Celebrating the builders who made Imagine Cup history

For more than two decades, Imagine Cup gave student innovators a global stage to build, compete, and turn ambitious ideas into real-world technology.

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2026

The competition has evolved.

Imagine Cup 2027 is Microsoft’s global startup competition for eligible early-stage startups.

Founders do not need to be students to apply. Startups compete across seven categories, including one dedicated Student Startup category.

Meet the teams that shaped Imagine Cup

Explore winning teams, projects, companies, and technology solutions from previous years of the competition.

Carries over the winners timeline from the current Imagine Cup Winners page: year tabs and winning teams

A new era of Imagine Cup begins

The student innovators who competed in Imagine Cup created a lasting global legacy.

Imagine Cup 2027 carries that spirit forward as Microsoft's global competition for eligible early-stage startups, while preserving a dedicated Student Startup category for the next generation of student founders.

Do founders need to be students?

No. Imagine Cup 2027 welcomes eligible early-stage startups globally.

Student-specific eligibility applies only to startups entering the dedicated Student Startup category. All applicants should review the current official rules before applying.

Inspired by the past.
Built for what comes next

Explore our new competition and bring your startup to a global stage with Microsoft.