Last year i.e in 2007 , I had the opportunity to participate in the Microsoft sponsored Imagine Cup . It was an amazing experience which I would treasure for the rest of my life. Although, I didn’t win the competition , I gained enough experience on “How to go about winning the competition” which I thought I’d share with you guys.

Intro

Imagine Cup is an annual competition conducted by Microsoft and other sponsors. Students can participate in a total of nine different categories with the total prize money upto $240,000 up for grabs.

This post is geared more towards the technical competitions like Software Design,Embedded Development etc.

Here are some of my suggestion :

Idea

This is the single most important  thing that can help you reach the finals. For striking the eureka moment you need to observe, listen and brain storm. Based on the theme (theme changes each year) you should be able to select ideas that is close to your expertise, your surroundings, the impact it can create and how closely it addresses the theme. If your idea satisfies these criteria then you can be rest assured that your team will make it to the finals.

Always remember your idea should be larger than life and at the same time you should be able to implement it.Check this post for more info

Team

“Never doubt that a group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Your team should comprise of committed people each with unique skill set. It should also have one skeptic who would be able to give a new perspective, questions your judgments and makes sure the that the team stays on the ground . Ideally , you should have team members who know each other and are from the same group . But don’t take my word for it – harp on to your instincts .

Presenation

This is one of the key areas that most people miss out on . Trust me, this is one of the most important areas if you want to win . Presentation also involves how you make your report . Use a lot  images, reduce the text in both your report and the presentation. Also remember to take capture a video of your device/software , this helps in case you have a breakdown(due to travel or some glitch) of your device in the final round.And last but not least practice your presentation like a pro ;).

So, there you go the three most important things to remember if you want to win the Imagine Cup.
Please feel free to add some more in the comments .

Disclaimer: I was part of the 2007 Imagine Cup competition.

This is a test post …..