COLLEGE PARK, MD—xFoundry, a transformative university-based innovation hub, today announced the launch of the Horizons Challenge, a nationwide competition that asks college students to identify a single, high‑impact problem whose resolution will help secure a lasting human presence on the Moon by 2040 and deliver measurable benefits to life on Earth.

Unlike conventional contests that reward ready‑made solutions, the Horizons Challenge focuses on problem discovery. Undergraduate and graduate teams are invited to submit a concise analysis of a critical issue, rather than a solution—within one of four areas central to NASA’s long‑term exploration strategy: safe and sustainable food; portable, off‑grid artificial intelligence; peak physical and mental performance; and autonomous health diagnosis and monitoring. 

Each proposal must demonstrate that the problem can be solved within two years, show clear potential for dual‑use applications on Earth, and align with NASA’s Technology Roadmaps. The winning problem statement will become the centerpiece of a 15‑month national innovation sprint and guide the next wave of NASA‑aligned research, entrepreneurship, and venture funding.

Completed submissions are due July 28, 2025. The five highest‑scoring teams will present their proposals at the NEXPLORE 2040 Summit on September 10, where summit attendees will vote to select the winning team, and the winner will be announced at a formal gala. The first‑place team will receive a $2,040 cash prize, a $10,000 development stipend, and determine the focus area for xFoundry’s subsequent Xperience Competition, a venture‑building program that will award up to $2 million in seed investment for teams developing market‑ready solutions.

“The Horizons Challenge is more than a competition; it is an opportunity for students to set the agenda for the next phase of space exploration,” said Amir Ansari, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of xFoundry. “By empowering students to define the problem space, we ensure that their future solutions are both visionary and grounded in real‑world needs.”

Christyl Johnson, Ph.D., Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, added, “Today’s students are the pioneers of tomorrow. Their ideas, innovations, and breakthroughs can shape the technologies and solutions that make interplanetary living a reality.”

Following the competition, the winning problem statement will guide a 15‑month national innovation effort supported by xFoundry’s TEAMS framework—Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts/Athletics, Marketing, and Science—mobilizing multidisciplinary talent to develop prototypes that serve both lunar exploration and pressing terrestrial challenges.

Detailed eligibility criteria, submission guidelines, and updates are available at xfoundry.org/horizons. Media inquiries may be directed to press@xfoundry.org.

About xFoundry

Founded in 2022 at the University of Maryland E. A. Fernandez IDEA Factory, the xFoundry Alliance is a network of universities dedicated to converting academic expertise into scalable ventures. Through challenge sourcing, venture competitions, and its TEAMS framework, xFoundry equips students to address humanity’s most pressing problems, from sustainability to space exploration.

About NEXPLORE 2040

NEXPLORE 2040 is a collaboration among xFoundry, NASA, Spacecom, and the University of Maryland that accelerates the technologies and partnerships required for a sustainable human foothold on the Moon by 2040.

Media contact

xFoundry Alliance | press@xfoundry.org