305 young innovators advance to Microsoft Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals

Each team’s innovative ideas, mastery of integrated technology, and development of a strong business plan helped them compete in their country during the year, then rise above their peers for the opportunity to represent their country at Microsoft’s annual global student technology competition. Imagine Cup is part of the Microsoft YouthSpark initiative to create opportunities for millions of young people around the world.

More students competed in Imagine Cup worldwide this year than ever before, with more than a 70 per cent increase from 2012. The best projects advanced to country-level competitions where they selected their national team plus additional teams advanced via a global online competition. There were multiple ways students could compete via competitions as well as themed challenges. Competitions are a cornerstone for Imagine Cup requiring students to complete applications built on Microsoft technology aligned to three key focus areas: innovation, world citizenship and games.

Challenges provide an opportunity for students to participate in Imagine Cup by learning, prototyping and creating applications using the newest Microsoft technologies. They occur online only, and the top three teams in each category will attend the Worldwide Finals to compete for first-, second- or third-place awards. Challenge categories include the Windows Azure Challenge, Windows Phone Challenge and Windows 8 App Challenge.

“For more than a decade, Imagine Cup has cultivated entrepreneurship in students, and has provided them with a vehicle to bring their creativity to life through apps, software platforms and social networks,” said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president and chief Evangelist at Microsoft. “Participating in initiatives such as Imagine Cup, DreamSpark and BizSpark gives students skills to transition from the classroom to the professional world as business owners, programmers, game designers and entrepreneurs.”

Worldwide finalists with projects focused on social good also have the chance to apply for Microsoft Imagine Cup Grants, part of a $3 million investment by Microsoft through its YouthSpark initiative to help students turn their ideas for social good into reality.

This year Imagine Cup has judges representing both a breadth of experience as well as a depth of expertise in innovation, technology development, gaming and other key areas. Those coming to Russia to judge the final projects include Catherine Bracy from Code For America, Simon Lu from Twitter, Alexey Pajitnov the creator of Tetris and many others.