Satya Nadella crowns the 2015 Imagine Cup World Champions

[Guest Steve Guggenheimer]

For 13 years, Microsoft Imagine Cup has inspired and challenged student developers worldwide to master new skills, build strong teams and bring entire technology projects from concept to completion. As a company originally founded by students, Microsoft believes in the power of young people connecting with technology to dream big, build creatively and boldly bring their ideas to life. Through our Microsoft Imagine program, students of all ages and skill levels get the world’s best coding tools and online learning at no cost, so they can build their future now.

 

On Friday, a brilliant team of students showed CEO Satya Nadella just what they’re capable of when he crowned Team eFitFashion of Brazil as the winning team of the 2015 Imagine Cup World Championship during a live broadcast and in front of an audience of 5,000 students, judges, partners and Microsoft employees at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle.

 

Team eFitFashion’s project, Clothes For Me, is a marketplace for custom tailored clothes based on a person’s unique body size and shape.

 

“All of you represent that passion to dream the impossible and make it possible. I want you to keep that dream alive,” Nadella told the Imagine Cup competitors Friday. “What you started at this competition is going to grow, because of your passion, your dreams, your ability to take it forward and your ability to learn on the way. It’s such a pleasure for me to see the passion and the innovation you have demonstrated today.”

 

Our panel of distinguished judges – Thomas Middleditch, star of the hit HBO show “Silicon Valley;” Alex Kipman, inventor of HoloLens; and Jens Bergensten, lead developer of Minecraft – had their work cut out for them as they decided between the top three Imagine Cup teams, narrowed down from tens of thousands of teams from across the globe.

 

Over this past week, our judges chose a first-place winner in each of the three Imagine Cup competition categories: Team IzHard of Russia for Games, Team eFitFashion of Brazil for Innovation and Team Virtual Dementia Experience of Australia for World Citizenship. The first-place teams then competed in front of the world to take home the Imagine Cup and to receive a private meeting with Satya Nadella, our CEO.

 

The 2016 season of Imagine Cup launches today, as well, and it’s never too early for students to start dreaming up their next projects and getting prepared by visiting our website.

 

 

We’re finding talented student developers at younger and younger ages, too – last week we shared the results of a new competition for students as young as 9 years old, and the work they did was impressive. We’ll have more opportunities for younger students coming in August and continuing all season long.

 

When Bill and Paul started Microsoft in college, they were talented and fearless. We see that spirit every day in the students who learn to code through Microsoft Imagine and go on to compete in the Imagine Cup. Working with students like these is an honor and a profound responsibility, one that Microsoft cherishes. Especially on days like today, when we see the incredible work students can do when they connect with technology and dream big.

 

Here are all the winners of the 13th annual Microsoft Imagine Cup!

 

Cheers,

 

Guggs

 

 

 

WORLD CHAMPION

 

• Winners of the Imagine Cup trophy and a private meeting with Satya Nadella: Team eFitFashion, for its project Clothes For Me, Winner of the Innovation category
  

 

CATEGORY WINNERS

 

Games Category:

 

• First Place, $50,000 prize and PAX Boot Camp: Team IzHard (Russia, “Ovivo”)
  
• Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team Kuality Games (The Netherlands, “Bounce ‘em Up”)
  
• Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team T.H.I.E.F. (China, “Lost Shadow”)
  

 

Innovation Category:

 

• First Place, $50,000 prize and Microsoft Ventures Boot Camp: Team eFitFashion (Brazil, Clothes for Me)
  
• Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team NoObs (Azerbaijan, Spinal)
  
• Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team Siymb (United Kingdom, Siymb)
  

 

World Citizenship Category:

 

• First Place, $50,000 prize and Microsoft YouthSpark Boot Camp: Team Virtual Dementia Experience (Australia, Virtual Dementia Experience)
  
• Second Place, $10,000 prize: Team Mozter (Singapore, Mozter)
  
• Third Place, $5,000 prize: Team Prognosis (Greece, Prognosis)
  

 

Ability Award:

 

• Microsoft Ability Boot Camp: Team Prognosis (Greece, Prognosis)
  

 

Microsoft Student Partner of the year:

 

• Jason Chee of Singapore
  

 

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