[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL-pn3hfFqw[/youtube]Microsoft’s bringing us home to Seattle!!!!!
For the 12th year running, the Imagine Cup will be bringing the best of student innovators across the world together in the world’s most prestigious technology competition. Students are invited not only to dream big, but also to strive towards creating tangible and valuable solutions that could possibly change the world.
(Remember vSoft Studio? Our 2013 champions earned a trip to Russia and USD $25,000)
This year, the competition is getting bigger than ever. Not only is Microsoft bringing the Cup home to Seattle, they have also revamped the model adding several new challenges that will take place throughout the year. These challenges do not require programming so any student can participate as long as they are willing to learn about the Software Development Life Cycle.
Bringing the ‘WOW’ factor up a notch – they will be giving out more than $750,000 in prizes and potentially even more in the coming months.
Competitions
Participate in any of the three main categories of: Games, Innovation or World Citizenship and you could be the next proud winner of $50,000 and a trip to Seattle.
Challenges
1. Pitch Video (NOW – Oct): Record a 3 to 5 minute video with your team pitching your project!
2. Project Blueprint (Nov – Dec): Deliver a written project proposal covering your users, requirements, scenarios and business model.
3. User Experience (Jan – Feb): Present your user flow, wireframes, and visual target for how your software will look on screen.
For each challenge, the top team will win $3,000 and the top ten teams will receive the honour as Challenge All-Stars. All winners will also receive exclusive lapel pins, certificates of victory and an exclusive website feature.
Make a real impact, your predecessors have gone places:
The challenge to improve our world is on! Start cracking with your free developer tools and IT courses from Microsoft Dreamspark and Virtual Academy.
As compared to 2013, there have been a number of changes to the official rules and regulations, such as the introduction of World Semifinalist teams and National Finals. Please visit the official Imagine Cup Website for more details.
Photo highlights from St. Petersburg 2013: http://www.flickr.com/photos/imaginecup
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