Announcing the 2025 Imagine Cup Semifinalists

We’re excited to announce the next phase of the 2025 Imagine Cup – meet the startups who were selected to advance to the Semifinals! These student founders are the future, and their innovative ideas are sure to capture your interest and perhaps spark your own new idea.

The semifinalists will receive advice and guidance through personalized mentorship and additional benefits within Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub to help further develop their idea and solution as they prepare for the next round of the competition. A panel of judges (including AI experts, startup founders, and venture capitalists – meet them here!) will select the top three startups. These startups will advance to World Championship, competing for the ultimate prize of $100,000 USD¹ and a mentorship session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella! The two runners-up will each receive $25,000 USD¹.

Inspired by the ideas below? Apply to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub to begin launching your own startup today. Access free industry-leading AI, credits with fewer restrictions, and tools to scale quickly.

 

Congratulations to the semifinalists! (listed in alphabetical order):

 

ADA.AI, Telkom University, Indonesia

ADA.AI is an accessible AI-driven job-matching platform that empowers job seekers with disabilities through inclusive hiring and career tools like CV Maker and Career Tree. It addresses corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals for human resources, ensuring seamless and equitable opportunities for all.

---

Argus, Stanford University, United States

Argus is a two-part device that empowers independence for visually impaired individuals by responding to questions about the world around them, aiding with tasks like object identification, facial recognition, and navigation.

---

Cognify, University of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Cognify is an AI study app that helps students with ADHD study effectively by generating concise and interactive lessons from their own study materials. It uses eye-tracking technology to alert them when they get distracted.

---

DaNang Speech, The University of Danang, Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, Vietnam

DaNang Speech provides a comprehensive Vietnamese language dictionary equipped with advanced mispronunciation detection capabilities. By leveraging speech recognition and artificial intelligence technologies, it offers seamless API integration to facilitate pronunciation improvement for children, students, and foreign language learners.

---

FuiZion KrEw, Higher Colleges of Technology, United Arab Emirates

FuiZion KrEw's product Lexy is an AI-powered reading assistant that makes text accessible for people with dyslexia through personalized content adaptation, smart remixing, and real-time feedback.

---

HairMatch, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States

HairMatch is an AI-powered hair analysis app for finding natural haircare products, personalizing hair care. It allows women to scan their curly hair and receive product recommendations.

---

Handify.AI, Ecole des Mines de Paris, France

Handify is an AI-powered robotic assistant for disabled individuals and the elderly. It combines a voice-controlled arm and advanced Large Language Model (LLM) to perform tasks, offer real-time analysis, and enhance independence—all at an affordable price.

---

Intratalent, Stanford University, United States

Intratalent is an AI-powered resume screener by analyzing resumes, GitHub, and research papers. It integrates with existing application tracking systems, ranks top candidates, and reduces time-to-screen by 10x for medium-to-large enterprises, offering deeper contextual matching and transparent rationale for every recommendation.

---

Koel Labs, University of Washington, United States

Koel Labs provides personalized, actionable, real-time pronunciation feedback through entertaining movie-clips and television shows for the 50% of foreign speakers struggling with their accent every day.

---

MariTest, Oxford University, United Kingdom

MariTest is an AI-powered, non-invasive malaria diagnostic device. It detects malaria using a paramagnetic signature, making it portable and user-friendly. The device provides real-time diagnosis and data transfer without needing blood samples, labs, or skilled healthcare workers, ideal for remote areas.

---

MediSmart, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia

MediSmart is a medication reminder application utilizing AI technology. Its goal is to enhance medication adherence through personalized reminders and integrated user support, improving health outcomes and reducing medical costs.

---

OctaPulse, Carnegie Mellon University, United States

OctaPulse automates the sorting and inspection of juvenile fish in hatcheries and RAS farms using AI-powered computer vision and synchronized hardware. Achieving over 90% accuracy, it reduces labor demands, improves fish health, and enhances profitability. Focused on sustainability, it helps farms scale operations to meet rising global seafood demand.

---

Omniglot, VN-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education, the University of Danang (VNUK), Vietnam

Omniglot is an AI-powered translation tool designed to deliver a seamless and efficient workflow. It combining user-adapted style, cloud-based convenience, and Azure AI-backed privacy, specifically tailored for freelance translators and independent publishers.

---

RSL, Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia

RSL is an AI-powered autism screening system using a social robot that engages children with gamified activities while analyzing speech, behavior, and emotions. It provides accurate diagnostics, improving accessibility and efficiency for therapists.

---

Signvrse, The African Leadership University, Machakos University, Technical University of Mombasa, United States International University - Africa, Rwanda

Signvrse is an AI-powered platform bridging communication gaps between the Deaf and hearing communities. Its tool, Terp, uses lifelike avatars to translate spoken languages into sign language, fostering inclusivity and accessibility on a global scale.

---

Smart Grade AI, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

Smart Grade AI automates manual grading with AI-driven essay evaluation, providing instant feedback and analytics to save educators time and improve student outcomes.

---

ToolDetective, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Universitário Facens, Brazil

ToolDetective provides predictive maintenance for the manufacturing industry by checking metal cutting tool wear during each cycle of machining. It using computer vision based on deep learning algorithms to segment the wear on the image and increase the tool's lifetime.

---

Verse, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States

Verse uses AI to provide assignable, voice-based conversations that encourage critical thinking and active learning. It supports over 50 languages and helps prevent plagiarism and AI misuse. Ideal for educators, Verse offers real-time, interactive assignments that promote deeper thinking and accommodate diverse learning styles.

 

Stay tuned and follow us on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for exciting announcements and the latest updates.

 

¹Open only to enrolled high-school or college/university students 18+. For additional eligibility criteria, round start/end dates, and detailed instructions on how to participate, see the Imagine Cup Official Rules and Regulations.