xFoundry to lead the NASA and USM Space Act Agreement

175,000+ USM students can now work directly on NASA's technology priorities.

Horizons Challenge

Define the next grand challenge

Explore emerging problem spaces, collaborate across disciplines, and shape the questions that will drive future innovation.

Registration is NOW OPEN.

join a team

Define the problem

The Horizons Challenge is xFoundry's nationwide competition to get studentsto shape the future of innovation.

This nationwide competition asks for student teams to identify critical problems in key areas that, if solved, could accelerate humanity's journey in space exploration while improving life on Earth.

identify PROBLEMS

Focus on defining the right problem, so future ventures start on solid ground.

Real-world application

Set the stage for student innovation by defining the next challenge to be solved by university student teams.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION

Collaborate across disciplines to understand complex challenges from multiple angles.

RESEARCH-DRIVEN INSIGHTS

Apply deep market analysis to prove the commercial viability and scalability of proposed solutions.

Why participate

$2,040 prize

Receive a $2,040 cash prize.

Meet with Xperts

Pitch your ideas to industry leaders, founders, and CXOs and get actionable feedback to sharpen your thinking.

Shape what comes next

Define the next Xperience competition, turning their research into the real-world challenge future teams will build ventures around.

Get recognized

Earn official finalist or winner badges to showcase on your LinkedIn and resume.

How to register

Join ConneXions, xFoundry's community of students and mentors, to get started:
  • Register for programs, form teams, and access exclusive resources
  • Participate in events, meet teammates, and connect with mentors
register here

Evaluation criteria

Submission are evaluated using the following criteria:
  • Ability to encourage participation across disciplines
  • Grand challenge definition and problem analysis
  • Impact and scalability
  • Narrative and communication quality

Eligibility & team information

The Horizons Challenge is open to current college and students and requires multiple disciplines.
  • 2-5 team members
  • Currently enrolled in an accredited university or community college (North America only)
  • A complete team collectively represents at least two TEAMS categories (Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts & Athletics, Marketing, Science) in their majors

Previous champions

Horizons Challenge 2025 Winner

Team Innersolace

Team Innersolace identified a growing issue: increasing isolation among humans on Earth and on the Moon, leading to early threats of disrupted sleep, low mood, and slowed thinking, well before physical health decline; setting the stage for a key approach for the 2027 Mental Health Xperience.

institution

Rutgers University

Prize

$2,040

Active Competitions

Horizons Challenge II

Set the stage for future innovation and compete for the $2,040 grand prize. Form your team, choose your focus area(s), and tell us why your topic deserves to be solved. Finalists pitch live in person for hundreds of industry experts at the NEXPLORE Summit. Teams can submit for multiple focus areas, with more chances to win.

Focus areas

Society
Health
Infrastructure
Predictive User Interfaces
Smart interfaces that know what you need before you do.
Health
Society
Infrastructure
Human Performance Monitoring
Health and safety monitoring tools that tell us when we are at risk.
Climate
Infrastructure
Society
Health
Autonomous Asset Inspection
AI as a tool to warn before failure in infrastructure, systems, and parts.
Climate
Education
Food and water
Health
Infrastructure
Adaptive Learning
Learn, adapt, and configure in high stress environments.
Prize

$2,040

Finals at nexplore summit

April 2027

Fall 2026 cohort

A new season of competition is just around the corner. Stay ready to showcase your talent and connect with peers.
Registration
Sep 01 - Nov 27, 2026
submission deadline
Dec 19, 2026

Spring 2027 cohort

Look ahead to 2027; define your problem and gather your team early to make your mark in our Spring competition.
Registration
Dec 01, 2026 - Mar 01, 2027
Submission deadline
Mar 21, 2027
Registration Closed

Mental Health Xperience

Build a scalable solution to improve student mental health and engagement, centered around one of seven high-impact entry approaches. Secure up to $250K in an investment to launch your company.

Registration closes

Mar 26, 2026

investment Prize

Up to $250K

Finals

Apr 2027

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

Who can participate in the Horizons Challenge?
What is considered a discipline?
How is the winning topic selected?
Can a team participate in the Horizons Challenge if they already have a solution in mind?
Does the $2,040 prize go to each individual team member or is it a single sum to be split among the entire team?
Is there a participation fee or any out-of-pocket costs for student teams to join Horizons Challenge?