Develop Bold Solutions.
Compete for the World Stage.
Join the next generation of startup founders solving real problems through technology, powered by Microsoft tools, mentorship, and a global community.
Get inspired by past Imagine Cup winners and see how far innovation can go.
"As a blind, young, and female founder, having people truly see the vision behind what you build isn't always easy. But Microsoft Imagine Cup saw it and amplified it. It was our big bang: our first investment, the catalyst that took us global."
Learn moreInnovate. Validate. Accelerate.
Scale
You've got traction, and now itās time to Scale with intention.
Take that leap with Imagine Cup. Refine your product-market fit for leading organizations and unlock new growth through Microsoft's trusted AI and global ecosystem. If your student led startup already has users, early traction, or capital, whether through any amount of dilutive funding or no more than $5,000,000 USD in combined dilutive or external, non-dilutive funding, you may be ready for Scale.
Join the Scale path and take your solution to the world stage.
Prizing:
- $100,000 USD*
- Mentorship session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella
- Opportunities for deeper partnership with Microsoft for Startups.
Launch
You're building something with real potential, and the Launch path will help you take it further.
Build momentum, sharpen your vision, and prepare for growth. If you're developing an AI-powered solution, have not received any amount of dilutive funding, or no more than $100,000 USD in external, non-dilutive funding, Launch gives you the guidance and resources to move forward. Whether you've built a prototype, tested an Minimum Viable Product (MVP), or are still refining your direction, this is where ideas become market ready.
Join the Launch path and position your work for the global community.
Prizing:
$50,000 USD*
Continued visibility and support from Microsoft
Imagine Cup x GitHub x Replit: A Power Combo for Student Founders
Imagine Cup and GitHub Education are equipping student founders with enterprise-grade AI tools, meaningful mentorship, and visibility. And we are excited that Replit is joining us ā together, we are helping teams prototype faster, iterate with intention, and build solutions that are good for business and good for the world.
GitHub offers access to the worldās largest open source community, with 180M developers and counting, and workflows to collaborate like a pro. Partnering with Imagine Cup, GitHub equips student founders with AI-assisted coding through Copilot and resources like the Student Developer Pack, all on a platform trusted by top engineering teams.
Replit gives you the speed to build instantly and infrastructure to scale confidently. Partnering with Imagine Cup, Replit offers an AI-powered, in-browser workspace where student founders can prototype, test, and publish apps by chatting naturally with AI.
Make tech matter where it counts most
Choose a category that inspires you, or create your own, and start building with Microsoft's trusted AI technologies. The challenge is yours to define.
Cybersecurity
As organizations become more digital and distributed, security shifts from being a basic safeguard to a strategic, AI-driven advantage.
Education
AI is transforming how institutions design, deliver, and personalize education, helping teachers save time, students stay engaged, and learning 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.
Next steps: your 2026 roadmap
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01Register to compete:Join the Imagine Cup 2026 competition.
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02Unlock Azure benefits:Access $1,000 USD free Azure credits and tools.
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03Check out the Student Hub:Build, refine, or strengthen your solution with support, resources, and expert guidance.
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04Submit your entry:Final submissions due by January 9, 2026.
In Their Own Words: The Imagine Cup Experience
From first-time builders to student-led startups scaling with traction, Imagine Cup alumni share how the competition shaped their journey. Real stories, real lessons, and proof of what's possible when innovation meets Microsoft's trusted AI ecosystem.
Get Inspired
Learn about past competitors' journeys through the competition and find resources to get started.
