World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE)

What World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) does

WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education) is a global education-innovation platform and non-profit initiative of Qatar Foundation, headquartered at Education City in Doha, Qatar. Founded in 2009 under the leadership of Qatar Foundation Chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, WISE operates a portfolio of interconnected programs covering the full innovation lifecycle: the WISE Prize for Education (a $1M-pool biennial award with $100K-$125K development funding per finalist), the WISE EdTech Accelerator (supporting 40+ pre-Series A startups from 22+ countries via a global track and a Qatar-local track in partnership with QDB and QRDI), and the WISE EdTech Testbed (a structured classroom evaluation of AI EdTech tools across 15 Qatari schools and 100+ teachers). Research and policy outputs include 50+ publications and the WISE Global Education Index launched in November 2025 with technical partner SUMMA.

The platform's underlying technology is method and framework rather than a shipped product: proprietary evaluation rubrics (EdTech Testbed system-readiness model, AI Digital Maturity Scorecard, Haqiqatar ten-year disinformation-resilience framework with an Arabic toxicity dataset), a biennial global Summit convening 4,000+ attendees from 100 countries, and a community of 60,000+ educators and innovators across 150+ countries. The business model is grant-funded: Qatar Foundation provides the institutional backbone and primary funding, supplemented by co-funded research consortium economics with partners including IIE, MIT pK-12/RAISE, USC Rossier, HBKU, Ashesi, UM6P, AfriLabs, SUMMA, and Dalberg Advisors. Program participation (Prize applications, Accelerator cohorts, Summit attendance) is free for participants; there is no commercial revenue from end customers. Cumulative funding distributed to innovators has reached $16.5M+ across 100+ awarded solutions, reaching 254M+ ultimate beneficiaries in WISE-supported models.

Name

World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE)

Legal name

WISE — ThinkBay

Website

https://wise-qatar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WISE is a non-profit global education-innovation platform and initiative of Qatar Foundation, headquartered in Doha, that operates the WISE Prize for Education, the WISE EdTech Accelerator, the WISE EdTech Testbed, and 50+ research publications to convene 60,000+ educators and innovators across 150+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Innovation Platform

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Educational Support Services (611710), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations (EDADADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

EdTech & Digital Learning Policy Research (EDADADAK), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Digital Learning, EdTech Enablement & Connectivity for Education (BPADAKAH)

Keywords

• Education innovation programs
• Edtech accelerator services
• Education research policy
• Global education convening
• Education grants funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Doha

HQ country

Qatar

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grant Funding (Qatar Foundation): WISE is an initiative of Qatar Foundation and operates primarily through grant funding and institutional support from Qatar Foundation. This is the primary funding mechanism for all WISE programs including the WISE Prize, EdTech Accelerator, EdTech Testbed, research publications, and Summit events.
2. Co-Funded Research Partnerships: WISE leads research initiatives in partnership with international institutions (IIE, MIT, USC, Ashesi, UM6P, AfriLabs, HBKU, NUQ, SUMMA). Research is co-funded or fully funded by partner organizations, generating program revenue for consortium management and publication.
3. Prize and Award Program Administration: WISE administers the WISE Prize for Education ($1M prize pool) and WISE Awards. The prize provides $100,000-$125,000 development funding to all finalists and distributes the $1M prize pool across top three winners at the WISE Summit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WISE operates a portfolio of interconnected education innovation programs as a non-profit initiative of Qatar Foundation. Its core offerings include the WISE Prize for Education (a $1M global award recognizing transformative education projects), the WISE EdTech Accelerator (mentorship and support for 40+ early-stage edtech ventures across 22+ countries), the WISE EdTech Testbed (structured evaluation of AI tools in Qatari classrooms), the biennial WISE Summit convening 4,000+ global education leaders, and 50+ research and policy publications.

