News Summary

Former Toronto Raptor and NBA Champion Pascal Siakam has successfully concluded the inaugural Siakam EdTech Engine Accelerator, awarding a total of $50,000 in grants to three promising EdTech startups. The accelerator, a collaboration between Siakam’s not-for-profit PS43 and Toronto Metropolitan University’s tech incubator DMZ, ran from April to July 2025. It provided six startups with essential resources, mentorship, and opportunities to refine their educational technology solutions.

The demo day event saw startups like Cyber Legends, Shuriii, and English Islands present their innovative solutions to a panel of judges, including Siakam himself. Cyber Legends, with its digital literacy platform, won the first place prize of $30,000 and a pilot opportunity with educational institutions. Shuriii received $15,000 for its AI analytics platform, while English Islands was awarded $5,000 for its AI-powered reading tutor. This initiative highlights Siakam’s commitment to transforming youth education through technology.