Yidan Prize
Yidan Prize Foundation is a Hong Kong-based global philanthropy established in 2016 that awards the world's largest education prize — two annual HK$30 million awards recognizing education researchers and practitioners — and operates a global laureate community spanning 50+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersHong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Yidan Prize does
Yidan Prize Foundation is a Hong Kong-headquartered private philanthropic foundation established in 2016 by Dr Charles CHEN Yidan, the Core Founder of Tencent, to recognize and accelerate the work of the world's most effective education changemakers. The foundation operates the world's largest education prize, awarding two annual prizes — the Yidan Prize for Education Research and the Yidan Prize for Education Development — each carrying HK$30 million (approximately US$3.8 million), split between a HK$15 million cash prize and HK$15 million in project funding disbursed over three years. Since inception, the foundation has distributed a cumulative 540 million HKD across more than 50 countries.
The foundation's core products are its two annual prizes, its open global nomination platform (nomination.yidanprize.org), its Council of Laureates community network, and its annual flagship Summit in Hong Kong — supplemented in 2026 by the inaugural Yidan Prize Conference in Dakar, Senegal. The Council of Laureates connects educators, neuroscientists, psychologists, economists, and statisticians in a sustained global network. The foundation does not sell products or services; it is funded through an endowment established by its founder and through philanthropic contributions, and its revenue model is functionally a distribution-and-recognition engine that channels capital and visibility to selected laureates.
The foundation's partners span UNESCO, OECD, GPE, Gates Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, Imaginable Futures, Echidna Giving, IIEP-UNESCO, and Senegal's Ministry of National Education, among others. The Board of Directors includes senior academic figures such as Professor Rick Levin (President Emeritus, Yale University) and Professor Tony Chan Fan-cheong. Operating geographies are explicitly global, with growing emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa evidenced by the 2026 Dakar conference and the FLIGHT initiative co-funded with the Gates Foundation.
Yidan Prize firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Yidan Prize
- Legal name
- Yidan Prize Foundation
- Website
- https://yidanprize.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Yidan Prize Foundation is a Hong Kong-based global philanthropy established in 2016 that awards the world's largest education prize — two annual HK$30 million awards recognizing education researchers and practitioners — and operates a global laureate community spanning 50+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Yidan Prize industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Awards & Philanthropy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
Keywords
Where Yidan Prize is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hong Kong
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Yidan Prize business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Prize awards and foundation operations: The foundation operates as a global philanthropy established to recognize educational innovators. Revenue comes from endowment and philanthropic contributions, distributed through the Yidan Prize awards to laureates. The foundation has distributed a total of 540 million HKD across more than 50 countries since inception.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Yidan Prize product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Yidan Prize Foundation operates the world's largest education prize, awarding two annual prizes — the Yidan Prize for Education Research and the Yidan Prize for Education Development. Each laureate receives a gold medal, an HK$15 million cash prize, and an HK$15 million project fund (HK$30 million total) disbursed over three years. The foundation also runs an open online nomination platform, maintains a Council of Laureates community network, and hosts annual summits and regional conferences to accelerate global adoption of best education practices.
Product overview
Yidan Prize is a global education foundation that operates the world's largest education prize. The organization offers two main award products: the Yidan Prize for Education Research and the Yidan Prize for Education Development, both providing HK$30 million (HK$15 million cash prize plus HK$15 million project fund) to laureates. The foundation also provides a nomination platform for submitting prize nominations, maintains a Council of Laureates community network, and organizes annual summits and conferences. The prize was established in 2016 and has distributed over 540 million HKD across more than 50 countries since inception.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Yidan Prize for Education Research: Award recognizing researchers whose work strengthens teaching and learning through a deeper understanding of learning sciences or effective education policy.
- Yidan Prize for Education Development
Products and services
- Yidan Prize for Education Research One of two annual Yidan Prize tracks recognizing researchers whose work strengthens teaching and learning through a deeper understanding of learning sciences or effective education policy. Each laureate receives a gold medal, an HK$15 million cash prize, and an HK$15 million project fund.
