After the Imagine Cup:
Taking the Next Step with the Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator

Now in its fifth year, the Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator propels Imagine Cup Software Design teams into the next stage of developing their innovative ideas as a business. The Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator, a joint project from Microsoft and BT, is a prize awarded to the software design teams from the Microsoft Imagine Cup. Teams selected for the Innovation Accelerator program receive technical support and business coaching to create the must-have technology and communications applications of the future. Over an intensive two-week period, students further develop their designs and viable business plans with close guidance from some of the best minds at Microsoft and BT.  The students maintain intellectual property rights over their projects and can create businesses from their concepts in their home country or gain venture capital funding elsewhere - the future of their dream is in their hands. The Innovation Accelerator program is designed to inspire new generations of students to apply their skills and creativity to make a difference, both globally and locally, through technology.

The Innovation Accelerator is a unique prize and opportunity for the teams from the software design competition to harness their exceptional talents and take their ideas a step further toward commercial reality. The program is designed to inspire new generations of students to apply their skills and creativity to make a difference, both globally and locally, through technology. The Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator is about turning creative passion into commercial reality.

Innovation Accelerator 2009 Teams Announced!

In 2009, six finalist teams will have the opportunity to explore how their software solutions could potentially turn into business realities. The teams will receive intense business and technology training as part of the Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator program, co-sponsored by Microsoft and British Telecommunications plc (BT).

"The creativity demonstrated by the competitors this year has shown that tomorrow's technology leaders are ready to apply their solutions to real-world issues," said Joe Black, director of Business Development for Emerging Technologies, BT. "The Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator is an exceptional opportunity for young developers to explore the entrepreneurial possibilities of their software solutions. We are excited to offer our encouragement, guidance, and support to these talented students through comprehensive training sessions to help students bring their ideas to fruition." The six teams chosen to participate in the 2009 Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator program are:

• Australia - Team SOAK (Smart Operational Agricultural toolKit)
  Team members: David Burela, Dimaz Pramudya, Ed Hooper, Long Zheng
• France - Team Well K'Home
  Team Members: Regis Hanol, Gauthier Chanliau, Sebastien Warin, Jean-Noel Gauthier
• Germany - Team PoinT-Power in Time
  Team Members: Daniel Franke, Jörn Schindler, Vasilios Filippidis, Axel Ernst
• Hungary - Team Digital Mania
  Team Members: Ákos Kapui, Laszló Zöld, Bálint Orosz, Gergely Orosz
• Slovakia - Team Housekeepers
  Team Members: Marián Hönsch, Michal Kompan, Jakub Šimko, Dušan Zeleník
• South Africa - Team Smile
  Team Members: Devin de Vries, Christopher King, Nabeel Nazeer, Nadeem Isaacs

Innovation Accelerator 2008

On February 5, 2008, the top six software design teams from the Imagine Cup 2007 Worldwide Finals converged on the technology capitol of the world - the Silicon Valley - for the 2008 Innovation Accelerator. Over the course of the next two weeks, with guidance from experts at Microsoft and BT, and some of the most successful entrepreneurs in technology, the student teams learned what it takes to build a business from the ground up. The university students received comprehensive training in how to develop an idea from a concept into a start-up. After receiving in-depth guidance using Microsoft and BT platform and network assets, the teams worked to improve and refine the software applications they created for the Imagine Cup World Finals in Korea. In addition, experts coached the students on running a startup business, developing a solid business plan, gaining venture capital, and bringing their concepts to market.

• Watch Channel 8's video about the 2009 Innovation Accelerator
• Meet the 2008 Teams

The following six teams participated in the 2008 Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator program:

• Thailand - Team 3KC Returns/Project LiveBook!
  Team Members: Prachaya Phaisanwiphatpong, Vasan Chienmaneetaweesin, Jatupon Sukkasem, Pathompol Saeng-Uraiporn
• Korea - Team En#605/Project Finger Code
  Team Members: Lim Chan-kyu, Min Kyoung-hoon, Lim Byoung-su, Jeong Ji-hyeon
• Jamaica - Team ICAD/Project CADI
  Team Members: Imran Allie, Conroy Smith, Ayson Baxter, Damion Mitchell
• Ireland - Team inGest/Project Signal-Sign Language Learning Environment
  Team Members: Daniel Kelly, Cathal Coffey, Eric McClean, Mark Clerkin
• Mexico - Team Wisdom Spice/Project Wisdom Spice
  Team Members: Ramiro Berrelleza Perez, Dimitri Limberopulos Fernandez, Sergio Marcin Gorrino, Francisco Sandoval Zazueta
• Poland - Team InPUT/Project Onespace
  Team Members: Szymon Wybranski, Michal Zygmunt, Michal Tartanus, Marek Wronowski