The Conrad Challenge: A Complete Guide

If you’re a student who loves solving problems, creating new ideas, and dreaming big, the Conrad Challenge might be the perfect opportunity for you. This global STEM and entrepreneurship competition invites students to turn their boldest ideas into real-world innovations, while learning valuable business, leadership, and teamwork skills along the way.

Curious about what the Conrad Challenge is and how you can join? This guide has everything you need to know—from the timeline and categories to prizes, eligibility, and past winners.

• What Is the Conrad Challenge?
• Conrad Challenge Awards and Prizes
• How to Qualify for Conrad Challenge
• How to Get into Conrad Challenge
• How to Win Conrad Challenge
• Conrad Challenge Previous Winners
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the Conrad Challenge?

The Conrad Challenge is a global competition that inspires students to come up with creative, practical solutions to real-world problems. Founded by Nancy Conrad in honor of her late husband, Charles “Pete” Conrad—the Apollo 12 astronaut and third person to walk on the Moon—the challenge celebrates his spirit of exploration, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The Conrad Challenge is hosted by the Conrad Foundation and Space Center Houston. It runs every year from August through April, giving students ages 13–18 the chance to think like entrepreneurs and turn ideas into working prototypes and business plans.

The process starts with choosing one of five categories, each centered on major global challenges:

• The Water Challenge. Focus on clean water access, purification, and conservation.
• Health and Nutrition. Improve wellness, healthcare, or food systems.
• Energy and Environment. Develop renewable energy or sustainability solutions.
• Cyber Technology and Security. Enhance data safety, AI ethics, or digital resilience.
• Aerospace and Aviation. Innovate in flight, drones, or space exploration.

Once a team selects their category, they’ll move through three main phases of the Conrad Challenge:

1. Activation Stage. Teams form, brainstorm ideas, and complete a Lean Canvas outlining their innovation.
2. Innovation Stage. Teams develop detailed proposals, create videos, and design a public website to showcase their product.
3. Innovation Summit. Finalists travel to Space Center Houston, where they pitch their ideas to judges, present at the public expo, and celebrate at the awards ceremony.

For the Conrad Challenge 2025–2026, registration opens on August 28, 2025, and the competition will conclude with the Innovation Summit on April 22–25, 2026.

Judges and mentors come from leading organizations like Google, Equinor, and Blue Origin, making the Conrad Challenge one of the world’s most respected innovation competitions for students.

Conrad Challenge Awards and Prizes

Winning the Conrad Challenge is a life-changing milestone—one that celebrates creativity, teamwork, and the power of innovation.

Every year, category champions earn the prestigious title of Pete Conrad Scholars. This top honor recognizes student teams whose innovations demonstrate exceptional creativity, feasibility, and global impact.

Each category also highlights a Power Pitch Winner, awarded to the team that delivers the most compelling and persuasive presentation during the Innovation Summit. These teams stand out for their storytelling, clarity, and ability to inspire judges and peers alike.

Here are other factors that make winning the Conrad Challenge so rewarding:

1. An all-expenses-paid international trip

Sponsored by Equinor and United Airlines, Pete Conrad Scholars embark on an unforgettable journey to visit leading STEM institutions, research centers, and innovation hubs across the globe. This immersive trip connects young entrepreneurs with scientists, investors, and industry leaders who are shaping the future of technology and sustainability.

2. Free patent support

Winning teams receive professional guidance from intellectual property attorneys to help protect their innovations. This early legal and technical mentorship gives students a vital head start in bringing their creations to market and learning how to navigate real-world entrepreneurship.

3. Academic scholarships

Finalists have the chance to earn additional scholarships and the Challenge’s most prestigious title—Pete Conrad Scholar—during the Innovation Summit.

One standout opportunity is the Lewis & Clark College scholarship, created in partnership with the Conrad Foundation. Through this scholarship:

• Conrad Innovators (past or current participants) receive a $15,000-per-year merit-based scholarship (valued at $60,000 total).
• Conrad Finalists receive an increased $22,000-per-year scholarship (valued at $88,000 total).

4. Networking and mentorship opportunities

Winners and finalists gain direct access to professionals from NASA, Google, Blue Origin, Space Center Houston, and Equinor, as well as mentorship from Conrad alumni who have gone on to launch startups and pursue advanced research. These connections often lead to internships, collaborations, and lifelong professional networks.

