---
title: "Imagine Cup"
chunk: 1/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine_Cup"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:09:35.350059+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

Imagine Cup is an annual competition sponsored and hosted by Microsoft Corp. which brings together student developers worldwide to help resolve some of the world's toughest challenges. It is considered as "Olympics of Technology" by computer science and engineering and is considered one of the top competitions and awards related to technology and software design. All Imagine Cup competitors create projects that address the Imagine Cup theme: "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems". Started in 2003, it has steadily grown, with more than 2 million competitors representing 150 countries in 2022. The 2023 Imagine Cup World Championship was held in Seattle, United States.

== History ==

The Imagine Cup began in 2003 with approximately 1,000 competitors from 25 countries and regions and has grown to more than 2 million competitors representing 150 countries in 2022. The Imagine Cup World Championship has been held all over the globe. Since 2014, the Imagine Cup World Championship has been held in Seattle, United States.

2003: Barcelona, Spain – Theme: Link between people, information, systems, and devices, using Web services and. NET as the springboard.
2004: São Paulo, Brazil – Theme: Imagine a world where smart technology makes everyday life easier.
2005: Yokohama, Japan – Theme: Imagine a world where technology dissolves the boundaries between us.
2006: Agra & Delhi, India – Theme: Imagine a world where technology enables us to live healthier lives.
2007: Seoul, South Korea – Theme: Imagine a world where technology enables a better education for all.
2008: Paris, France – Theme: Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment.
2009: Cairo, Egypt – Theme: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the world's toughest problems.
2010: Warsaw, Poland – Theme: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the world's toughest problems.
2011: New York City, United States – Theme: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the world's toughest problems.
2012: Sydney, Australia – Theme: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the world's toughest problems.
2013: Saint Petersburg, Russia – Theme: All dreams are now welcome.
2014: Seattle, United States
2015: Seattle, United States
2016: Seattle, United States
2017: Seattle, United States
2018: Seattle, United States
2019: Seattle, United States
2020: Digital event at Microsoft Build in Seattle, United States
2021: Digital event at Microsoft Build in Seattle, United States
2022: Seattle, United States
2023: Seattle, United States

== Competition structure ==

All Imagine Cup competitors create projects that address the Imagine Cup theme: “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.”

=== Competitions ===
Software DesignThe Software Design competition challenges participants to use technology to solve what they consider to be the toughest problems facing the world today. Using Microsoft tools and technology, competitors create software applications. Participants develop, test, and build their ideas into applications that can change the world.
Game DesignThe Game Design Competition challenges participants to create a new game that illustrates the Imagine Cup theme.

== Winners ==
There are a number of competitions and challenges within the Imagine Cup. The Software Design category is the primary competition in which its winners take home the Imagine Cup trophy.

=== Software Design ===

=== Office Designer ===

=== Web Development ===

=== Embedded Development Competition ===

=== Interoperability Challenge ===

=== Game Design ===

=== IT Challenge ===

=== Digital Media ===

=== Health Awareness Awards ===

=== Connected Planet Award ===

=== Microsoft Azure (Cloud) ===

=== Windows Phone ===

=== Windows 7 Touch Challenge ===

=== World Citizenship Competition ===

=== Innovation Competition ===

=== Facebook Creativity Award ===

=== AppCampus Award ===

=== Skype Award ===

=== Visual Studio Online Boost ===

=== Apps For Office Challenge ===

=== Windows & Windows Phone Challenge ===

=== User Experience Challenge ===

=== Pitch Video Challenge ===

=== Project Blueprint Challenge ===

== Innovation Accelerator ==
The Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator was a program that, between 2006 and 2008, provided Imagine Cup Software Design teams with direction on the next stage of developing their innovative ideas into a business. Each year, between 2006 and 2008, six teams were selected for the Innovation Accelerator program. Participants in the Innovation Accelerator program travelled to the Microsoft Mountain View campus in Silicon Valley and received technical support and business coaching to create the must-have technology and communications applications of the future.
In 2010, Microsoft began inviting every Imagine Cup team to participate in its new program for startups: Microsoft BizSpark. With this program, startups receive access to current, full-featured software development tools and platforms.
Previous teams include:

2006: Brazil, China, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Norway, India
2007: Ireland, Jamaica, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Thailand,
2008: Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, South Africa,

== Imagine Cup Grant ==
A three-year, $3 million competitive grant program was established by Microsoft in 2011 to support a select number of winning teams’ solutions to go to market and realize its potential to solve a critical global problem. The inaugural grant recipients were announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 27, 2012, which included the following teams:

Team Lifelens from the United States
Team Apptenders from Croatia
Team Falcon Dev from Ecuador
Team OaSys from Jordan
The grant packages include US$75,000 for each team, as well as software, cloud computing services, solution provider support, premium Microsoft BizSpark account benefits and access to local resources such as the Microsoft Innovation Centers. Microsoft will also connect grant recipients with its network of investors, nongovernmental organization partners and business partners.
For the 2012 version of the competition, the following teams were announced in December 2012. The teams are: