Per iniziare

Visit the Imagine Cup homepage and click 'Register now' to sign up for the competition. Once you have registered, you will be able to see the competition on your account page. All team members will need to create an account and register.

Participants must be at least 18 years old as of September 30, 2025; an enrolled student at an accredited educational institution between September 30, 2025, and May 31, 2026, and from a country not prohibited by U.S. export regulations. Mentors are not considered team members for the purpose of this competition. Please see the  rules and regulations  for full eligibility criteria.

All team members must be enrolled students at an accredited educational institution that grants high-school or college/university (or equivalent) degrees (including home schools) at any time between September 30, 2025 and May 31, 2026.

Yes, we understand your journey is evolving, and if you are not a previous world champion, we welcome you to submit a solution to the 2026 competition.

Ogni concorrente può far parte di un solo team all'interno della competizione. È possibile inviare un solo progetto per turno. Se si effettuano più invii, verrà usato l'ultimo come progetto ufficiale.

Andare alla pagina dell'account Imagine Cup per esaminare i dettagli dell'account, controllare lo stato della registrazione e degli invii e gestire il team.

Absolutely! We encourage all students who are interested to apply.

From startups with real traction to early-stage builders, Imagine Cup offers two distinct paths to help you grow.

Scale
If you’ve already secured users, revenue, or capital— and you have not received more than $5,000,000 USD in combined dilutive or external, non-dilutive funding – the Scale track is for you. You’ll focus on refining product-market fit and preparing to scale your solution into leading organizations. Top 3 Scale teams will secure their spot at the World Championship.

Launch
If you're developing an AI-powered solution but not yet ready for Scale, the Launch track helps you take the next step. Whether you’ve built a prototype, tested an MVP, or are validating your market fit, this track gives you the support to grow with clarity and confidence. Eligible teams have not received any amount of dilutive funding or have secured no more than $100,000 USD in external, non-dilutive funding. Launch winner will be announced after semifinals.

Dilutive funding involves giving up a percentage of ownership in the company in exchange for capital. Non-dilutive funding does not require giving up any equity. Examples include grants, loads, and revenue-based financing.

Choose a category that inspires you or create your own. The challenge is yours to define.

Education
AI is transforming how institutions design and deliver education, helping teachers save time, students stay engaged, and outcomes improve at scale.

Financial Services
From mobile wallets to fraud detection, AI is changing how financial institutions operate, making services faster, safer, and more accessible.

Health and Life Sciences
Healthcare is becoming more connected, with AI supporting faster diagnoses, accelerating research, and helping clinicians deliver better outcomes.

Retail and Consumer Goods
From supply chain to storefront, agentic AI is redefining how brands anticipate needs, optimize inventory, and create more personalized experiences.

Cybersecurity
As organizations become more digital and distributed, security shifts from being a basic safeguard to a strategic, AI-driven advantage.

When you submit your MVP you will be asked to choose either the Scale or Launch path

Yes.

No. This year’s five categories highlight urgent challenges and opportunities for ingenuity. They are meant to inspire, not limit.

You are eligible to compete in the Scale path if you/your business has not received more than $5,000,000 USD in combined dilutive or external, non-dilutive funding. If you/your business has not received any dilutive funding and if you/your business has not received external, non-dilutive funding of more than $100,000 USD, you may choose to compete in either the Scale or Launch path. For full eligibility criteria for both paths, please check the rules and regulations.

Engage with us on social to stay up to date on tips and deadlines for the competition, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and X.

All team members must visit the  Imagine Cup homepage and click 'Register Now' to register and create an account. Once registered, you can create a team from your account page and invite others to join. If someone invites you to join their team, a notification will show up in your account. Invitations to join a team must be accepted before the minimum viable product (MVP) submission deadline.

I team possono essere costituiti da un numero qualsiasi di membri, da uno (1) a quattro (4) studenti idonei. Ogni team può provenire da istituti accademici e paesi diversi. Fino a quattro studenti idonei possono inviare una singola domanda come team.

I team possono essere costituiti da membri di più paesi/aree geografiche e/o università. Per altre informazioni, consulta le regole e normative.

I membri del team non idonei devono rimuoversi dal team tramite la pagina dell'account di Imagine Cup e interrompere la partecipazione. Se continuano a contribuire come membro registrato del team, il team potrebbe essere squalificato.

Puoi ricevere assistenza sulla tua soluzione da altri studenti in specifiche discipline diversi dai quattro membri registrati del tuo team ufficiale e/o da un mentore (in genere da istituti accademici, organizzazioni no profit o società private). Gli altri studenti e mentori non sono considerati membri del team ai fini delle regole e normative del concorso. Solo i quattro membri del team che registri ufficialmente con noi sono idonei per i premi, l'inclusione nella cerimonia di premiazioni e nelle comunicazioni ufficiali.

Your product must be built with and require two (2) or more Microsoft AI service(s) to operate. Submissions must include a pitch deck, recorded pitch video, and recorded demo video, all addressing the judging criteria outlined in the rules. Judging criteria includes Microsoft cloud and AI technology implementation, inclusive design, viability of the solution, and founder-led validation and continuous improvement. Full judging criteria can be found in the rules and regulations. All entries must be in English.

Join the Sprint to Imagine Cup to help prepare your MVP submission.

• Take part in live workshops hosted by Microsoft’s MVPs (Most Valuable Professionals), where global experts guide you through practical ways to apply Microsoft AI to your startup.
• Visit the Microsoft Learn Student Hub to utilize free learning paths and quick start guides and explore the latest resources on AI.
• Unlock Azure Benefits: Access $1,000 USD free Azure credits and tools.

Puoi inviare e controllare lo stato della domanda nella pagina dell’account. Le scadenze per ogni turno sono disponibili nella pagina dell’account e sono inoltre descritte in dettaglio nelle regole e normative. I nomi dei team che arrivano ai round delle Semifinali e dei Campionati del Mondo verranno pubblicati come post di blog entro sette (7) giorni dopo la valutazione. I singoli membri del team che avanzano riceveranno una notifica ai recapiti di contatto forniti durante l'immissione.

Tutti i diritti di proprietà intellettuale rimangono di proprietà dei rispettivi proprietari del materiale presentato. Microsoft non rivendica alcuna proprietà sul materiale presentato.

You will gain benefits throughout each stage of the competition, including access to Azure credits and industry-leading AI services, mentorship and guidance on business and technical challenges, and global community. The winners of the Launch path will win $50,000 USD* which will be equally divided among registered team members and may also have the opportunity to attend Microsoft Build in-person.

The Scale path World Champion will win $100,000 USD*, which will be equally divided among registered team members, a mentoring session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, and opportunities for deeper partnership with Microsoft for Startups. Select Scale finalists may also have the opportunity to attend Microsoft Build in-person.
*Open only to enrolled high-school or college/university students 18+. For additional eligibility criteria, round start/end dates, and detailed instructions on how to participate, see the Imagine Cup Official Rules and Regulations.

Per altre informazioni, vedere l'informativa di Microsoft Imagine Cup sulla privacy e sui cookie.