SEATTLE, Aug. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/
-- Microsoft Corp. on Friday announced the winners of
the Microsoft Imagine Cup, the company's premier competition for
student technologists, developers and aspiring entrepreneurs from
across the globe and a cornerstone of the Microsoft YouthSpark
initiative. Over the past 12 years the Imagine Cup has empowered
more than 1.7 million students worldwide to do more and achieve
more through technology. A first place team was chosen in each of
the three competition categories: Games, Innovation and World
Citizenship. One of those three winning teams was then named World
Champion, taking home the Imagine Cup and receiving a private
meeting with Bill Gates, Microsoft
founder and technology advisor.
The winners were announced at the Imagine Cup World Championship
ceremony during Microsoft's TechReady conference at the
Washington State Convention
Center, in front of an audience of 5,000 students, judges, partners
and Microsoft employees. The ceremony was the culmination of a
weeklong event and celebrates the power of student innovation.
"There is not a business, vertical industry or person on the
planet untouched by technology," Nadella said. "Imagine Cup
empowers students to hack tough problems, while learning and
building off the work of others. Student developers play a huge
role in bringing new technologies to life in a mobile-first,
cloud-first world. Congratulations to all the competitors for their
hard work and creativity."
Also announced was the expansion of the Imagine Cup program to
make it available for even younger students worldwide who have the
desire to create and code using Microsoft technology. Through the
Imagine Cup program, students are empowered to dream big, build
creatively, learn through competition and boldly bring their ideas
to life as they gain lifelong career skills throughout their
journey.
"Imagine Cup is about fostering new ideas and encouraging
students to push the boundaries and imagine what's possible now and
in the future. Student developers play a huge role in helping to
bring new technology innovations to life in ways that shape the way
we work, live and play," said Steve
Guggenheimer, corporate vice president and chief evangelist,
Microsoft. "Going forward, Microsoft's Imagine Cup program aims to
empower even more students, at younger ages, with the technologies,
skills and resources to build a lifelong passion for technology,
helping to grow the next generation of innovators. We're very proud
of the Imagine Cup program and even more proud of our student
competitors from all around the globe."
Imagine Cup World Finals Winners
The winners of the 12th annual Imagine Cup competitions are the
following:
WORLD CHAMPION
Imagine Cup World Champion:
- Imagine Cup trophy and private meeting with Bill Gates: Team Eyenaemia, Australia, Project: Eyenaemia; Winner of the
World Citizenship Category
CATEGORY WINNERS
Games Category:
- First Place, $50,000 prize and
PAX Boot Camp: Team Brainy Studio, Russia, Project: TurnOn
- Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team
Bomon, Korea, Project: Under Bed
- Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team
Illogic, Egypt, Project: Puppy in
Bubble
Innovation Category:
- First Place, $50,000 prize and
Microsoft Ventures Boot Camp: Team Estimeet, New Zealand, Project: Estimeet
- Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team
Tep, Hungary, Project: Tep
- Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team
Butterfly, Bahrain, Project: Nail
Polish Mixer
World Citizenship Category:
- First Place, $50,000 prize and
Microsoft YouthSpark Boot Camp: Team Eyenaemia, Australia, Project: Eyenaemia
- Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team
SMART crew, Taiwan, Project:
Versatility of Usens: From Lab to Life
- Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team
Access Earth, Ireland, Project:
Access Earth
Thirty-four student teams representing 34 countries competed in
the World Finals after winning national and online competitions
around the globe. Microsoft awarded cash and other prizes to the
winning teams, valued at more than $1
million across the yearlong Imagine Cup program. Other
prizes include boot camps focused on career skills and project
support, plus airfare and accommodation packages, and awards for
the winning teams at the World Finals event this week.
About Microsoft Imagine Cup
In its 12th year,
Microsoft Imagine Cup is the company's premier technology program
and competition providing opportunities for student technologists,
developers and aspiring entrepreneurs from all academic backgrounds
to collaborate, develop a technology application, create a business
plan and gain a keen understanding of what is needed to bring a
concept to market. Students can learn more about Imagine Cup by
visiting http://www.imaginecup.com. A full list of competition
categories is available at
https://www.imaginecup.com/Custom/Index/Competitions.
Imagine Cup is focused on providing students with the
opportunities, resources and experience to become the brightest
young minds worldwide. In addition to skills and training that
launch incredible careers, students receive unparalleled hands-on
experience, guidance and mentorship from industry luminaries,
opening doors to a future as an entrepreneur, innovator and
technologist. Each of the first place winners in the competition's
three categories — Games, Innovation and World Citizenship — will
receive a "boot camp" experience from Microsoft Ventures, Microsoft
YouthSpark or PAX during which they will receive hands-on
mentorship and project development support from Microsoft and
industry experts.
"New technologies are being created every day and at a rapid
pace — many of them by student developers, which is why we've
invested long term in the Imagine Cup program," Guggenheimer said.
"The World Finalists who came to Seattle this year represent the best of
student tech minds, and we are incredibly proud and inspired by all
they have accomplished — we look forward to bringing them back to
Seattle next year."
About Microsoft YouthSpark
Microsoft YouthSpark is a
global initiative that aims to create opportunities for 300 million
youth in more than 100 countries by 2015. This companywide
initiative includes Citizenship and other company programs that
empower youth to imagine and realize their full potential by
connecting them with greater opportunities for education,
employment and entrepreneurship. Learn more at
www.microsoft.com/youthspark.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
"MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and
solutions that help people and businesses realize their full
potential.
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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.