Product overview

WISE is a global platform for education innovation operated by Qatar Foundation since 2009. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: the WISE Prize for Education (a global award program providing funding and mentorship to education innovators), the WISE EdTech Accelerator (supporting edtech startups globally and locally in Qatar), and the WISE EdTech Testbed (testing AI tools in Qatari classrooms). Supporting these programs are research and policy publications, the WISE Global Education Index framework, and the biennial WISE Summit. Together, these initiatives serve 60,000+ global education innovators, support 100+ innovative solutions with $16.5M in funding across 150+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WISE Prize for Education: The world's most prestigious award in education, recognizing transformative projects with a $1 million prize pool. Provides 12 months of MVP development support and funding of $100,000-$125,000 per finalist.
• WISE EdTech Accelerator
• WISE EdTech Testbed
• WISE Global Education Index
• WISE Awards
• WISE Learners' Voice
• WISE Emerging Leaders
• ALL-IN (Agile Leaders of Learning Innovation Network)
• Learning Ecosystems Living Lab
• Empowering Leaders of Learning (ELL)
• WISE Innovation Hub
• WISE On Air

Products and services

• WISE Prize for Education The world's most prestigious award in education, recognizing transformative projects that make a measurable impact on communities worldwide. The Prize provides all finalists with $100,000–$125,000 USD in development funding for a 12-month MVP development program, with a $1,000,000 USD prize pool split across the top three winners ($500K, $300K, $200K) at the biennial WISE Summit.
• WISE EdTech Accelerator A catalyst program equipping edtech startups with world-class mentorship, strategic support, and access to Qatar's education ecosystem. Offers two tracks: a global International Track providing $50,000-worth of support to ventures from 22+ countries (pre-Series A, pre-Seed, having raised less than $500,000), and a Local Qatar Track in collaboration with QDB and QRDI. Has supported 40+ ventures with 100+ hours of coaching and 3 in-person bootcamps per cohort.
• WISE EdTech Testbed A collaborative platform empowering schools in Qatar to explore and evaluate innovative AI tools in real classrooms. Through structured testing cycles, tailored teacher support, and rigorous evaluation aligned with Qatar's policy environment and multilingual requirements, it generates evidence to inform national education strategies. Currently operates with 15 schools and 100+ teachers.
• WISE Awards (Legacy Program) Legacy annual award program acknowledging six successful and innovative projects addressing global educational challenges each year. Has received more than 5,300 applications from over 151 countries, with 90 projects awarded across early childhood education, edtech, lifelong learning, climate action, SEL, education in emergencies, higher education, 21st century skills, and informal learning.
• WISE Global Education Index A global framework designed to rethink how education system effectiveness is measured. Goes beyond traditional ranking measures to understand processes that drive real, lasting improvement, including Inputs, Processes, and Attainment dimensions with indicators linked to actionable policy levers. Developed with technical partner SUMMA.
• WISE Summit The biennial flagship WISE Summit convening 4,000+ attendees from 100 countries in Doha, Qatar. The Summit serves as the primary venue for WISE Prize winner announcements, program presentations, partnership development, and knowledge sharing across the global education community.
• WISE Research and Policy Publications Evidence-based research outputs including research studies, policy briefs, and innovation briefs that inform education policy and practice globally. WISE has produced 50+ publications covering AI integration, teacher readiness, foundational learning, education financing, disinformation resilience, and AI in higher education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 254M+ ultimate beneficiaries reached through WISE-supported innovations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Institute of International Education (IIE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023IIE is the lead partner in the Global Consortium on Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education for Workforce Development, established following WISE 11 Summit in 2023. The consortium examines how AI is reshaping higher education systems across seven countries: Qatar, Colombia, Ghana, India, Kazakhstan, Spain, and the United States. The partnership produced the 'Navigating Skills Adaptation: Integrating AI in Higher Education' report published November 2025.
• Qatar FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009WISE was founded in 2009 as an initiative of Qatar Foundation, under the visionary leadership of Chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. Qatar Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to education, research, and community development. WISE's headquarters are located at Qatar Foundation's Education City in Doha, Qatar. Qatar Foundation provides the institutional backing and primary funding for all WISE programs.
• Ashesi University (The Education Collaborative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshesi University led the 'Harnessing AI for Higher Education in Africa' study in collaboration with WISE, UM6P, and AfriLabs. The study surveyed 47 African universities drawing on feedback from nearly 3,900 stakeholders including faculty, administrators, students, and policymakers.
