For more than two decades, Imagine Cup has been where student founders turn early ideas into real products. It’s where projects built in classrooms, dorm rooms, and late-night work sessions evolve into solutions that make a measurable difference in the world. Because when student founders build with Microsoft AI, they don’t just create demos. They build companies.
Meet A Few Student Founders Who Turned Ideas into Impact
Imagine Cup alumni have gone on to raise funding, win global recognition, transform industries, and create products that improve everyday lives. Here are just a few of the teams that started exactly where you are:
Opaque Media (Australia)
What began as a dementia care project became a breakthrough simulation tool that was used by NASA to train astronauts for the cognitive challenges of space. Student vision → worldwide application.
SmartArm (Canada)
This team built an AI-powered prosthetic arm that learns, adapts, and adjusts grip strength in real time. They’ve since earned the GoodSpark Grant and are nearing FDA approval, making advanced prosthetics more accessible for people who need them most.
From Your Eyes (Turkey)
An AI platform built to narrate the world in real time for people with visual impairments. Trained on 15M+ visuals with 98% accuracy, it’s empowering users with more independence through cutting-edge computer vision.
ProTag (New Zealand)
What started as an IoT project is now a funded agritech company. ProTag raised $1M NZD to scale its cattle-monitoring device, giving farmers the data they need to improve animal health and operations.
Hollo (Hong Kong)
Hollo created an AI-driven mental health platform supporting youth communities, earning $1.8M HKD in grants and proving that social impact and smart technology can grow together.
These founders didn’t wait for permission. They built, tested, improved, and Imagine Cup helped them accelerate what was already taking shape.
Good for Business. Good for the World. Built by Students.
The most transformative solutions aren’t always created in corporate labs, they’re often built by students who see the world differently.
Imagine Cup equips student founders with:
- Enterprise-grade Microsoft AI
- Up to $5,000 in Azure credits
- Feedback from industry experts
- A global network of innovators
- A platform designed to help real startups grow
Every year, we watch student-built solutions turn into companies with impact. Yours could be next.
The Next Wave of AI Founders is Already Building.
The question is...will you be one of them?
Register for Imagine Cup 2026 and take your startup further: aka.ms/2026ImagineCupRegistration
