Twenty-five years of builders.
A new era of founders.

For 25 years, Imagine Cup has helped innovators transform ambitious ideas into real-world technology. What began as a student technology competition evolved into a startup competition, fueled by Microsoft for Startups, connecting ambitious founders with visibility, expertise, resources, and opportunities to accelerate growth.

Today, Imagine Cup empowers eligible early-stage startups to build innovative solutions using Microsoft technology and compete for opportunities to accelerate enterprise growth.

THEN · 2003–2026
Student technology competition
→
25 YEARS
25 years of innovation
→
NOW · 2027
Startup competition

Imagine Cup
evolution

Imagine Cup enters a new chapter. Beginning in 2027, the competition expands beyond its student roots to welcome eligible early-stage startups building innovative solutions and pursuing enterprise growth.

What stays the same

  • Imagine Cup competition and championship experience
  • Technical innovation and product excellence
  • Visibility within the Microsoft ecosystem
  • Opportunities to gain recognition across the Microsoft ecosystem”

What changes

  • Open to eligible early-stage startups
  • Greater emphasis on enterprise readiness and growth
  • Increased focus on enterprise readiness
  • Seven dedicated competition categories
  • New opportunities designed to help startups scale

Ready to build
what's next?

Celebrating the builders who made Imagine Cup history

For more than two decades, Imagine Cup has empowered student innovators to build, compete, and transform ambitious ideas into real-world technology.

The competition has evolved.

Imagine Cup 2027 is Microsoft’s startup competition for eligible early-stage startups, presented by Microsoft for Startup.

Founders do not need to be students to apply. Eligible startups can compete across seven categories, including a dedicated Student Startup category for student-led startups.

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 legacy, turning ambitious ideas into meaningful solutions.

Imagine Cup 2027 carries that spirit forward as a startup competition presented by Microsoft for Startups, welcoming eligible early-stage startups while preserving a dedicated Student Startup category for the next generation of founders.

Do founders need to be students?

No. Imagine Cup 2027 welcomes eligible early-stage startups, including those whose founders are not students.

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 Imagine Cup 2027 and take the next step toward enterprise growth with Microsoft for Startups.