• UM6P (University Mohammed VI Polytechnique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUM6P co-led the 'Harnessing AI for Higher Education in Africa' study with WISE, Ashesi University, and AfriLabs. The study explored how 47 African universities are adopting AI to enhance learning, streamline administration, and prepare students for the future of work.
• AfriLabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfriLabs co-led the Africa AI study alongside WISE, Ashesi University (The Education Collaborative), and UM6P, contributing expertise on the African innovation ecosystem and helping reach 47 universities across Africa.
• SUMMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUMMA is the technical partner for the WISE Global Education Index, a global framework designed to rethink how effectiveness of education systems is measured. SUMMA brings expertise in education system effectiveness measurement and comparative analysis. The Index was launched at WISE 12 (November 2025) with global pilot planned at WISE 13 (November 2027).
• MIT pK-12 Initiative and MIT RAISEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT pK-12 Initiative and MIT RAISE collaborated with WISE on the 'AI in Schools Starts with Teachers' policy brief and the 'Demystifying AI: Preparing K-12 Teachers to Integrate AI Tools Into Their Practice' study, spanning seven countries (Colombia, Cyprus, Ghana, Greece, Uganda, US, Qatar).
• University of Southern California (USC Rossier School of Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSC Rossier School of Education collaborated with WISE on the 'Perceptions and Pathways to AI Integration' study examining K-12 teachers' readiness for AI across five countries (Qatar, Colombia, India, Philippines, US) and the 'Teaching Tomorrow: Why AI Readiness is Key to Qatar's Education Vision' policy brief based on a national survey of 296 K-12 teachers in Qatar.
• Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBKU collaborated with WISE and Northwestern University in Qatar on the 'Fortifying Education in the Age of Disinformation' study, providing an in-depth case study of AI adoption at HBKU and contributing to the Haqiqatar framework — a ten-year national strategy for building information resilience and media literacy in Qatar.
• Northwestern University in Qatar (NUQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUQ co-authored the 'Fortifying Education in the Age of Disinformation' study with WISE and HBKU, contributing to the strategic framework for AI in higher education in Qatar and the development of the Haqiqatar framework.
• Education Above All (EAA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough its network of local partners including Education Above All (EAA) and Qatar Science and Technology Partners (QSTP), WISE provides winners of the WISE Prize access to additional opportunities to scale their solutions globally beyond the initial prize support.
• Qatar Science and Technology Partners (QSTP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQSTP is part of WISE's local innovation partner network that winners of the WISE Prize can access for scaling support, providing connections to Qatar's innovation ecosystem for further piloting and growth of finalist solutions.
• Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQFFD co-hosted the WISE 12 Ministerial Roundtable alongside the Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education and WISE, exploring how countries can close the education financing gap, support out-of-school children, harness technology responsibly, and build resilient education systems. QFFD's co-hosting role highlights their financial partnership in advancing WISE's policy agenda.
• Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoEHE co-hosted the WISE 12 Ministerial Roundtable with QFFD and WISE, exploring education financing, out-of-school children, technology, and resilient education systems. MoEHE also partners on the WISE Learners' Voice and other initiatives.
• Qatar Development Bank (QDB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQDB collaborates with WISE on the Local Track of the EdTech Accelerator (Qatar-focused), providing early-stage Qatari edtech startups quick access to local funding and grants, and facilitating connections to Qatar's thriving education ecosystem.
• Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQRDI partners with WISE on the Local Track of the EdTech Accelerator, offering early-stage Qatari edtech startups access to Qatar's innovation ecosystem, world-class innovation hubs, and opportunities to accelerate growth in the local market.
• Dalberg AdvisorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDalberg provides advisory support to WISE Leadership during the WISE Prize eligibility screening and shortlisting process, contributing Gaurav Gupta (Global Managing Partner) as a committee member for the 2024-2025 WISE Prize cycle.
• Qatar Schools (Partner Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner15 Qatari schools enrolled in the WISE EdTech Testbed program, participating in structured testing cycles to evaluate AI EdTech tools in real classroom settings. Schools receive tailored professional development and contribute to evidence generation that informs national education strategies.
• EdTech Accelerator Knowledge PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple unnamed knowledge partners support the WISE EdTech Accelerator with expertise and resources. Additionally, Qatar Fund for Development is listed as a strategic partner for the Accelerator program.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• HolonIQ: HolonIQ is an education intelligence and advisory platform providing research, market intelligence, and connections for the global education and EdTech ecosystem. It is comparable to WISE in serving as an intelligence and convening layer for global education innovation, but operates as a commercial intelligence provider rather than a grant-giving, non-profit platform.

