Nexplore logo with stylized text including a circular graphic within the letter O, accompanied by the words Discover, Create, Accelerate separated by vertical lines.

September 09–11, 2025

Amazon HQ2 • Arlington, VA

336

attendees

3

days

55

speakers

So... what did we NEXPLORE?

Xperience competition winner:

Team DefenX
Seven people standing on stage holding a large check and a trophy, with a University of Maryland logo in the background. The check is made out to Team DefenX for $250,000 dated 9/11/25, with 'Investment' written in the memo. One woman raises a trophy while smiling, and another speaks into a microphone.
NEXPLORE Highlights
Dean Kamen

The legendary Segway inventor and FIRST Robotics founder kicked off day two with an electrifying look at how student-driven innovations are literally shaping the future of medicine on Earth and beyond.

The Rumble

Our students jumped into a fast-paced, high-energy feedback session where they refined their pitches.

Building AI Beyond Earth

A fascinating exploration of how we can design robust AI to thrive even in the most resource-limited environments.

NASA Fireside Chat

We explored the future of space exploration toward 2040, discussing the technologies and cross-sector collaborations that will guide humanity back to the Moon and our first thrilling steps toward Mars.

Medicine Without Limits

What happens when autonomy meets intelligence? This session took a deep dive into how healthcare will be redefined by the next generation of smart tech.

Peter Kreiner

Noma co-owner Peter Kreiner shared the inspiring story of how a world-renowned restaurant transformed into a food laboratory, fueled by a curiosity that is now shaping the menu of the future.

Peak Human Performance

We looked at how emerging tech is redefining the limits of both humans and machines, driving a new era of sustainable innovation.

Andy Walshe

An incredible talk on how the perfect mix of creativity and resilience is the true fuel driving space innovation forward.

To see more highlights visit our YouTube channel

xFoundry Youtube

Horizons Challenge winner:

Team Innersolace
Seven people stand on stage holding a large check with a glowing orange background that reads 'Congratulations Team Innersolace Horizons Challenge.' The check is dated 9/11/25 and made out to Team Innersolace for two thousand and forty dollars from Horizons Challenge Nexplore 2040.

Thank you to our sponsors!

We gratefully acknowledge our sponsors, whose support is instrumental in advancing the mission and impact of NEXPLORE 2040.
Title Sponsors
Visionary Sponsor
Innovator Sponsor
Catalyst sponsor