- Yidan Prize for Education Development One of two annual Yidan Prize tracks recognizing leaders advancing practice through innovative ideas and interventions that make quality education more accessible. Each laureate receives a gold medal, an HK$15 million cash prize, and an HK$15 million project fund.
- Yidan Prize Project Funds Project funding provided to Yidan Prize laureates to help them scale their educational initiatives. Each laureate receives HK$15 million in project funding over three years.
- Yidan Prize Nomination Platform An online platform for submitting nominations for the Yidan Prize. The process is open to everyone globally, with nominators needing to be 'credible witnesses' to nominees' impact and providing 2-3 recommendation letters. The platform operates October-March annually.
- Council of Laureates A global network of Yidan Prize laureates — educators, neuroscientists, psychologists, economists, and statisticians — committed to taking concrete actions to make education more responsive to today's challenges and more inclusive for marginalized learners.
- Yidan Prize Summit and Conference Annual flagship events bringing together educators, young people, and NGO leaders from around the world for education dialogues. The 2025 Summit was held in Hong Kong with over 500 participants from more than 50 countries. The 2026 Conference will be held in Dakar, Senegal, co-convened with ARED and ADEA.
Quantifiable outcome
- 540 million HKD distributed to education changemakers since inception
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Yidan Prize
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Yidan Prize technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Yidan Prize partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.
- ARED (Associates in Research and Education for Development)flagshipCo-convening the 2026 Yidan Prize Conference in Dakar, Senegal with ARED, led by 2025 Yidan Prize laureate Mamadou Amadou Ly. Focus on multilingual foundational learning and education transformation in Africa.
- ADEA (Association for the Development of Education in Africa)flagshipCo-convening the 2026 Yidan Prize Conference under the auspices of the Ministry of National Education, Senegal. ADEA provides guidance on foundational learning initiatives.
- Ministry of National Education, SenegalcoreHost institution for the 2026 Yidan Prize Conference in Dakar, Senegal. Provides official auspices and government partnership for the education transformation conference.
- IIEP-UNESCOmajorPartner for School Leadership and Teacher Development working group at the 2026 conference, focused on professional development solutions for sub-Saharan Africa.
- Human Capital AfricamajorPartner for 2026 conference. Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, former World Bank Vice President and Nigeria Education Minister, speaking at keynote conversation.
- Pal NetworkmajorPartner for Foundational Learning roundtable at 2026 conference. Leading citizen-led assessments to improve learning outcomes.
- TaRL AfricamajorPartner for South-South exchange roundtable at 2026 conference. Titus Syengo, Executive Director, co-leading session with Dr Rukmini Banerji.
- Junior Achievement AfricamajorPartner for Youth Transitions roundtable at 2026 conference. Simi Nwogugu, President and CEO, co-leading session on school-to-work transitions.
- UNESCOcoreLong-standing partner organization. UNESCO representatives speak at Yidan Prize Summits; foundation collaborates on global education initiatives.
- OECDcoreCollaboration on Growth Mindset workshop with OECD. OECD representatives participate in Yidan Prize events and judging processes.
- GPE (Global Partnership for Education)coreGPE representatives participate in Yidan Prize Summits. Collaboration on education financing and policy initiatives. Hosted closed-door roundtable at 2026 conference.
- CAMFEDcoreCAMFED (Campaign for Female Education) is a partner organization. CEO Angeline Murimirwa is a 2020 Yidan Prize laureate.
- edXcorePartner organization. Founder Professor Anant Agarwal is a 2018 Yidan Prize laureate.
- Fundación Escuela NuevacorePartner organization. Founder Vicky Colbert is both a Judging Committee member and 2017 Yidan Prize laureate.
- Stanford UniversitymajorUniversity partner. Home to multiple laureates including Professor Carl Wieman (2020), Professor Carol Dweck (2017), and Professor Eric Hanushek (2021).
- Northwestern UniversitymajorUniversity partner. Home to Professor Uri Wilensky (2025 laureate) and Professor Larry Hedges (2018 laureate).
