Microsoft Imagine Cup
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06/15/2026
One of the most valuable parts of the Imagine Cup experience happens outside the competition itself.
At the Microsoft for Startups reception during , our student founders had the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, exchange ideas, and learn from leaders helping shape the future of startups and AI.
From conversations with Tom Davis, General Manager of Microsoft for Startups, Sally Ann Frank, Global Lead for Startup Ecosystem at Microsoft for Startups, and Girish Bablani, President of Microsoft Azure, to connecting with founders at every stage of their journey, the evening was filled with insights, encouragement, and new connections.
Building a startup can be challenging, but being surrounded by a community of founders who understand the journey makes all the difference.
Moments like these are a reminder that Imagine Cup is more than a competition. It’s a community that continues long after the final pitch. 💙
06/10/2026
What happens when student founders take the global stage?
Watch the full 2026 Imagine Cup World Championship from Microsoft Build, where CopyFlag, Revora Health, and SpoilSafe pitched their startups live in front of a global audience of developers, founders, investors, and technology leaders.
🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 Imagine Cup World Champion, CopyFlag!
Built by Patrick Brown from the University of Oxford, CopyFlag is helping creators protect their original work in the age of generative AI. Using Azure-powered AI models, the platform detects copied and AI-modified content across the internet, helping creators identify infringement faster and automate takedowns at scale.
What began through Patrick's personal experience of having his own work copied online evolved into a mission to make advanced content protection accessible beyond the world's largest brands and enterprises.
As the 2026 Imagine Cup World Champion, CopyFlag receives $150,000 USD, a mentorship session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, continued support through Microsoft for Startups, plus an additional 6 months and $5,000 USD in credits from Replit.
👏 Congratulations as well to our fellow finalists:
✨ Revora Health
✨ SpoilSafe
Together, these student-founded startups demonstrated how the next generation of founders is applying AI to tackle meaningful challenges across creator protection, healthcare, and supply chain intelligence.
Imagine Cup is more than a competition. It's a community of student founders building startups that are good for business and good for the world.
Think you could be next? Learn more about the Imagine Cup and join the next generation of founders.
Watch the 2026 Imagine Cup World Championship On-Demand! 🏆 What happens when student founders take the global stage?Watch th...
One of the highlights of Build this past week was spending time with Hans Yang and the team.
During breakfast with our student founders, Hans shared his own founder journey—the wins, the setbacks, the lessons learned, and the realities of building something from the ground up.
One theme resonated throughout the conversation: choose your team carefully. 💡
The right people won’t just help build the product. They’ll help shape the culture, navigate the challenges, and stand beside you through the moments that matter most.
For founders preparing to scale a startup, those insights are invaluable. And hearing them from someone who has spent years working alongside founders and helping startups grow made the conversation all the more meaningful. 📈
Thank you, Hans, for investing in our founders and for sharing your experience so candidly.
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