Ripyl® was created in response to a gap our Founder saw firsthand as a parent and educator - too much schooling rewarded memorisation and compliance, and not enough developed creativity, problem-solving, decision-making or entrepreneurial thinking. He saw his daughters moving through school with limited opportunities to apply learning in real-world contexts, particularly in commerce, business and financial capability.
What began as a personal observation revealed a broader systemic issue. Many teachers wanted to deliver richer, more engaging learning experiences, but lacked practical, curriculum-aligned resources that connected theory to application.
Ripyl was created to help change that.
The innovation combines curriculum-aligned teaching tools, real-world challenges and project-based learning to help students learn by doing, while also supporting teachers with ready-to-use resources that reduce planning burden and increase confidence.
Over time, the purpose has grown beyond improving one subject area. Ripyl was created because we believe entrepreneurial thinking is a foundational capability young people need for an uncertain future. Whether they start a business, lead in an organisation, or solve problems in their communities, students need opportunities to think creatively, act on ideas, and learn through authentic challenges.
We believe entrepreneurial thinking should be embedded in education, not treated as an add-on. That is why Ripyl exists.
Ripyl® looks like teachers using ready-to-use, curriculum-aligned resources to deliver real-world business, commerce and entrepreneurial learning in their classrooms. In practice, a teacher might use a Ripyl case study, challenge or project-based module to guide students through solving a real problem, developing a business idea, testing assumptions, and pitching solutions.
Students work in teams, apply concepts through authentic challenges, and build skills such as creativity, problem-solving, financial capability and communication.
Teachers access slide decks, lesson materials, worksheets, worked examples and support resources through the platform, reducing planning time while increasing confidence in delivery.
Ripyl is aligned to curriculum and standards frameworks in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada, with work underway to expand into additional countries, helping make the model transferable across education systems.
In practice, Ripyl also extends beyond the classroom through innovation competitions, where student teams apply their learning to external challenges and present ideas to judges from business and university partners.
What makes the innovation distinctive is that it combines pedagogy, curriculum alignment, teacher support and authentic student application in one model.
Ripyl® has grown from a regional programme in New Zealand into a growing international platform used by teachers across 12 countries. Its spread has been driven through teacher networks, strategic partnerships, structured distribution channels and growing institutional support.
Growth has accelerated through recognition and credibility. Ripyl won New Zealand’s Best Youth Programme, was shortlisted for the HundrED Global Collection 2025, won Best EdTech Startup at EDUtech Australia 2025, and was just recently awarded Holon IQ by QS Top 50 most promising EdTech startups.
Spread has also been supported through partnerships, including with Macquarie Business School in Australia, Massey Business School in New Zealand, University of Waterloo in Canada and Campion Education in Australia. We also work with private sector partners that help fund access for students in underserved and historically under-resourced schools.
A key driver of growth has been relevance. Teachers adopt Ripyl because it provides ready-to-use, curriculum-aligned resources that save time and engage students. Schools often first encounter Ripyl through a competition, pilot or individual teacher, then expand use more broadly.
What has helped Ripyl spread is that it combines content, pedagogy, competitions and community, making it adaptable across schools, systems and countries.
Ripyl® has evolved significantly through teacher feedback, market learning and growing demand. What began as a face-to-face programme became a SaaS platform, but that was only the start.
We have expanded the platform substantially, growing the depth and range of curriculum-aligned resources, strengthening alignment across New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada, and continuing work toward additional countries.
We have also extended the model beyond classroom resources through the introduction of international innovation competitions, creating authentic pathways for students to apply learning through real-world challenges. In 2026, we anticipate more than 2,000 students across three countries participating in these programmes.
A major recent addition is our Teacher Concierge pilot, where teachers can select a unit standard or curriculum outcome and receive tailored support to help build teaching plans around their business classes. This responds directly to teacher demand for deeper support, not just content.
We are also developing targeted AI support through RipylGPT to provide safe, education-specific assistance for teachers and students.
Ripyl has evolved from a resource platform into a broader ecosystem of curriculum resources, teacher support, competitions and emerging AI tools - shaped by teacher feedback and designed to increase impact.
To try Ripyl, visit ripyl.net or download the Ripyl app. Start with our Free Trial, which gives teachers access to sample curriculum-aligned resources, challenges and the teacher community.
Teachers can also join one of our free innovation competitions, designed as a no-cost way to experience the platform in practice, use Ripyl resources with students, and explore the model before deciding whether to purchase a membership. We are increasingly seeing schools and teachers move from competition participation into paid subscriptions.
From there, schools can explore full memberships, pilot Ripyl more broadly, or connect with us about our emerging Teacher Concierge service.
If you want to experience Ripyl, the easiest way is simple: start free, try a resource, or enter a competition and use it with students.
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