Regional players

• Silicon Valley Education Foundation / similar regional EdTech accelerators: Regional EdTech accelerators (such as SVEF, StartEd, and similar programs) support early-stage edtech startups with mentorship, funding pathways, and networks. The WISE EdTech Accelerator is comparable in structure and offerings (mentorship, coaching, networking, funding connections), but WISE operates at a global scale and is Qatar-anchored, whereas these are regionally focused.

Broad incumbents

• UNESCO (Education Sector): UNESCO is the UN's specialized agency for education with a global mandate covering education policy, research, and capacity building across 194 member states. It is comparable to WISE as a global education policy and convening organization, though UNESCO operates on a vastly larger scale with government treaty obligations, while WISE is a Qatar Foundation-backed multi-sectoral platform.
• World Economic Forum (Education, Skills and Learning): The WEF runs a global Education, Skills and Learning initiative that convenes leaders at Davos and through year-round platforms to shape education and workforce policy. It is comparable to WISE in convening power and multi-sectoral platform approach, but operates with a broader economic-development lens and corporate stakeholder base rather than education-specific focus.

Direct peers

• Varkey Foundation: The Varkey Foundation is a global education foundation (founded by GEMS Education's Sunny Varkey) that runs the Global Teacher Prize, education research, and policy advocacy. It is comparable to WISE as a foundation-backed global education platform running a prestigious annual prize (Global Teacher Prize parallels the WISE Prize for Education), conducting research, and convening stakeholders worldwide.
• GSV Ventures / ASU+GSV Summit: GSV operates the ASU+GSV Summit, one of the largest education and workforce convening platforms globally, along with EdTech-focused investment and advisory activities. It is comparable to WISE as a major global EdTech and education-innovation convening platform, but with a stronger commercial/VC orientation versus WISE's grant-and-policy model.
• Education Above All (EAA) Foundation: EAA is a Qatar-based foundation founded by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser that focuses on education in emergencies, out-of-school children, and youth empowerment. It is comparable to WISE as a sister Qatar Foundation entity operating education programs globally, and is listed as a scaling-support partner for WISE Prize winners.
• EdTech Hub: EdTech Hub is a global non-profit that generates evidence on what works in EdTech for low- and middle-income countries, producing research, guidance, and supporting policy makers. It is comparable to WISE in producing rigorous EdTech evidence, policy briefs, and supporting education innovation in emerging markets, though with a narrower geographic focus.
• Results for Development Institute: R4D is a global non-profit that conducts applied research and provides technical assistance in education, health, and nutrition across low- and middle-income countries. It is comparable to WISE in producing education research, policy briefs, and operating programs that support education system strengthening in emerging markets.
• Brookings Institution (Center for Universal Education): Brookings' Center for Universal Education produces influential global education research, policy briefs, and convenes stakeholders on education systems improvement. It is comparable to WISE as a research-and-policy-driven platform that publishes evidence-based work on global education challenges and convenes stakeholders through flagship events and working groups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wise_tweets
• Facebookfacebook.com/wiseqatar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-innovation-summit-for-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE)