Prepare for the 2025 Microsoft Think about Cup: Let the innovation start!

Flip your revolutionary concept into actuality with the Microsoft Think about Cup

Are you a scholar with an unique concept that would presumably change the world? The 2025 Microsoft Think about Cup is your alternative to develop your concept, showcase your resolution, and shine on a world stage.

Register now for the 2025 Think about Cup!

The Think about Cup is the premier world know-how competitors for scholar founders leveraging AI to push the boundaries of innovation. Unlock your startup’s potential with the Think about Cup and switch your revolutionary concept right into a market-ready startup.

Advantages of taking part in Think about Cup 

• Entry to AI know-how with Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub: All opponents will acquire free entry to industry-leading AI providers, Azure credit with fewer restrictions, and important instruments to speed up your development and scale rapidly by Founders Hub. Construct with AI that meets your distinctive wants utilizing Azure AI Studio. With fashions like OpenAI GPT-4o, Microsoft Analysis Phi-3, and Meta’s Llama 3.1, you’ll have the sources to develop scalable and impactful AI options.
• Knowledgeable technical recommendation and founder steerage: All through the competitors, you’ll obtain help to develop your concept right into a viable resolution, making Think about Cup a vital step in your ongoing journey. Obtain personalised one-on-one teaching from Microsoft consultants to refine your pitch. Inside Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, you’ll be able to acquire entry to the Knowledgeable Community to hunt recommendation and suggestions on speedy enterprise challenges, and Azure Pairing periods to get recommendation from Azure engineers on the most recent in AI, optimizing infrastructure, decreasing prices, and extra.
• World recognition and networking with {industry} leaders: Join with a world community of fellow founders and {industry} leaders. Enhance your worldwide visibility as you progress additional by the competitors with featured content material about your startup on Microsoft social channels. Choose finalists can also have the chance to attend Microsoft Construct in particular person, the place they are going to current, acquire publicity, and make important connections

The profitable group will obtain USD100,000 ¹ and an unique mentoring session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella! The 2 runner-up groups will every obtain USD25,000.

Optionally available concept submissions for early suggestions are due October 31, 2024 and MVP submissions are due January 22, 2025. Get began immediately and register for 2025 Think about Cup to start out constructing the long run.

What’s subsequent?

• Register for 2025 Think about Cup! You’ll be able to handle your group and private profile in your account web page.
• Join Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub to realize entry to industry-leading AI providers, credit, and important instruments. Join with the identical e mail tackle and choose Think about Cup as your Microsoft associate.
• Submit a Lean Canvas to the elective concept spherical by October 31, 2024 for an opportunity to collect early suggestions from {industry} consultants previous to constructing your minimal viable product (MVP). An MVP is required for normal submission on January 22, 2025. Further data on the competitors construction is listed under.
• to hunt technical assist, discover teammates, and join with Think about Cup contributors. 

Want some inspiration?

Be a part of the Pupil Innovator Collection by Microsoft Reactor for an Think about Cup kickoff and deep dive periods on Azure AI and Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub to learn to construct your MVP.

To kick off the 2025 Think about Cup competitors, be part of one in every of two dwell occasions on October 1st at 9:00 am PT (UTC -7) or 5:00 pm PT (UTC -7). Unable to affix the kickoffs dwell? To not fear – click on the hyperlinks to look at on demand and take a look at the remainder of the Pupil Innovator Collection that can assist you in your competitors journey.

Take a look at these different upcoming periods you don’t need to miss to learn to construct an AI-driven resolution:

• Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Search (Python)
• GitHub Copilot Adventures
• Serverless AI Chat with RAG utilizing LangChain.js
• Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub Welcome Day

A number of instances and dates out there, verify the complete listing of occasions and register without cost at https://aka.ms/StudentInnovatorSeries

Watch a recap of the thrilling ultimate spherical from final yr’s competitors. Concepts from previous Think about Cup competitions have impressed numerous new improvements! Pushed from private expertise and a mission to enhance the lives of the visually impaired, final yr’s World Champion FROM YOUR EYES developed a cellular software and API, which provides real-time visible explanations to customers with a imaginative and prescient incapacity.

Competitors Construction and Useful Sources

Optionally available: Thought Submission / submit by October 31, 2024

You’ve registered for the Think about Cup and utilized to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub. Now, submit a accomplished Lean Canvas to the elective Thought Submission spherical and obtain early help, professional suggestions, and beneficial sources to construct a uniquely positioned concept to submit for the minimal viable product spherical. Lean Canvas, is a one-page enterprise mannequin that helps rapidly and successfully talk enterprise concepts and methods. Don’t miss this chance—submit by October 31! 

Useful sources for getting began:

MVP Submission / submit by January 22, 2025

Submit your MVP together with a pitch deck and a recorded video of your pitch and demo to showcase its performance and affect. Guarantee this model is demo prepared for judges and consists of ample options and performance to fulfill early adopters.

Useful sources for getting began:

Semifinals / March 2025

Achieve entry to further advantages to speed up your development, together with mentorship, world recognition, and professional steerage inside . On this spherical, you’ll take part in a deep dive technical assessment with Microsoft consultants, work in your pitch and technique with mentors and consultants, and pitch dwell to a digital panel of judges. 

World Championship / Might 2025

The World Championship is the end result of the competitors, the place groups proceed to hone their pitch with further mentoring. This spherical could happen just about or in particular person, with the highest three groups presenting dwell to a panel of judges who’re consultants of their respective subject. Groups are competing for the final word prize of USD100,000 and a mentorship session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella! Step into the highlight and show how AI can drive innovation and constructive change. 

Overview the Think about Cup Official Guidelines and Rules to grasp what’s required for every competitors spherical.

Dream it. Construct it. Reside it.

The competitors is simply getting began, so keep tuned and observe us on , , , and for thrilling bulletins and the most recent updates.

Bear in mind, MVP submissions are due January 22, 2025 so get began immediately and register for 2025 Think about Cup to start out constructing the long run.

Register for the 2025 Think about Cup

Comfortable Innovating!

The Think about Cup group