Microsoft Imagine Cup 2026: Semifinalists Showcase AI-Powered Solutions for Global Challenges

Microsoft has unveiled the 25 semifinalist teams for the 2026 Imagine Cup, showcasing how student innovators are leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle pressing global challenges across healthcare, education, accessibility, and sustainability sectors.

This year's competition features a dual-path structure designed to support student founders at different stages of development. The Launch path supports early-stage validation, while the Scale path assists teams with established traction. Both tracks provide personalized mentorship, technical guidance, and direct exposure to Microsoft executives and industry experts.

Competition Structure and Prizes

The Imagine Cup World Championship will feature two distinct paths:

Scale Path: One team will receive:

• $100,000 USD
• Mentorship session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella
• Opportunities for deeper partnership within Microsoft's global ecosystem
• Two runner-up teams will each receive $25,000 USD

Launch Path: One team will receive:

• $50,000 USD
• Continued visibility and support from Microsoft

Semifinalist Teams and Their AI Solutions

Healthcare and Accessibility Innovations

Clear for All (Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia) is reimagining access to books for blind and visually impaired students by replacing costly Braille production with an inclusive, voice-command reading platform. Their solution, Literaku, empowers academic institutions to help students read independently and equitably without requiring sighted assistance.

HiLily Team (Massey University, New Zealand) addresses loneliness and fragmented care for seniors living alone with a $20 voice companion that offers long-term memory and quiet health monitoring. The team built their solution using "Solve for One, Extend to Many" principles, removing voice, cognitive, and economic barriers for seniors, families, and care institutions.

Retribution (National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, India) developed CareOrbit, a multi-agent AI platform that unifies medications, appointments, and specialist care to instantly surface drug interactions and detect gaps in treatment. Their solution brings fragmented healthcare information into one intelligent system for safer, more coordinated decisions.

Revora Health (ClaraAI) (Carnegie Mellon University, United States) reinvents physical therapy with Clara, an Azure-powered AI agent delivering instant triage, personalized recovery plans, and real-time form feedback. Their solution bridges the gap between clinic visits, helping patients recover faster, more affordably, and with greater confidence.

Silicosafe (Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, India) enables early, non-invasive silicosis screening through AI-driven breath analysis for industrial workers at construction and manufacturing sites. The team focuses on migrant and informal labor communities where access to screening has historically been limited.

SIRUIS (ESPRIT: Private Higher School of Engineering and Technology, Tunisia) empowers children with Down syndrome through StepWise, a platform supporting developmental growth, independence, and daily skill-building. Their solution features a simple interface with OpenDyslexic fonts, providing children, parents, and health providers clearer guidance and stronger support.

Education and Learning Solutions

CodeHers (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) closes learning gaps in H2 Organic Chemistry with MolecuLab, an AI-powered platform designed for secondary school adoption. The solution helps GCE A-Level students visualize molecules, understand reaction mechanisms, and correct misconceptions in real time through a mobile-first, affordable approach.

Virtuoso Labs (Georgia Tech University, United States) uses Azure AI to transform existing sheet music into custom arrangements tailored to any instrument combination or skill level. Their solution removes cost, language, and skill barriers, making music more accessible for hobbyists and lifelong musicians.

World37 (Stanford University, United States) creates an AI-powered platform where creators build interactive story worlds without complex coding, while players shape narratives through meaningful choices. By combining Azure OpenAI with persistent character memory, the team redefines how stories are created, played, and scaled.

Workplace Safety and Operations

HaptE (Northwestern University, United States) brings real-time AI visibility to warehouse operations by mounting edge cameras on forklifts to catch errors before they leave the dock. Their solution prevents costly mistakes and maps live inventory movement, helping supply chains run smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

SIER Technologies (University of Southern California, United States) created Sidekick, an AI-powered wearable that evolved from supporting blind users to enhancing safety on complex construction sites. The solution combines real-time guidance with automated compliance reporting, redefining workplace visibility and protection.

Sentinel Rhino (Rajiv Academy for Technology and Management, India, and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, India) tackles undetected health and safety risks in mining and construction with SafeMine, an AI platform delivering automated worker triage and real-time risk analytics. Their solution features voice and icon-based UI, offline functionality, and support for regional dialects, ensuring even low-literacy and migrant workers can report hazards and stay protected.

Financial and Business Solutions

Ionmonks (AMC College of Engineering, India) helps retail investors cut through emotional bias with explainable, AI-driven decision guidance in plain language. Their solution replaces overwhelming charts with clear insights, empowering investors of every experience level to act with confidence.

Nyck.AI (Northwestern University, United States) is an AI procurement agent that automates up to 90% of manual purchasing workflows for manufacturers and distributors. By layering intelligence on top of existing ERPs, Nyck saves teams time, reduces costly errors, and makes advanced procurement accessible to businesses of all sizes.

L-Guard LTD (African Leadership University, Rwanda) improves road safety with automatic crash detection, driving behavior monitoring, and real-time alerts for riders, families, fleets, insurers, and emergency services. Their hardware-first, phone-independent system works offline and features an Azure AI agent powering intelligent dashboard support.

Team Recall (Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune, India) brings 400 million micro-retailers out of "data darkness" with a visual-first, zero-typing AI inventory copilot designed for non-technical shop owners. Built with inclusive design, vernacular language support, and low-literacy interfaces powered by Azure AI, Recall helps the "Invisible Economy" digitize, grow revenue, and compete with confidence.

Environmental and Social Impact

Interlinked (University of California, Berkeley, United States) uses real-time AI to predict wildfire ignition and spread, giving firefighters, communities, and local governments faster, smarter tools to respond. Built in collaboration with local leaders and Indigenous communities, the platform reflects real-world needs and equitable access.

SpoilSafe (Carnegie Mellon University, United States) uses AI to detect early spoilage signals in the cold chain, helping grocery and logistics operators prevent costly food waste. Their solution makes predictive tools accessible to operators of all sizes, strengthening supply chains and supporting food security.

Creative and Community Solutions

Copyflag (Oxbridge AI X, United Kingdom) protects independent creators in the generative AI era with an Azure AI-powered platform that detects AI-modified copyright infringement at scale and automatically issues takedowns. Their solution makes intellectual property defense affordable and autonomous, helping business owners and creators recover revenue and protect their work.

WalkTDY (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) supports stroke survivors rebuilding mobility at home by increasing safety, confidence, and daily walking practice beyond the clinic. With a simple, accessible interface designed for varying vision and attention needs, the team reduces barriers to rehabilitation while strengthening both physical and mental recovery.

Snailly Labs (Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Indonesia) protects children ages 5–14 from harmful online content with adaptive cybersecurity that goes beyond one-size-fits-all parental controls. Using inclusive design, human-in-the-loop insights, and multilingual support, the team empowers families and academic institutions to define what "safe" means for them.

$wap (PSU Panthers) (Philander Smith University, United States) builds a skills-for-skills marketplace where small businesses and community members can exchange services without relying on money or formal credentials. Designed with inclusive principles from day one, the platform opens opportunity for those often excluded from traditional systems.

The 2026 Imagine Cup semifinalists represent a diverse range of solutions addressing critical global challenges through innovative AI applications. With Microsoft's mentorship and technical support, these student teams are positioned to transform their ideas into impactful solutions that could shape the future of technology and society.

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The semifinalists will now advance to compete for the championship titles, with the opportunity to receive not only substantial financial support but also invaluable mentorship from Microsoft's leadership team. The competition continues to demonstrate the power of student innovation in addressing complex global challenges through technology.