Awardee team receives USD2,500 for its innovative technology solution at the world’s premier student technology competition
30 March 2020 – Microsoft today awarded team Synbiolic from Canada the runner-up prize at the 2020 Microsoft Imagine Cup Americas Regional finals, among 9 other finalist teams from Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Synbiolic is an AI-powered end-to-end rational drug design platform with a mission of making medicine more accessible, worldwide. Researchers are able to choose their targets, the small molecule’s property they wish to optimize and get a tailored list of molecules that could work as a drug, as well as instructions on how to synthesize that molecule.
Imagine Cup is designed to inspire students to use their imagination and passion for technology to create innovative solutions that tackle some of the world’s biggest social, environmental, and health challenges. From sustainability to empowerment and more, technological innovation has the power to make our world a better place, and younger generations are more motivated than ever to help contribute towards positive change.
“Beyond providing opportunities for a young and highly-skilled group of up and coming technology trailblazers, Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition offers a unique stage for students to use technology in ways that can potentially make a difference for future generations,” said Jennifer Ritzinger, General Manager, Audience Evangelism, Microsoft. “It gives us great satisfaction to see these talented student teams from across the Americas showcase their passion through innovative solutions that have the potential to create lasting impact in the world.”
This year’s winners, Team Deeptector and Team Tremor Vision from the United States, each have received a cash prize of USD8,000, Azure credits and a spot at the global finals to be held at Microsoft Build 2020. They will compete with winners from Asia and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), for the Imagine Cup trophy along with a cash prize of USD100,000, and a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Both the winning and runner-up teams that participated in the regional finals were selected after undergoing various rounds of the competition online or through in-person National Final events organized by Microsoft subsidiaries in countries across the Americas region.
The competition’s online judging panel included executives from Microsoft, as well as industry leaders. The teams were evaluated on innovation, and whether each solution presented was comprehensive and marketable. The judges included:
- Danielle Monteiro, CEO, WDB Consulting (Regional Director)
- Sage Franch, Co-Founder and CEO, Crescendo D&I
- Jennifer Ritzinger, General Manager, Audience Evangelism, Microsoft
- Samantha Villareal Torres, Founder and CEO, SWORKNET
- Margaret Price, Principal Design Strategist, Microsoft
Initiatives like Microsoft Imagine Cup help encourage the brightest and best students to develop world‐changing technology projects by unlocking their creativity with guidance, knowledge, and resources.
Held annually since 2003, Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition, affectionately known by participants as the “Olympics of student technology competitions.” For more information about Imagine Cup, please visit here.
