Horizons Challenge

Define the problem.

Duration

Semester

Prize

$2,040

Small student teams conduct market research on a topic and put together a pitch to present to an audience of industry experts that will vote on the best topic. The winning topic becomes the target for the next Xperience competition.

Registration Open

Horizons Challenge

Next Registration opens:

September 2026

Xperience

Solve the problem.

Duration

12 - 18 months

Prize

Opportunity to secure up to $2M in investment & company launch

Over 12 to 18 months, student teams tackle the selected challenge, collaborating to develop and compete with their solutions, competing for the chance to transform their ideas into a venture with up to $2M in investment.

Closed

Mental Health Xperience

Current Gate

Problem-Solution Fit

Xcelerate

Take the problem off the table.

duration

6 - 12 months

Xcelerate takes Xperience competition winners and transforms them into viable startups by partnering founders with seasoned CXO’s, strategic investor relationships, and operational support as they exit the university.

Xcelerate

Active for School safety Xperience competition winner: Team DefenX

Launch in April 2027

Mental Health Xperience

Registration

Closed

Grand Prize

Up to $250k

Finals

Spring 2027

New team registration has closed, but you can still join an existing team.

Horizons Challenge

Registration Opens

Sep 01, 2026

Grand Prize

$2,040

Finals

Spring 2027

You're doing fearless innovation. You're going to change the human condition. And for that, I salute you.

Jay Perman, MD

Chancellor, University System of Maryland

It is critical that you interact with broad disciplines in order to solve problems. You bring multiple disciplines to the table in order to find the best solution, fastest.

Samuel Graham, Ph.D.

Dean, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland

This is a watershed moment for the University of Maryland. This is the most innovative ecosystem that we could have ever created.

Darryll Pines, Ph.D.

President, University of Maryland

These are the kind of minds that we need to bring together because in order for us to innovate, it really takes people that are accustomed to thinking outside the box

Christyl Johnson, Ph.D.

Co-Founder and GP, Andromeda Ventures

Having a program like xFoundry that interacts and touches on all the colleges in the university is very important.

Amitabh Varshney, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland

By collectively bringing these different entities together, I think our students will have a profound impact on these really important problems. So I am super excited about the prospect of our students being involved in this.

Sarah L.J. Michel, Ph.D.

Dean, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Participating in multidisciplinary efforts like xFoundry will enhance our ability to truly embody and pursue the goals of our community.

Kimberly Griffin, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Education, University of Maryland

When different teams with diverse skills come together for a real-world project, the collaboration results in a great idea.

Prabhudev Konana, Ph.D.

Dean, Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland

We're so interested in xFoundry because we need to get people who understand not just how to have a big concept, but also how to ensure that concept truly drives impact

Stacey Shulman

VP, Health, Education & Consumer Industries, Intel

Join the xFoundry Alliance

‍Partner with us to launch scalable ventures that solve global grand challenges.

Real experience. Real challenges. Real possibilities

Three programs. One mission.

We provide the blueprint for multidisciplinary success, taking you from early research to venture launch.

Horizons Challenge

Horizons Challenge

Xperience

Mental Health Xperience

Xcelerate

Xcelerate

Mental Health Xperience

Horizons Challenge

A growing alliance of universities solving grand challenges.