Program Overview
About the Technovation Challenge
The Technovation Challenge is a global technology entrepreneurship program and competition for youth.
Over the course of the program, youth (ages 8-18) work in teams to create digital solutions, addressing challenges in their communities. The program is run by local schools and organizations who facilitate learning through educators or mentors. Students may also participate outside of these Chapters and Clubs by signing up on the platform and connecting with a virtual mentor.
At the end of the program, teams can submit their projects to our global competition for the opportunity to win educational scholarships. Finalists from the Girls Track are invited to our international World Summit.
What students do, learn, and make
During the Technovation Challenge season (August - May), students work with a team of peers to build a technology solution to a community problem.
Form Teams
Students form teams of 1-5 and choose a problem to solve
Learn
Students learn from our tech and AI curriculum, guided by local program partners or volunteer mentors
Build a Solution
Students design a digital solution, business plan, and pitch that address their chosen problem
Submit Projects
Teams submit to our global competition to get individual scores & feedback
What Technovation teams create:
Guided by the curriculum and supportive volunteers or educators, student teams build tech-powered solutions to community problems. Along the way, they learn about coding, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and collaboration & leadership. Their submissions include:
A digital solution
A technology product that addresses a problem in the community, such as an app, AI model, programmed robot, browser extension, etc.
Pitch + Demo Video
A short video introducing the problem and solution, showing how the project works, explaining the tech behind it, and discussing user feedback.
Business Canvas or User Adoption Plan
A plan to bring the product to the market, and explanation of how user testing and feedback shaped the product
Senior Division/Junior Division teams only
How to participate in the Technovation Challenge
The Technovation Challenge is free to run and participate in, and it runs in countries around the world. Students and volunteers can participate individually, but most participate through a local Chapter or Club.
Chapters and Clubs are led by local schools, organizations and leaders. They support students to develop their submissions and can provide teams with mentors. Chapters are run through organizations, and Clubs are run by individuals.
General Program Timeline
This is a broad timeline for the program. Some Chapters and Clubs may start their local program earlier, but all teams submit at the same time.
Are you an educator or youth-serving organization that wants to try out Technovation? Pilot our program with Technovation Spark.
Program Leader Onboarding
Organizations sign up to partner with Technovation and are onboarded to successfully run the Technovation Challenge locally
August - September
Season Prep & Recruitment
Program Leaders plan how they'll run the program and raise awareness in their community
August - September
Learning & Project Development
Teams of youth work with educators and/or mentors to create tech solutions, guided by our curriculum
August - April
Submit Projects to Competition
Teams finish and submit their projects to a global competition through the Technovation platform
May
Global Competition
Judges evaluate and score projects. Program leaders may host end-of-season events to celebrate students and volunteers
May - June
Scores & Celebration
Technovation announces results, including the Finalist teams who will advance to pitch live at our World Summit
June & July
Learning Journey
Program Details
COST
It is free to participate in the Technovation Challenge. There is no cost to participate in the program, use the curriculum, or submit to the competition. If someone is charging you to participate or access our resources, please let us know!
However, while our curriculum and resources are free, there may be a cost to partners or volunteers running the program. Technovation does not provide technology.
AGE-BASED DIVISIONS
Students are divided into divisions based on the age of the oldest student on their teams. This helps ensure the competition is fair by making sure students are judged alongside students of similar ages.
- Beginner Division: 8 - 12 years as of August 1, 2027
- Junior Division: 13 - 15 years as of August 1, 2027
- Senior Division: 16 - 18 as of August 1, 2027
ELIGIBILITY
Technovation's mission is to help solve real problems with technology, and cultivate the power to choose your own purpose and future, at any stage of life. While we maintain this focus, the Technovation Challenge competition is free and open to all youth 8-18. The competition has two tracks. The Girls Track involves teams of girls as well as nonbinary, gender-fluid, and transgender participants who want to be part of a female-identified environment. The Mixed Track involves teams that are co-ed or boys. Finalists are selected and awarded separately from both tracks. Girls Track finalists are invited to World Summit.
LOCATIONS & VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION
Most teams participate in the program through local Clubs and Chapters, supported by program leaders, staff, and volunteers. However, you are not required to participate through a Club or Chapter.
We also have some very cool and ambitious students who choose to work internationally, with team members from different countries. That is also allowed!
What to do next
You've made it through the entire overview! Now what? Well you can...
Contact us
Please check the FAQs first though!
The Technovation Challenge is the flagship program of Technovation, a global nonprofit that equips learners with the skills, support, and opportunities they need to lead in technology and entrepreneurship.