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Sponsored by the Spark Center for Innovation in Learning

Arizona AI Challenge

a design and pitch competition building intelligent tools for inclusive excellence

The Spark Center for Innovation in Learning (SCIL) proudly presents the Arizona AI Challenge, powered by Enterprise Technology.

This accelerated design and venture challenge invites student teams, higher education institutions and service-minded organizations from across Arizona to advance AI solutions that support neurodiverse learning.

With support from leaders in education, policy and technology, student teams prototype and pitch AI-powered solutions that help neurodivergent young adults build executive function skills essential for post-college success. Two finalist teams each receive a $5,000 award before a final evaluation by the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute to determine the Arizona AI Challenge startup winner. The Arizona AI Challenge startup winner receives the Sinema Student Prize, a $15,000 seed fund to further their venture, along with year-long support from SCIL’s virtual Venture Studio and a spotlight at the ASU+GSV Summit.

The Arizona AI Challenge is a 7-day hybrid design and venture challenge that brings together teams of 4–5 Arizona college students to prototype and pitch AI-powered neurotechnology solutions focused on neurodiverse learning and life transitions. Working intensively over one week, teams move from problem framing and customer research to prototyping and pitching a minimum viable product.

By the end of the challenge, teams are expected to deliver a working prototype and a venture-style pitch that demonstrates technical feasibility, ethical AI use and real-world relevance.

The Arizona AI Challenge is open to accredited higher education institutions based in Arizona, including public universities, private institutions and community colleges. Eligible participants are currently enrolled students from these institutions who compete in interdisciplinary teams, often supported by their home institution through faculty mentorship or local workspaces. Teams are encouraged to bring together diverse academic backgrounds such as technology, design, education, health care and entrepreneurship to collaboratively prototype and pitch AI-powered neurotech solutions with real-world impact.

Participating teams must design and prototype AI-powered neurotech solutions that address executive function patterns and transitions experienced by neurodivergent young adults, exploring early indicators, adaptive systems, behavioral signals or context-aware interventions and translating research insights into actionable, human-centered design.

Competitive ventures demonstrate technical feasibility, ethical consideration and entrepreneurial potential. Standalone “focus apps” or generic productivity tools will not be competitive.

The Arizona AI Challenge is expected to return in a future cycle, with the next planned iteration anticipated in 2028. Dates, formats and application details will be announced closer to launch.

In the meantime, students and institutions are encouraged to explore related opportunities within the SCIL challenge ecosystem, including the upcoming North American AI Challenge.

Yes. The Arizona AI Challenge is part of a larger portfolio of Spark Center for Innovation in Learning challenges. The upcoming North American AI Challenge invites interdisciplinary student teams from across North American higher education institutions to participate in a week-long hybrid design and venture challenge focused on AI-driven neurotech for neurodiverse learning, with top teams advancing to a live finale in Phoenix, Arizona.

In collaboration with the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation, SCIL also hosts the Global AI Challenge, a worldwide venture acceleration program supporting AI-enabled solutions at the intersection of education, inclusion, and entrepreneurship, offering multi-stage support, global visibility, and access to venture development resources.

Challenge format

The Arizona AI Challenge follows a structured, week-long innovation sprint that mirrors real-world venture development. The experience begins with a formal kickoff where teams are introduced to the challenge brief, evaluation criteria and expectations and connect with mentors and Challenge Partners.

Teams then move into an intensive design sprint that combines customer and market research, rapid prototyping and iterative testing to translate insights into an AI-powered minimum viable product. As the week progresses, teams shift to pitch preparation, refining their narrative, demo and venture case with guidance from industry, academic and entrepreneurship experts.

The challenge culminates in a live pitch event where teams present and demo their solutions for an expert jury, followed by evaluation and awards that recognize technical excellence, inclusive design and real-world potential.

Challenge impact

Launched in 2025, the inaugural Arizona AI Challenge convened more than 90 student innovators from Arizona State University, Pima Community College and South Mountain Community College to collaboratively design AI-powered neurotech solutions grounded in real-world needs. Participating teams received support from an interdisciplinary network of leaders across technology, entrepreneurship, health care and public policy, along with mentors from the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute. Together, this ecosystem provided students with applied guidance, industry insight and venture-focused feedback, laying a foundation for scalable, impact-driven innovation.

$25,000+

in awards and seed funding

More than $25,000 in scholarships, including the $15,000 Sinema Student Prize seed fund, was awarded to top-performing teams, recognizing innovative AI solutions and supporting Arizona students as they continue to develop their ventures beyond the challenge.

90+

student innovators

More than 90 students from Arizona’s higher education institutions participated in interdisciplinary teams, bringing together skills in AI, design, research and entrepreneurship to prototype and pitch real-world neurotech solutions.

4+

service-minded partners

The Arizona AI Challenge is supported by a network of service-minded partners representing entrepreneurship, health care, public policy and venture development, including Eleplan, Adaptation Ventures, Mindly Care and the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute.

2025 Challenge Finalists

2025 Competitors

In the news

The North American AI Challenge is live!

The Spark Center for Innovation in Learning, in collaboration with Enterprise Technology, proudly presents the North American AI Challenge. This accelerated student design and venture challenge brings together student teams, higher education institutions and service-minded organizations to advance AI for neurodiverse learning.

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