- University of CambridgemajorUniversity partner. Home to Professor Usha Goswami (2019 Yidan Prize laureate).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Yidan Prize competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nobel Foundation: The Nobel Foundation awards the most globally recognized prizes in education-adjacent fields (Peace, Economics). It is the most direct reference point for the Yidan Prize's 'Nobel for Education' positioning and shares a model of dual-track prizes (research and practice) and a global laureate community.
- Aga Khan Foundation: The Aga Khan Foundation operates one of the largest private development philanthropy networks focused on education, health, and rural development, particularly in Africa and Asia. Comparable in scale, regional emphasis on emerging markets, and education grantmaking focus.
- Breakthrough Prize: The Breakthrough Prize (US$3M per laureate) is among the world's highest-paying science prizes, funded by tech billionaires. It shares the Yidan Prize's DNA of tech-wealth-backed prizes, dual track (research and applied), and the goal of building a high-prestige global brand.
- Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation: Often called 'Asia's Nobel Prize,' the Magsaysay Award recognizes individuals and organizations in Asia across multiple categories including education and community leadership. Comparable to Yidan Prize in regional anchor (Asia), large cash prize, and global recognition.
- King Faisal Foundation (King Faisal Prize): The King Faisal Prize awards US$200K across categories including education and Arabic literature, with a rigorous global nomination process. Comparable to Yidan Prize in foundation-backed international prize model with strict selection committees.
- Templeton Foundation (Templeton Prize): The Templeton Prize (originally US$1.1M, now GB£1.1M) is among the world's largest individual prizes and shares Yidan Prize's model of recognizing individuals whose work advances a humanitarian cause. Templeton's endowment-driven grantmaking parallels Yidan Prize's funding structure.
Others
- Open Society Foundations: Open Society Foundations is a major global grantmaking foundation with significant education programming, particularly in Central/Eastern Europe and Africa. Comparable in scale, endowment-driven grantmaking, and global reach in education.
Direct peers
- Balzan Prize Foundation: The Balzan Prize awards CHF 1M across categories including education, with a global nominating committee and dual emphasis on research and humanitarian impact. Closely matches Yidan Prize's international, dual-track, education-recognizing mission.
- WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education) Prize: Operated by Qatar Foundation, WISE honors education innovators with a global prize and a global summit - directly mirroring Yidan Prize's award-plus-summit model. Both target the same audience of education researchers and practitioners.
- Varkey Foundation (Global Teacher Prize): The Varkey Foundation awards the US$1M Global Teacher Prize, directly comparable to Yidan Prize's Education Development track. Both target education changemakers with global recognition and cash prizes, and both operate award cycles with annual ceremonies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Yidan Prize social profiles
Digital presenceYidan Prize financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Yidan Prize leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Yidan Prize funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Yidan Prize M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Yidan Prize
What does Yidan Prize do?
The Yidan Prize Foundation operates the world's largest education prize, awarding two annual prizes — the Yidan Prize for Education Research and the Yidan Prize for Education Development. Each laureate receives a gold medal, an HK$15 million cash prize, and an HK$15 million project fund (HK$30 million total) disbursed over three years. The foundation also runs an open online nomination platform, maintains a Council of Laureates community network, and hosts annual summits and regional conferences to accelerate global adoption of best education practices.
Is Yidan Prize a public or private company?
Yidan Prize is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Yidan Prize founded?
Yidan Prize was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Yidan Prize based?
Yidan Prize is headquartered in Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does Yidan Prize make money?
One revenue line is on record: prize awards and foundation operations.
Who are Yidan Prize's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nobel Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Breakthrough Prize, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, King Faisal Foundation (King Faisal Prize) and Templeton Foundation (Templeton Prize). Open Society Foundations is listed as an others. Direct peers are Balzan Prize Foundation, WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education) Prize and Varkey Foundation (Global Teacher Prize).
Does Yidan Prize have an API?
No public API is recorded for Yidan Prize.
What industry is Yidan Prize in?
Yidan Prize's product category is Education Awards & Philanthropy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of EDAIAOAJ, Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International). Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8200.