to meet growing demand for research insights from individuals who shape, influence, and analyze public policy as part of their daily work. Over the past eight years, the panel has grown to nearly 5,000 public policy professionals worldwide, including over 2,000 in the United States. Many panelists are former elected officials, including former Members of Congress.

This partnership is part of a broader period of momentum for Povaddo. The company recently announced it is launching a quarterly omnibus survey among public policy professionals in the United States and Europe.

“Companies and other organizations that want to understand what public policy professionals think—whether about their brand or an issue they are facing—now have a new way of doing that. Our new omnibus survey among public policy professionals fills an important need in the research services marketplace,” said Brooke Hayes, Executive Vice President of Povaddo, who oversees the Povaddo Panel and the firm’s new omnibus research service among public policy professionals.

Additionally, Povaddo recently released select findings from its survey of public policy professionals in the U.S. and Europe regarding their attitudes towards AI. In an era when political consensus is elusive, this study finds widespread agreement within policy communities on both sides of the Atlantic that government regulation of AI should be increased.

About Povaddo: Povaddo specializes in public opinion and policy elite research. Founded in 2009, Povaddo is recognized as a trusted advisor to top-tier organizations seeking to navigate complex issues management, strategic communications, corporate reputation, and business transformation challenges. Most of the firm’s clients sit within external affairs, corporate affairs, public affairs, government affairs, regulatory affairs, scientific affairs, corporate communications, business planning and strategy. For more information, please visit www.povaddo.com.

About Prolegis: Prolegis provides nonpartisan technology solutions designed to modernize Congress. Built specifically for the policymaking community, Prolegis delivers innovative solutions, efficient tools, and engaging content, all on one easy-to-use platform. The platform serves Congressional staff, think tank scholars, and public affairs professionals, creating a unique intersection where policy expertise and advocacy meet. For more information, please visit www.prolegis.com.

Media Inquiries: William Stewart, +1 (855) 768-2336, stewart@povaddo.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/povaddo-and-prolegis-announce-strategic-partnership-to-expand-access-to-public-policy-professionals-for-opinion-research-302760432.html

SOURCE POVADDO LLC

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