xFoundry NEXPLORE Summit in partnership with NASA
The next generation of innovators in solutions for space and beyond gathered at AmazonHQ2
In September 2025, more than 300 industry innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, policymakers, investors, and pioneering students convened at NEXPLORE 2040, recognized as the "Davos for Higher Education," at Amazon HQ2 in Arlington,VA. Hosted by xFoundry in collaboration with NASA and SpaceCom, the three-day summit enabled participants to define high-impact problem spaces and develop research and development roadmaps, transforming insights in to venture concepts.
The summit’s agenda focused squarely on the most urgent challenges ahead, drawn directly from NASA’s catalog of 187 technology shortfalls critical to long-duration missions. The 2025 program centered its work on four critical domains: Habitat Resilience, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Peak Human Performance, and High-Tech Health.
Throughout the event, speakers from leading organizations shared perspectives on advancing sustainable innovation, with students playing a central role. Notably, University of Maryland President Darryll Pines was a featured speaker alongside NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps, Dean Kamen of FIRST Robotics, Matt Ondler of Axiom Space, Peter Kreiner of noma group, Clayton Turner of NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, and Andy Walshe, former Head of Red Bull Performance.
NEXPLORE also marked the starting point of an 18-month Xperience journey. This initiative first launched in summer 2025, when top student teams from more than fifteen universities took part in the Horizons Challenge and competed to define the winning problem statement that will guide the next Xperience Competition.
NEXPLORE Collegiate: The Horizons Challenge
The nationwide Horizon's Challenge invited students to propose problem statements aligned with the four summit focus areas and rooted in NASA’s 187 technical shortfalls. Each submission was designed to address significant issues on Earth today while helping unlock transformative breakthroughs in space tomorrow.
Finalists from the University of Maryland College Park, Rutgers University, and SUNY Binghamton University presented their work live at NEXPLORE, and summit attendees voted to determine the ultimate theme. Rutgers Team InnerSolace secured the win with a compelling pitch focused on addressing circadian rhythm disruption for mental health, earning a cash prize of $2,040 along with a $10,000 stipend for their participation in the next Xperience Competition.
Horizons Gala & Award Ceremony
NEXPLORE closed with the Horizons Celebration, showcasing highlights from the summit and announcing the winning student teams of the Horizons Challenge and xFoundry School Safety Xperience Competition.
“NEXPLORE 2040 embodies what xFoundry was built to do by bringing together passionate problem solvers, empowering them with the tools and networks of our university ecosystem, and turning bold ideas into ventures that bridge Earth’s needs with tomorrow’s lunar and Martian realities,” said Amir Ansari, founder and CEO of xFoundry.
Beam into NEXPLORE: Browse reels and highlights on YouTube and the NEXPLORE 2040 LinkedIn page.
The next generation of innovators in solutions for space and beyond gathered at AmazonHQ2
In September 2025, more than 300 industry innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, policymakers, investors, and pioneering students convened at NEXPLORE 2040, recognized as the "Davos for Higher Education," at Amazon HQ2 in Arlington,VA. Hosted by xFoundry in collaboration with NASA and SpaceCom, the three-day summit enabled participants to define high-impact problem spaces and develop research and development roadmaps, transforming insights in to venture concepts.
The summit’s agenda focused squarely on the most urgent challenges ahead, drawn directly from NASA’s catalog of 187 technology shortfalls critical to long-duration missions. The 2025 program centered its work on four critical domains: Habitat Resilience, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Peak Human Performance, and High-Tech Health.
Throughout the event, speakers from leading organizations shared perspectives on advancing sustainable innovation, with students playing a central role. Notably, University of Maryland President Darryll Pines was a featured speaker alongside NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps, Dean Kamen of FIRST Robotics, Matt Ondler of Axiom Space, Peter Kreiner of noma group, Clayton Turner of NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, and Andy Walshe, former Head of Red Bull Performance.
NEXPLORE also marked the starting point of an 18-month Xperience journey. This initiative first launched in summer 2025, when top student teams from more than fifteen universities took part in the Horizons Challenge and competed to define the winning problem statement that will guide the next Xperience Competition.
NEXPLORE Collegiate: The Horizons Challenge
The nationwide Horizon's Challenge invited students to propose problem statements aligned with the four summit focus areas and rooted in NASA’s 187 technical shortfalls. Each submission was designed to address significant issues on Earth today while helping unlock transformative breakthroughs in space tomorrow.
Finalists from the University of Maryland College Park, Rutgers University, and SUNY Binghamton University presented their work live at NEXPLORE, and summit attendees voted to determine the ultimate theme. Rutgers Team InnerSolace secured the win with a compelling pitch focused on addressing circadian rhythm disruption for mental health, earning a cash prize of $2,040 along with a $10,000 stipend for their participation in the next Xperience Competition.
Horizons Gala & Award Ceremony
NEXPLORE closed with the Horizons Celebration, showcasing highlights from the summit and announcing the winning student teams of the Horizons Challenge and xFoundry School Safety Xperience Competition.
“NEXPLORE 2040 embodies what xFoundry was built to do by bringing together passionate problem solvers, empowering them with the tools and networks of our university ecosystem, and turning bold ideas into ventures that bridge Earth’s needs with tomorrow’s lunar and Martian realities,” said Amir Ansari, founder and CEO of xFoundry.
Beam into NEXPLORE: Browse reels and highlights on YouTube and the NEXPLORE 2040 LinkedIn page.