Tahereh Pazouki (2nd from right) and Elisabeth Martin (3rd from right) won €75,000 for their maths learning solution Photo: EIB

Tahereh Pazouki (2nd from right) and Elisabeth Martin (3rd from right) won €75,000 for their maths learning solution Photo: EIB

Maths learning startup Magrid on Thursday scooped the top prize in a social innovation tournament organised by the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Born out of the University of Luxembourg, Magrid has developed a language-free maths training method for pupils struggling with language barriers or who are hard of hearing.

The method has been  where it aims to help close the gap between native and non-native speakers.

And it impressed an international jury at the 10th Social Innovation Tournament in Lisbon this week where it was up against 14 other finalists from across the EU.

Magrid won the top award with a cash prize of €75,000 in the general category. The EIB initiative aims to reward Europe’s best social entrepreneurs with winners in the general and special categories given prizes of €75,000. Runners-up receive €30,000.

The 15 finalists were selected from 280 candidates and took part in a training programme to improve their pitching skills and help them fine-tune their business plans. The final presentation of their projects to an international jury took place on 7 October.

Among the other finalists were medical technology startups, companies developing sustainable fabrics, startups working to reduce plastic waste and water wastage, an artificial intelligence tool to assess the trustworthiness of online news to fight misinformation, and more.

In addition to Magrid, winners included:

- General category, runner-up: Inclusive Education

- Special category – Sustainable living, 1st prize: Cellugy

- Special category – Sustainable living, 2nd prize: Orange Fiber

- Audience Choice Award of €10 000: Orange Fiber

- INSEAD Social Entrepeneurship Programme vouchers: Orange Fiber / Vortex Bladeless Wind Energy

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.