5. Conrad Challenge Special Awards

In addition to the main category honors, several special awards may be presented during the ceremony. For the 2024–2025 Conrad Challenge Awards Ceremony, here are some of the special awards given:

• Equinor “Searching for Better” Award. For innovations promoting sustainability and environmental progress.
• Donald James Citizenship Award. For compassion and community service.
• Glinsky Expo Exhibit Awards. For outstanding presentation and creativity. Awards given that year were the Most Persuasive and Best Tabletop awards.
• Space Center Houston Best Entrepreneurial Innovator. For developing a lunar oxygen and hydrogen extraction system supporting sustainable space travel.
• Teacher of the Year. For excellence in student mentorship and innovation education.
• Alumni Leadership Council (ALC) Recognition. For their leadership and service within the Conrad alumni community.

How to Qualify for the Conrad Challenge

Joining the Conrad Challenge is the first step toward turning your big ideas into world-changing innovations. To help you get started, here’s everything you need to know before joining, from who can participate to what you’ll need to prepare and when key deadlines fall.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Conrad Challenge 2025–2026, you must:

• Be a student aged 13–18 between August 2025 and April 2026.
• Be part of a team that includes 2–5 students
• Have one adult coach who provides support and guidance throughout the competition.

One of the best things about the Conrad Challenge is how flexible it is. Your teammates don’t need to be from the same school, city, or even country! Many teams collaborate virtually across time zones, making this a truly global and diverse learning experience.

Required documents

Once your team is set, you’ll work together to complete key submissions that tell the story of your innovation journey. According to the Conrad Challenge Student Guide, teams must submit:

• A Lean Canvas that maps out your idea, problem, and market strategy.
• An Innovation Brief explaining your concept, purpose, and real-world impact.
• A Short Innovation Video introducing your team and product or prototype in a creative and engaging way.
• A Public Team Website showcasing your mission, innovation, and team members for judges and the public.

Contest fees

The Conrad Challenge strives to make participation accessible, with financial aid available for qualifying teams. Here’s the cost breakdown:

• Activation & Lean Canvas Stage. Free to submit
• Innovation Stage. $499 per team (financial aid available)
• Innovation Summit. $499 per attendee (financial aid available)

These Conrad Challenge registration fees help fund expert judging, mentorship, workshops, and the immersive events that make this STEM and entrepreneurship competition such a unique experience.

Registration deadline

Here’s the full Conrad Challenge 2025–2026 timeline so you can plan ahead:

If you’re still preparing to join, take time to review the official Rules and Regulations, ensuring you are competing fairly and understand what’s expected at each stage of the Conrad Challenge.

If you’re participating through the China Chapter, be sure to check out their official website for their China Student Guide about specific rules and registration steps.

How to Get Into the Conrad Challenge

Joining the Conrad Challenge is an exciting journey that takes you from an initial spark of inspiration to pitching your innovation on a global stage. This competition unfolds in three key stages, each designed to help you grow your idea step by step—from brainstorming to building, refining, and presenting your final solution.

Here’s what to expect at each stage:

Phase 1: Activation Stage (August 28 – October 30, 2025)

This is where your innovation adventure begins! During the Activation Stage, you’ll team up, brainstorm bold ideas, and identify a global problem you want to solve. You’ll also choose from one of the five Conrad Challenge categories that best fits your passion and expertise:

• The Water Challenge
• Health and Nutrition
• Energy and Environment
• Cyber Technology and Security
• Aerospace and Aviation

Once your team selects a category, you’ll complete a Lean Canvas—a one-page outline that maps out your idea, the problem you’re solving, and your target audience. This step helps you think like a true entrepreneur while laying the groundwork for your project.

You’ll also finalize your team name, innovation title, and register everything through the Conrad Portal.

Phase 2: Innovation Stage (October 31, 2025 – January 8, 2026)

Now it’s time to turn ideas into reality. In the Innovation Stage, your team will develop your concept into a polished proposal. You’ll define your business model, demonstrate your design, and show how your innovation can make an impact.

During this stage, you’ll submit:

• An Innovation Brief that answers ten key questions about your idea, purpose, and market.
• A 3–5 Minute Innovation Video that creatively presents your prototype, storyboard, or concept.
• A Public Website that introduces your team, mission, and innovation to the community.

Judges from leading companies and universities, including Google, Blue Origin, and Equinor, will review your work and provide detailed feedback to help you improve.

