Program Overview
About the Program
Technovation offers a global technology and entrepreneurship program and competition for youth.
Over the course of the program, students (ages 8-18) work in teams to create AI or app products, addressing challenges in their communities. Technovation partners with schools and organizations to run local programming where students receive support from educators and mentors.
At the end of the program, teams can submit their projects to a competition. Local leaders can organize local pitch events for all students. Technovation facilitates a global competition for female students where teams receive feedback and scores from industry experts. Finalists pitch at our international World Summit and win educational scholarships.
What students do, learn, and make
Students work with a team of peers to build a technology-based solution to a community problem.
Choose a Problem
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
*Co-ed teams can submit to a variety of competitions including the Congressional App Challenge, Invention Convention, 3M Young Scientist Challenge, and more. Teams of girls can submit to the global Technovation competition.
What students create:
Guided by the curriculum and supportive educators or volunteers, student teams build tech-powered solutions to community problems. Along the way, they learn about coding, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, collaboration and leadership. Their projects include:
Digital Solution
A digital solution (ex: mobile or web app) that helps address a problem in the community.
Pitch Video
A short video introducing the project, the problem it solves, and why it's the best solution.
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
Technical Video
A short video showing how the project works, explaining the tech behind it, and discussing user feedback and future features.
How to participate
The Technovation program 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 organizations or community leaders. They support students to develop their submissions through educators and 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 to prepare and recruit earlier, but all teams submit by the same time.
Program Leader Onboarding
Program leaders sign up to partner with Technovation and are onboarded to successfully run the program locally
August - September
Season Prep & Recruitment
Program leaders plan how they'll run the program and raise awareness in their community
August - September
Program in Progress
Teams work with educators or mentors to create tech solutions, guided by our curriculum
August - April
Submit Projects
Teams finish and submit their projects to a global competition
April
Global Competition
Judges evaluate and score projects. Program leaders may host 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
Learning Journey
Are you an educator or youth-serving organization that wants to try out Technovation? Pilot our program with AI Mini Technovation.
Program Details
COST
It is free to participate in the Technovation program. 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, 2026
- Junior Division: 13 - 15 years as of August 1, 2026
- Senior Division: 16 - 18 as of August 1, 2026
ELIGIBILITY
While the Technovation Girls competition is only open to girls, non-binary, and gender non-conforming youth there are ways boys are welcome to use the curriculum and resources too!
- ANYONE can use the Technovation Curriculum for free (including adults!)
- Many Clubs and Chapters run the program with boys and girls—boys and co-ed submit to separate competitions or pitch their solution at their local pitch event
- We also recommend exploring all-gender programs from FIRST, SMASH, and BUILD, which are similar to Technovation Girls
LOCATIONS & VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION
Most teams participate in the program through local Clubs and Chapters, supported by an Ambassador and other organizational staff or volunteers. However, you are not required to participate through a Club or Chapter or attend in-person meetings or events.
We also have some ambitious students who choose to work internationally, with team members from different countries—that is also allowed!
What to do next
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Technovation Girls 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.