FAQ | xFoundry Alliance

faq

Are there restrictions on team size or composition?

Min 2 members, max 7 members

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How does winning accelerate our path to the Xperience Competition?

Winning teams receive $10,000 to fund their participation and access to mentorship through Resource MatriX but there are no guarantees of advancing to Xperience finals; standard milestone evaluations apply.

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What’s the prize for winning?

Cash: $2,040.

Long-term prizes:

Accelerated entry into the 2027 Xperience Competition.
$10,000 team stipend for Xperience participation.
Featured in the NEXPLORE documentary.
Networking with NASA experts/industry leaders at the summit.

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What is the Horizons Challenge?

The Horizons Challenge identifies Earth-based problems that, if solved, could accelerate technology development for sustainable lunar and Martian habitation by 2040. It aligns with NASA's technology roadmaps and focuses on dual-use applications—solving current Earth challenges while advancing capabilities needed for deep-space infrastructure.This approach ensures market validation on Earth while developing scalable solutions for space, so our society and economy today receive present day benefits from developing related technologies while reducing risk and cost for NASA in the long run.

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How do we register and submit?

Team registration and submissions are all done in ConneXions: go.xfoundry.org/connexions. For full submission details, check out the resources page for the Horizons Challenge on ConneXions.

What’s the full timeline for the Horizons Challenge?

Key dates:

Team registration opens: March 21
Submission window: July 7–28
Finals: September 10

Can teams propose problems outside of the four focus areas?

No—submissions must align with the predefined focus areas co-developed with NASA:

Safe and Sustainable Food
Portable Off-Grid AI
Peak Physical/Mental Performance
Autonomous Health Diagnosis/Monitoring

Who is eligible to participate?

Any student enrolled at a college or university in the United States. This includes undergraduate, graduate, and international students.

What happens if my team wins?

Winners receive from $250k- $2m in investment funds, a CXO network, salary and equity stake, spots in the company product development team and a 12-minute documentary

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What are the milestone requirements?

Milestones include business plans, sales pitch, prototype demonstrations, and rigorous testing. Teams advance by meeting judging criteria, with feedback provided at each phase.

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How do I find team members?

Our Connexions platform allows students to connect with other students interested in competing.

What are team requirements?

Teams must have 3-12 members and represent at least 3 different schools/colleges from their University system.

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Who is eligible to compete?

Undergraduate students with Junior standing or above

All Graduate students

Recent graduates within 2 years of their graduation date

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What is the Xperience Competition?

A 15-18 month guided curriculum featuring annual targeted competitions. The program is strategically crafted to tackle grand challenges through the creation of sustainable ventures.

Students undergo a transformative journey, cultivating a founder's mindset. This process hones essential skills such as resilience, adaptability, and risk tolerance, empowering students to address significant challenges while fostering innovative solutions.

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