Arizona AI Challenge

The Spark Center for Innovation in Learning (SCIL) Arizona AI Challenge invites students from across Arizona's higher education network are invited to design, build and pitch intelligent tools for inclusive excellence. 

In this week-long challenge, teams will prototype and pitch AI-powered solutions helping neurodivergent young adults navigating autism, dyslexia, ADHD, or mental health master the executive function skills essential for post-college success. Enjoy keynotes from education, policy and technology leaders before pitching AI-powered MVPs to a jury of challenge experts for up to $20,000 in grand prizes.

Grand prizes

• Two top teams will each receive a $5,000 award as finalists in the Spark Center for Innovation in Learning (SCIL) Arizona AI Challenge. 
• Finalist teams are later evaluated by the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute to advance to the Spark Center for Innovation in Learning (SCIL) Global AI Challenge receive the Sinema Student Prize, a $15,000 seed fund awarded to the Arizona AI Challenge Startup winner and the opportunity to advance to the Global AI Challenge including a spotlight at ASU+GSV Summit in 2026.  

Who should apply

• Currently enrolled student: all members must be a currently enrolled student attending any Arizona university or community college
• Experience a plus: experience in rapid prototyping, entrepreneurship and/or developing for AI encouraged.

Challenge schedule

• 11.07.25 | 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Zoom webinar) 

  Challenge kickoff! Participants, partners, and mentors gather online to explore the challenge brief, review rules, and network together before teams begin working. 

• 11.08.25 | 1:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Hybrid) Teams meet at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe or online to enjoy keynotes from challenge experts and begin prototyping with support from mentors.

• 11.10.25 | 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Creativity Commons - ASU teams) 

  Development continues with deeper technical work, mentorship, and progress check-ins hosted at their participating institutions. 

• 11.12.25 | 11:59 p.m. (Online) 

  Teams finalize and upload their solutions; submissions due by 11:59 p.m. 

• 11.15.25 | 10:00 a.m. (Zoom webinar) 

  Grand finale: demos, pitches, awards! Join us on Zoom as teams pitch live, demo solutions and answer jury Q&A to determine top two teams.