Tech Futures Challenge
Passionate about creating innovations that change the world? TFC challenges students to solve a real-world problem in their community using biology and technology for a chance to win national awards and recognition!
What is Tech Futures Challenge?
The Tech Futures Challenge inspires you to collaborate with friends, classmates, and mentors to tackle real-world problems in their community. With support from top industry experts who will mentor your team, exclusive workshops, and innovative resources, you get the opportunity to explore the design thinking process while solving a real-world problem. You will get the opportunity to present your prototype and win national recognition and awards!
You have the power to make a difference. Together, we can create impactful solutions for your community and the world we share.
With the Tech Futures Challenge, you will:
- Learn more about the exciting world of STEM innovation, combining principles from synthetic biology to engineering and beyond.
- Develop wet lab skills guided by researchers in professional lab settings.
- Work directly with STEM industry experts to bring your project to life.
- Expand your network and build strong connections with other ambitious innovators.
- Learn more about possible career opportunities in STEM industries.
- Nurture your entrepreneurial and leadership mindset – your ideas could be the start for a new business!
Hear it from our participants!
Explore a decade of innovation and creativity—click here to visit our Innovation Showcase and discover incredible team projects from the past 10 years!
TFC at a glance
#1
Form your team, register by Jan. 9th and join us virtually at the Kick-off on January 15th!
#2
Identify a real-world problem, a possible solution, and pitch it at the Pitch Competition on February 26th! Meet one-on-one with your mentor to get feedback throughout the process and compete for a chance to win seed funding.
#3
Attend the Skills-Building Workshop on March 7th and 8th to develop your mastery and knowledge inside and outside the lab. Get inspired through conversations with like-minded innovators and speakers, to further develop your solution.
#4
Present your prototype at the Prototype Showcase on May 30th for the chance to win prestigious awards and opportunities.
Interested in Tech Futures Challenge 2026? Let us know!
The Challenge has given these kids the opportunity to explore STEM topics far beyond the scope of classroom learning and apply them to the real-world problems they are most passionate about.
The Tech Futures Challenge approach really helped us to better understand the problem we are trying to solve and build solutions that are better suited to our end-users and their needs.