At the end of this stage, the Conrad Challenge results are announced on February 27, 2026, revealing which teams advance as Finalists to the next round.

Phase 3: Innovation Summit (April 22 – 25, 2026)

The Innovation Summit is the grand finale—a four-day event at Space Center Houston where Finalists present their projects live on stage.

Each team delivers a Power Pitch before a panel of global experts and industry leaders, followed by a Q&A session. Beyond the competition, you’ll enjoy workshops, inspiring speaker sessions, networking opportunities, and special tours.

Finalist teams also display their innovations at the Public Expo, sharing their work with attendees from around the world. The event concludes with an Awards Ceremony, where category winners earn the prestigious title of Pete Conrad Scholar, joining an inspiring global community of innovators.

How to Win the Conrad Challenge

Want to make it all the way to the Innovation Summit and earn the title of Pete Conrad Scholar? Winning the Conrad Challenge is about teamwork, creativity, and knowing how to bring your vision to life.

Here are some practical tips inspired by past Conrad Challenge winners to help you stand out and succeed:

1. Choose the right category.

Start by picking a Conrad Challenge category that truly excites you. Whether you’re drawn to solving water shortages, designing health innovations, protecting the planet, securing cyberspace, or exploring new frontiers in aviation, choose something you care about deeply. When you’re passionate about your topic, it shows in your work.

2. Identify a real problem.

Great innovations start with a great problem. Take time to research real-world challenges—they could be local issues in your community or global concerns like climate change or access to clean water.

Judges love projects that solve meaningful problems and have real impact. Show that your idea is relevant, practical, and capable of making a difference. Be sure to explain who will benefit from your innovation and how it will create change. Whether your project helps local farmers, patients, or entire communities, connect your work to a purpose that resonates.

3. Build a balanced team.

Behind every winning project is a strong, diverse team. Look for teammates with different skills—someone great at research or coding, another with design or communication strengths, and someone who loves data or business planning.

Past Conrad Challenge winners say that teamwork makes all the difference. When everyone brings their strengths to the table, your project becomes more creative, complete, and ready for anything.

4. Create an innovative and practical solution.

Once you’ve defined your problem, focus on creating a solution that’s both inventive and achievable. Judges look for projects that balance creativity with feasibility—meaning your idea should be imaginative, but also realistic to develop and use.

Use research, test your ideas, and think about how your innovation could evolve over time. The best entries dream big and show how those dreams can work in the real world.

5. Craft a compelling pitch.

Your idea might be amazing, but how you present it matters just as much. In the Conrad Challenge, your Innovation Video and Power Pitch are your time to shine.

Use these moments to tell your story: how your team formed, what inspired your idea, and how your innovation can help people. Keep it clear, confident, and engaging by practicing your pitch until it feels natural.

6. Seek out mentors and feedback

Don’t do it alone! Coaches, teachers, and past participants can offer guidance that helps you refine your idea and presentation. Mentorship is a huge part of the Conrad experience, and feedback from experts can make your project stronger and more professional.

7. Protect your idea.

The Conrad Challenge encourages teams to think like real entrepreneurs, which means protecting their ideas. Teams are advised to file a provisional patent before presenting at the Summit. It’s a valuable step that teaches you about intellectual property and how to take your innovation to market.

Conrad Challenge Previous Winners

Every year, the Conrad Challenge highlights some of the most inspiring young innovators from around the world. Let’s take a closer look at the incredible projects and teams from 2025 that earned top honors in each category.

1. Aerospace & Aviation

Pete Conrad Scholars: SensAir (Singapore)

Team: Ishaan Puri, Anvay Mathur | Coach: Christine Nguyen

SensAir is a smart aerospace sensor that detects clear-air turbulence (CAT)—one of the most dangerous and unpredictable threats to flight safety. Using pulsed lasers and advanced physics, it maps turbulence in real time, helping pilots make safer, more efficient flight decisions.

Power Pitch Winners: Weathering Heights | AirAnchor (Republic of Korea)

The AirAnchor is a low-cost, reusable device that improves weather data collection by reducing aircraft drift. With its innovative design, it makes climate monitoring more accurate and sustainable, even cutting launch costs from hundreds of dollars to just a few.

