Xperience: Competition Track

Compete to launch a venture with up to $2M in investment.

Tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time through competitive collaboration, and create your own career in the process.
Build your competition team.
Launch a funded venture.
Solve a grand challenge.
Create your own job while improving society.
entry requirements
  • All graduate students are eligible
  • Undergraduate students must have an anticipated graduation by May 2026
  • Recent graduates (≤2 years)
  • Must be enrolled at a University System of Maryland institution

Registration is open! Join a team or create your own.

Register your team

Welcome to the Xperience Competition.

This annual competition launches each fall, giving students the opportunity to get real-world experience through solving challenges.

Each competition is centered around a problem within our seven challenge domains.

Learn about our domains →

Competitors then form multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions.

Redeem points for access to exclusive competitions resources

Earn points throughout the competition by participating in key activities and milestones. Use these points to unlock valuable resources and support your team's efforts.

Learn more about how your efforts can translate into exclusive perks for your team.

Explore the points system →
Interested in competing, but haven’t built your team yet?
Join ConneXions, the community to connect with other students and build your team!

Join the Xperience Competition Discord to connect with other students and build your team!

Mixer 1
Tuesday, April 16  •  5:30 pm
IDEA Factory
Mixer 2
Thursday, April 18  •  5:30 pm
IDEA Factory
Mixer 3
Friday, April 19  •  12:30 pm
A. James Clark Hall

The grand prize is the launch of a new venture.

Never write a resumé again.

$250K - $2M in investment
Career on the venture's product team
Salary and equity stake
Experienced CXO network
12-minute documentary
2025 xperience competition topic

School safety

Students helping students – detect an active shooter threat on a K-12 campus and appropriately notify key personnel.

Learn more
Xperience Competition Milestones
Teams will navigate through these various milestones.

team registration

September 30, 2024
Milestone 1

Xperience’s multidisciplinary approach is pivotal in fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas, perspectives, and expertise. By intertwining creative expression and critical thinking, teams gain a comprehensive toolkit that transcends disciplinary limitations, propelling them towards innovative problem-solving and transformative impact.

team requirements
  • 3-12 student team members
  • At least 3 different majors represented
  • At least second-year student or above
  • Recent graduates are eligible (graduated ≤2 years)
Register your team
Interested in competing, but haven’t built your team yet?

We are hosting a series of mixers where you can meet others students looking to build their team. You can attend one or all 3. Below are details for each. Food will be provided.

Join the ConneXions community
Mixer 1
Tuesday, April 16  • 5:30 pm
IDEA Factory
Mixer 2
Thursday, April 18  • 5:30 pm
IDEA Factory
Mixer 3
Friday, April 19  •  12:30 pm
A. James Clark Hall
Join ConneXions, the community to connect with other students and build your team!

business plan and technical approach

November 25, 2024
Milestone 2
Main deliverables
  • Business plan documentation
  • Technical approach documentation

By completing this milestone successfully, your team lays a solid foundation for the subsequent stages of the competition, demonstrating strategic thinking, innovation, and readiness for real-world implementation. Here's how to navigate this milestone effectively:

  1. Understand the requirements
  2. Define your solution’s value proposition and features
  3. Formulate a marketing strategy and financial plan
  4. Outline your team structure
  5. Explain the technical architecture and roadmap
  6. Detail requirements and risks
  7. Seek feedback from mentors

team video demo

January 31, 2025
Milestone 3
Main deliverables
  • Video demonstration of progress

Submit a video demonstrating your team's progress and presenting your marketing plan. This video will be evaluated by our judges based on a provided rubric, with feedback provided to help you improve.

Start preparing early to ensure your video is engaging, informative, and professional. Let your creativity shine as you showcase your journey and strategy.

Sales pitch

February 15, 2025
Milestone 4
Main deliverables
  • Pitch presentation
  • Optional working prototype
  • Optional renderings and mockups

Teams will pitch their solutions live in front of a panel of judges, focusing on both sales and investment perspectives. This milestone provides a platform for teams to showcase their innovative solutions, persuasive skills, and entrepreneurial potential. Prepare your pitch diligently to make a compelling impression on the judges.

prototype demonstration

April 2025
Milestone 5
Main deliverables
  • Working prototype

Teams will demonstrate the technical aspects of their product to a panel of judges. This milestone provides an opportunity for teams to present their innovation in action, highlighting functionality and technical capabilities. Feedback will be provided to help teams refine their prototypes and address any technical challenges.

finals verification

June 2025
Milestone 6

Before the finals event, xFoundry personnel will conduct a thorough review of team progress to ensure capabilities.

This verification process is essential to guarantee that teams are well-prepared for the final stage of the competition. Feedback will be provided to help teams refine their strategies and address any areas of improvement.

This milestone aims to ensure that all participating teams are equipped to showcase their best work and compete effectively in the finals.

finals testing

August 2025
milestone 7
Main deliverables
  • Final working solution
  • Pitch presentation

Prepare for the ultimate showcase of your solution’s business and technical aspects in a full Shark Tank-style pitch day. This milestone requires teams to deliver a comprehensive presentation encompassing:

  1. Business aspect: Present a compelling pitch that covers market analysis, revenue model, marketing strategy, and financial projections.
  2. Technical aspect: Demonstrate the functionality, innovation, and technical capabilities of your product through a live presentation or prototype.
evaluation criteria
  • Solution quality
  • Market viability
  • Financial planning
  • Presentation and pitching skills
  • Team chemistry and multidisciplinary nature

Winners announced

Xplore 2025 event
Milestone 8
Congratulations to the winning team!

As a winning team member, you're not just taking home the trophy–you're a co-founder, a member of the product team, complete with a salary and equity stake.

  • Reserved spot as co-founders and product development team members in your startup
  • $250K-$2M investment into your startup
  • Experienced team of CXO’s to initially guide your startup
  • A 10-minute team documentary
  • Local and national press coverage
  • xFoundry alumni status and perks
take a grand challenge off the table

Members of the winning team that will continue their studies later will have the same guaranteed conditions at the company after graduation.

Your venture will tackle one of the major problems facing our society. Now you will work with a network of seasoned CXOs for the next 12-18 months to help ensure a successful and stable start.

Graduating students from the winning team will have a chance to join the product team as co-founders, using their skills to drive innovation and be a part of the company's growth journey.

Are you ready to take a grand challenge off the table?
Areas of impact

Challenge domains

We tackle global challenges across seven distinct domains through collaboration and entrepreneurship, shaping a brighter future for generations to come.

Learn more