North American AI Challenge for Neurodiverse Learning

The Spark Center for Innovation in Learning, in collaboration with Enterprise Technology, invites interdisciplinary student teams from across North American higher education institutions to participate in the North American AI Challenge for Neurodiverse Learning, a hybrid design and venture challenge for students running Oct. 24 – Nov. 21, 2026.

From Oct. 24 to Nov. 21, 2026, this design and venture challenge invites students to prototype and pitch AI-driven ventures that support neurodivergent young people, while engaging higher education institutions and service-minded organizations across North America as partners and collaborators. Informed by real-world research with trusted partners that serve neurodiverse communities, student teams will develop and present venture-ready AI solutions through a series of pitch rounds, culminating in a live grand finale in Phoenix, Arizona, with $15,000 in grand prizes.

We want you to look beyond standard productivity apps; instead, combine neurodiversity research, AI prototyping, and smart business thinking to create something truly new. Show us how intelligent systems can uncover helpful insights, tailor support to the individual, and grow into responsible, real-world solutions. 

In this competition, student teams will:

• Conduct direct partner research: Engage with an assigned Challenge Partner (a vetted institution, program, or service provider) to ground proposals in lived experience, institutional realities, and real user needs.
• Prototype a functional MVP: Build an original, working functional Minimum Viable Prototype (FMVP) that incorporates AI and partner research within the intensive two-week design sprint.
• Present live: Pitch live in-person at a regional Challenge Launchpad by Nov. 7 to earn a spot at the live grand finale on Nov. 21 in Phoenix, Arizona to compete for the $15,000 Sinema Grand Prizes and seed funding, as well as global showcase opportunities.

Challenge schedule

May 15 - Sept. 30 | Application window

Pre-formed teams from participating universities in the United States and Mexico are invited to apply through Sept. 30. All individual team members must submit an application to be considered. See our Rules section for team requirements. 

Friday, Oct. 9 | Teams notified

Teams notified of their advancement and next steps via email. 

Saturday, Oct. 24 | Challenge kick-off (virtual)

Participants, partners, and mentors gather online to review challenge overview and exclusive details, enjoy keynotes from challenge experts, reveal Challenge Partners, ensure tool access and begin team ideation.

Oct. 25 - Nov. 6 | Design sprint

In two weeks, teams design, conduct research with a Partner, prototype their solutions, and prepare to pitch live on Nov. 7, 2026. 

Friday, Nov. 6 | Arizona Launchpad event

Teams pitch and demo their solutions live to an expert panel of evaluators in 5-minutes or less following a 5-slide template. Each Launchpad will select one winning team to advance to the grand finale in Phoenix, AZ on Nov. 21.

Saturday, Nov. 21 | Challenge Finale, Phoenix, AZ

Advancing teams compete in Phoenix, AZ at the grand finale featuring pitches, demos and awards ceremony!

Prize pool

As a prize, the top-ranked team will receive the Grand Prize Sinema Student Award, a $15,000 grand prize to nurture the winning MVP from a moonshot idea to a breakthrough innovation, distributed evenly to all members of the team. Awards will be dispersed as $5,000 scholarships,  distributed evenly to all members of the team as scholarships through your host institutions, and $10,000 in seed funding.

 Sinema Student Award winners will receive:

• Access to mentorship and technical support from Arizona State University.
• Engagement with a global community of innovators tackling similar challenges.
• Entry into the Spark Center’s virtual Pitch Studio in preparation for live pitching opportunities.
• A platform to spotlight their work and learn from leaders in AI, entrepreneurship and education technology.
• Year-long support from the Spark Center’s virtual Venture Studio, where ventures refine their business model, validate impact, and prepare for investors.

The second place team or runner up team will receive a $5,000 Silver award, distributed evenly to all members of the team. Awards will be dispersed as a scholarship through your host institutions. 

The third place team or runner up team will receive a $2,500 Bronze award, distributed evenly to all members of the team. Awards will be dispersed as a scholarship through your host institutions. 

Team requirements – Apply by Sept. 30

We are seeking mature, pre-formed teams of 4–5 students from eligible North American higher education institutions in the United States and Mexico. We strongly encourage interdisciplinary groups combining developers, entrepreneurs, and neurodiversity advocates with established trust and collaborative history.

• Complete teams only: Teams must consist of 4–5 currently enrolled students. Interdisciplinary mixes of technologists/engineers, UI/UX designers, business strategists, and communicators are strongly encouraged.
• Technical & Design skills: Experience in AI prototyping, prompt engineering, software pipeline development, or human-centered interface design.
• Research engagement: Willingness to conduct non-clinical customer research with assigned Challenge Partners.
• Regional Hub agreement: Teams must apply to a single regional Challenge Launchpad and agree to compete in person/virtually at that hub's pitch event by Nov. 7.

Learn more