As we enter into the brand new 12 months, the countdown to affix the 2024 Think about Cup is on! The 2024 Think about Cup is a world startup competitors for visionary college students constructing with AI. The expertise empowers you to make a real-world influence by means of AI-driven entrepreneurship. It guarantees studying, innovation, mentorship, and an opportunity to showcase your startup on a world stage.
The winner of the 2024 Think about Cup will likely be topped in Might 2024 at Microsoft Construct, providing international visibility and prizes for the highest three groups – with the successful group taking dwelling the grand prize of USD100,000 and a mentoring session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella. Plus, every of the 2 runners up groups acquire USD50,000 and international visibility.
There’s nonetheless time to affix! You may register right here no later than January 24, 2024. Submit your proof of idea as quickly as potential as the earlier you apply, the earlier you may entry your advantages and begin constructing as your MVP submission (due between Jan 26 and February 9).
Because the Qualifying part of the Think about Cup hurtles towards its deadline, I sat down with the Think about Cup Director, Tina Jones, to dive into the small print and uncover what makes this international startup competitors a should for college students who’re founders constructing with AI. Maintain studying to get knowledgeable recommendation and the within scoop on every little thing it’s good to learn about Think about Cup – from thrilling advantages to important deadlines.
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Tina, first off, Glad New 12 months! Think about Cup appears totally different this 12 months. Inform us concerning the modifications within the competitors.
Tina: I’m so enthusiastic about the brand new format of the Think about Cup 2024 and the extra advantages it affords to college students. Firstly, it’s all about AI and we’re offering AI studying assets and the chance to start out constructing with Open AI, which on this pivotal time is so thrilling! We’re additionally providing the possibility for all qualifying scholar groups to enter Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub Degree 1, which is an unbelievable first step for college students who need to begin their very own enterprise. I can communicate extra about how Think about Cup contributors acquire entry to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub stage 2 as properly and all the extra advantages they’re going to unlock there — although I am certain we’ll get to that!
Sure we definitely will dig into that on! To get began, why ought to college students be excited concerning the Think about Cup competitors? What’s in it for them?
Tina: Properly, Think about Cup is sort of a startup bootcamp. It’s not only a contest; it is a journey. Members get to dive into cutting-edge AI tech with a stack of Azure and OpenAI credit. Plus, there’s mentorship that goes past all the tech stuff — Think about Cup is about serving to founders create an actual enterprise. And, I’ve to say the possibility to win USD100,000 and a mentoring session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella! Not solely that, the 2 runner up groups additionally get USD50,000, so the highest three World Championship groups all get vital money prizing.
Want I might compete! So, what are the phases on this journey, and the way can college students bounce in?
Tina: Image the competitors like 4 phases:
- Stage one, Qualifying (Oct 16 – Jan 24): submit your revolutionary AI startup thought, and when you qualify, apply to Founders Hub so you may unlock the credit to start out constructing. (Fast editor’s notice to emphasise that on this first stage, you should 1) submit your software for Qualifying AND 2) register for Founders Hub).
- Stage two, MVP Submissions (Jan 26 – Feb 9): get hands-on, flip these concepts right into a prototype and it’s good to submit this between January 26 and February 9.
- Stage three, Semifinals (Feb 23 – April 12): polish that marketing strategy, join with mentors, and stage up with extra Azure credit.
- Lastly, Stage 4, World Championship (April 26 – Construct): international stage, large prizes, and critical bragging rights. We’ve received an awesome visible from our final weblog that you possibly can embrace right here.
The visible:
So, as soon as a participant has been accepted to Qualifying, is there the rest they should do to start out constructing their MVP?
Tina: Sure! As soon as you’re accepted within the Qualifying Stage you’ll obtain an e mail with a information on becoming a member of Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub. Within the Think about Cup, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is just like the backstage go to your startup journey. There, you get USD1,000 in Azure credit, USD2,500 in OpenAI credit, and entry to self-paced coaching. It’s the toolkit it’s good to craft these AI-driven options. Bear in mind, the sooner you get in, the extra time it’s important to carry your imaginative and prescient to life.
May you elaborate on the options of every stage and the advantages college students can unlock?
Tina: Actually! Within the Qualifying stage: early hen will get the worm. The earlier you get began the earlier you may entry Founders Hub, with free assets to assist construct your MVP, from free credit to entry the most recent AI instruments (together with GPT-4!) to knowledgeable advisory and mentorship.
The MVP stage is a compulsory step to advance, shaping revolutionary concepts into tangible options. The Semifinals this 12 months are going to be unbelievable – it can actually assist to propel scholar startups ahead with skilled mentors and recommendation on structure and go to market, plus – entry to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub Degree 2, and an extra USD4,000 in Azure credit. The World Championship is the head, providing international visibility and prizes, together with USD100,000 for the successful group, and USD50,000 to the 2 runners up. Extra particulars right here and within the guidelines and laws.
How does the Think about Cup competitors construct college students’ entrepreneurial and technical abilities?
Tina: Think about Cup goes past technical steerage and supplies a complete entrepreneurial ecosystem. As I discussed, contributors within the Semifinals obtain personalised one-to-one steerage from technical and enterprise mentors, who’re there to assist the groups navigate the journey and challenges of entrepreneurship, to have a one-on-one relationship with mentors from Microsoft is so helpful! The competitors additionally encourages contributors to concentrate on accountable AI practices and ideas (making certain inclusivity and accessibility for all customers), and promotes innovation, a transparent goal market, and a reputable plan for bringing initiatives to market – all of those are issues that contributors can work on with their mentors.
What is the significance of taking part within the Think about Cup Cloud Expertise Problem, and the way does it complement the competitors?
Tina: The Think about Cup Cloud Expertise Problem is an extra approach to acquire important AI, tech, and entrepreneurial abilities. The talents for Think about Cup aren’t simply concerning the competitors – they’re abilities that entrepreneurs will want for his or her entrepreneurial journey. Sharpening these abilities early on prepares contributors for the challenges and alternatives that lie forward.
What are the essential dates and deadlines contributors ought to mark of their calendars?
Tina: The Qualifying stage runs from Oct 16 to Jan 24, 2024. The MVP Submissions stage is from Jan 26 to Feb 9. Semifinals run from Feb 23 to April 12, and the World Championship part begins April 26 and culminates at Microsoft Construct. The important thing date that college students ought to take into accout for now’s the tip of the Qualifying stage (January 24, 2024) – and bear in mind, the sooner you undergo Qualifying, the earlier you acquire entry to credit for constructing your MVP! Extra data within the guidelines and laws as properly. And everybody who registers for Think about Cup will get entry to the Discord neighborhood, the place you may ask questions, discover teammates, and simply meet different like-minded scholar entrepreneurs from world wide.
Lastly, what’s your message to the scholar founders who’re contemplating taking part within the 2024 Think about Cup?
Tina: My message could be that the Think about Cup isn’t only a contest – it’s a neighborhood, a community of changemakers who’re driving unbelievable influence by means of AI-driven entrepreneurship. We want innovation, perspective and recent considering from the subsequent era of entrepreneurs to drive change and influence lives. The startups from Think about Cup over time are past inspiring. Submit your startup thought by January 24, and let’s create a brighter future collectively. Your startup success is our purpose, and we’re right here to assist you each step of the way in which. Good luck!
Register for the 2024 Think about Cup!
