2019 Microsoft Imagine Cup Global Student Contest for Entrepreneurs (USD$100,000 prize money)

The next big thing could come from you. Facebook and Twitter started as student projects. Your ideas could be next. The Imagine Cup is here to help you take the first steps. It’s a global contest for the most original student applications, and the winning team will take home up to $100,000 (US). 

Eligible Countries: Countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

Course Level: Contest

Eligibility Criteria: You’re encouraged to submit an original application/solution that you and your team of up to three (3) have built (either on your own time, through your coursework, as a participant in a student hackathon, etc.). For your submission to qualify for the 2019 Imagine Cup, your application must utilize Microsoft Azure. For more details, see the Contest Rules.

Selection: Organized by Microsoft subsidiaries in those countries, the National Finals select the best teams from each participating country as they pitch and demo their ideas to experts to vie for a coveted spot at the Imagine Cup World Finals.

Number of Awards:  These are the awards to be received by participants:

• First Place:
  • $85,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
  • Microsoft Azure Grant
  • Remote mentoring session with Satya Nadella
• Second Place:
  • $15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
  • Microsoft Azure Grant
• Big Data Award
  • Required use of Azure Data + Analytics or IoT
  • $15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the team
  • Microsoft Azure Grant
• Artificial Intelligence Award
  • Required use of Azure Artificial Intelligence + Cognitive Services
  • $15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the team
  • Microsoft Azure Grant
• Mixed Reality Award
  • Required use of HoloLens, Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality
  • $15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the team
  • Microsoft Azure Grant

Value of Award: 

Round 1: Each Local Event may offer prizes at the discretion of the local Microsoft representatives representing that competition. The existence, nature, and conditions of such prizes are subject to the rules of each Local Event. Every team who advances to round 2 will receive a trip to an Imagine Cup Regional Final event. Trip includes round trip coach airfare from a major airport closest to each competitor’s home, standard hotel accommodations, ground
transportation, and select meals during the Regional Final. Mentors to the team are not eligible for this travel prize.
Round 2: At each Regional Final, there will be three winning teams selected. At least one member of the team must be present to win. (Mentors and associates will not be awarded any portion of the monetary prize winnings.)
• First Place:
o $15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
o Microsoft Azure Grant
o First place teams will advance to Round 3 and receive a trip to the Imagine Cup World Championship
• Second Place:
o $5,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
o Microsoft Azure Grant
• Third Place:
o $1,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
o Microsoft Azure Grant
Round 3: At the World Championship one winning team will be selected. At least one member
of the team must be present to win. (Mentors and associates will not be awarded any portion of
the monetary prize winnings.)
• World Champion:
o $100,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of
the Team
o Microsoft Azure Grant

Method of Application: Register now!

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

Scholarship Application Deadline: 16th January 2019 before 02:59:59 GMT+0