Guayerd: The Argentine edtech that won the TecPrize 2024 for connecting tech education with job opportunities
Guayerd, a startup that trains tech talent and connects them with major companies, won the TecPrize 2024 and received USD 30K to scale its impact.
Training people in technology is important, but turning that knowledge into a job is another level. That’s exactly what Guayerd, the Argentine edtech recognized with the first place at the TecPrize 2024, an initiative of the Institute for the Future of Education at Tecnológico de Monterrey that recognizes the region’s most innovative education solutions and also earned them a grant of $30,000 USD.
Since 2019, Guayerd has been working with people from communities with less access to opportunities, training them in technical skills and soft skills and preparing them to enter the workforce at companies such as Accenture, JPMorgan, and BBVA, in more than 17 countries. They call this approach Talent Ready.
“We created a model that not only provides technical training but also prepares talent to contribute from day one at a real company,” explains Andrés Watson, Guayerd’s co-founder and CTO.
TecPrize: Much more than an award for edtechs
In addition to recognition, the award included a series of key benefits to help strengthen its impact:
- 💰 USD 30.000 in funding for first place
- 🧠 Mentoring in strategy, business models, and impact
- 📊 Specialized support in measuring results
- 🌎 Regional visibility at the IFE Conference, in front of more than 8.000 people from the education and technology sectors
Beyond the trophy, this combination enables startups to accelerate their business models, validate what they are building, and connect with strategic partners for their next stage.
For Guayerd, the value of the TecPrize was about more than recognition. It was also an opportunity to pause, evaluate its impact, and share experiences with other leading education startups.
During the event, they were even cited as a use case in the opening talk by Michael Fung, director of the IFE, who highlighted how they integrate generative AI without losing the human component.
What’s next for Guayerd?
With the momentum from the TecPrize, Guayerd is making a major push into Mexico in 2025, while also consolidating its presence in Peru and Colombia. The company is deepening partnerships with corporations, governments, and other ecosystem players to continue scaling its model across multiple locations, taking each country’s context into account.
They are also continuing their work on impact measurement, automation, and new partnerships to strengthen their network for employment and internships.
Apply to the TecPrize 2025
After hearing about everything Guayerd experienced—from recognition to lessons learned, connections, and validation of its model—it’s clear that the TecPrize is much more than an award.
The application process, mentoring, and exposure to industry leaders can mark a turning point, especially for startups using technology to tackle education challenges.
If you’re building something along these lines and feel it’s time to take the next step, the 2025 call for applications is now open. This could be your opportunity.
