Conducting Competitor Analysis of Scientific and Research Potential in EdTech

Competitor analysis is essential for effective business development in the EdTech space. For companies seeking to make a significant impact on education, understanding how competitors engage with scientific research can provide powerful insights. Such analyses reveal potential gaps in the market, positioning strategies, and ways to strengthen a venture’s unique value proposition.

For many EdTech companies, however, research-based competitor analysis can seem daunting. Researchers are accustomed to reviewing prior studies to build on previous work, but EdTech founders may not always know how to assess the scientific rigor or research engagement of competing platforms. Recognizing this need, our Centre researchers  developed a tool specifically to evaluate these dimensions of competitor products..

Why Scientific Competitor Analysis Matters in EdTech

EdTech products designed with research-backed learning principles can yield better educational outcomes, creating a clear advantage in the marketplace. As consumers, teachers, and schools increasingly prioritize evidence-backed tools, aligning products with scientific frameworks has become a strategic necessity.

By evaluating competitors on both their scientific foundation and their commitment to research transparency, EdTech founders gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of rival offerings. This analysis also helps identify areas where their own product can stand out, whether through robust research evidence, innovative pedagogy, or both.

At the Centre, we developed a proprietary methodology to assess two crucial elements for the research-oriented competitor analysis:

1. Alignment with Learning Sciences

2. Research Engagement and Transparency

These two factors are part of our analysis, and can also serve as straightforward metrics that EdTech founders can use without requiring a team of researchers.

1. Alignment with the Science of Learning

 To assess the scientific foundation of competitor products, we examine whether the platform aligns with research-based principles in the science of learning. Our framework includes the following criteria:

- Active Learning: Does the product encourage hands-on, engaged learning?

- Engagement: Does it foster meaningful, sustained engagement in the learning process?

- Social Interaction: Does the platform facilitate social interactions that reinforce learning?

Products that score highly on these criteria are more likely to provide impactful learning experiences by actively involving students in the process rather than relying on passive, one-way content delivery. This evaluation provides a measure of how well the platform encourages deep, meaningful engagement, which has been shown in research to correlate strongly with improved learning outcomes.

2. Research Engagement

Equally important to the pedagogical design is how much a company prioritizes research transparency. For this aspect, our framework evaluates the following:

- Evidence Portfolio: Does the company maintain a webpage listing research supporting their product?

- Third-Party Evaluation: Does the company have a profile on a credible third-party website assessing its quality?

- Peer-Reviewed Studies: Are there any peer-reviewed publications on the company’s products?

- Research Experts: Does the company list qualified research experts (typically with a PhD) on their team or advisory board?

Engagement with research not only strengthens a product’s credibility but also signals to educators and investors that the company values evidence-based practices. These criteria allow us to estimate a company’s commitment to research without requiring specialized tools.

Case Example: TopSchool AI

Recently, we conducted a competitor analysis with TopSchool AI, as part of mentorship provided through the DOHE program. The TopSchool's CEO, Joseph Telfer, conducted the analysis of four competitors that he identified for TopSchool.ai. The results of the competitor analysis became an important insight for internal product development. It was also useful to conduct the analysis of their own product, results of which we share here:

1. Active Learning and Engagement: TopSchool AI’s focus on interactive activities and socially driven learning modules positioned it strongly on engagement metrics.

2. Research Prioritization: TopSchool’s competitors varied significantly in terms of transparency, with some featuring robust evidence portfolios and others showing little research engagement. TopSchool’s commitment to transparency and listing qualified research advisors could give it a competitive edge in this area.

- This exercise highlighted the importance of building measurement and analysis into everything we do. The promises of AI in Education are bold, but teachers are professionals, holding themselves to high standards of evidence based practice and this means we need to support our teachers in embracing AI but at the same time, ensure that it is effective in delivering on those promises.

Joseph Telfer, TopSchool.ai

While our framework provides a starting point, it's important to recognize that all assessments are inherently subjective. Each score reflects an estimate based on available information and is intended more as a reflective exercise than a definitive evaluation.

 With EdTech’s rapid growth, scientific and research-driven competitor analysis is an invaluable tool for founders seeking to position their products in an increasingly crowded market. By evaluating both the scientific grounding and research transparency of their competitors, EdTech companies can not only differentiate themselves but also build credibility and trust with educators and investors.

Read more about Joseph’s thinking on AI and their unique approach.