2. Cyber-Technology & Security

Pete Conrad Scholars: WiFind (Virginia, USA)

Team: Nayel Rehman, Aayush Tendulkar, Arhan Menta, Rushil Kukreja | Coach: Ashish Tendulkar

WiFind helps search and rescue teams locate survivors trapped under debris using Wi-Fi signal disruptions. By detecting tiny movements through walls or rubble, it creates real-time 3D maps that guide rescuers to victims faster, potentially saving countless lives.

Power Pitch Winners: SoberRide (North Carolina, USA)

Born from a personal tragedy, SoberRide is an AI-powered safety system that prevents drunk driving. Its sensors and facial recognition software detect intoxication before the car starts, helping prevent thousands of accidents each year.

3. Energy & Environment

Pete Conrad Scholars: SPIRo (California, USA)

Team: Evan Zhang, Eddie Zhang | Coach: Bhavik Shah

SPIRo (Soft Pipeline Inspection Robot) is an AI-powered robot that detects methane leaks in gas pipelines with incredible precision. Its flexible, bio-inspired design allows it to navigate tight or hazardous spaces safely—reducing emissions and improving efficiency across the energy sector.

Power Pitch Winners: Swarmthinkers | FireAIDSS (China)

FireAIDSS uses AI-driven drone swarms to detect and predict wildfires in real time. By visualizing “invisible threats” like ember attacks, it helps firefighters act faster and smarter, transforming how communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

4. Health & Nutrition

Pete Conrad Scholars: Neuropod (California, USA)

Team: Vishresh Deepak, Nikhil Krishnaswamy, Anika Mukherjee | Coach: Deepak Balasubramaniam

Neuropod is a sleek, behind-the-ear EEG device that tracks brain activity in real time. Designed to be affordable and comfortable, it’s perfect for monitoring stress, sleep, and neurological conditions like epilepsy, making brain health more accessible than ever.

Power Pitch Winners: Kinection (China)

Kinection’s smart wearable brace combines sensors and an app to help patients recover from ankle injuries faster. It reduces re-injury rates and allows therapists to track progress remotely, improving care while saving time and costs.

5. The Water Challenge

Pete Conrad Scholars: ToiletWarrior | Aquabel (China)

Team: Zikang Zhang, Chunhei Lam, Mingyu Shen | Coach: Chengwei Sun

Aquabel is an IoT-powered urinal system that saves up to 220,000 liters of water each year, cutting maintenance costs by 85%. It’s designed for public restrooms and large facilities, promoting sustainability and water efficiency on a global scale.

Power Pitch Winners: Aquaneers | Shells for Water (Vietnam)

Aquaneers developed a biodegradable, chitosan-based water filter made from seafood waste. It purifies water three times faster than traditional systems and helps communities in water-scarce regions gain reliable access to clean drinking water.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Conrad Challenge all about?

The Conrad Challenge is a global competition where students ages 13–18 become innovators and entrepreneurs. It encourages young minds to design creative, science-based solutions to real-world problems, from climate change to health tech and beyond.

2. Is the Conrad Challenge prestigious?

Absolutely! The Conrad Challenge is one of the most respected student innovation competitions in the world. It’s recognized by top universities and global companies for nurturing creativity, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking.

3. What are the Conrad Challenge categories?

Participants can choose from five exciting categories: The Water Challenge, Health and Nutrition, Energy and Environment, Cyber Technology and Security, and Aerospace and Aviation. Each focuses on a global issue where young innovators can make a lasting impact.

4. When is the Conrad Challenge 2025 registration deadline?

The Conrad Challenge 2025 registration deadline for the Activation Stage is October 30, 2025.

5. What is the Conrad Challenge registration fee?

Participation is free for the Activation Stage. Teams that advance pay a $499 fee per team for the Innovation Stage and $499 per attendee for the Innovation Summit—with financial aid available for qualifying teams.

Takeaways

• The Conrad Challenge is a global entrepreneurship and STEM competition running from August 2025 to April 2026 continues to inspire the next generation of leaders, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
• Open to students ages 13–18, the Conrad Challenge is a competition of creativity, innovation, and teamwork.
• The five Conrad Challenge categories cover key global issues about energy, health, and aerospace. Each one reflects areas where innovation can make a real difference like tackling water scarcity, advancing clean energy, and improving healthcare, cybersecurity, and sustainable flight.
• Winners receive scholarships, patent support, and global recognition.
• Ready to turn your ideas into impact? Start preparing for the Conrad Challenge 2025 today. For expert guidance on crafting your innovation and application, check out our Private Consulting Program.