Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2019
The Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2019 is a worldwide search for early stage technology-enabled solutions and services that can enable economic development and/or benefit society and/or the environment. This competition is open to individuals and teams of students or recent alumni from any college or university.
Register to Participate
You can participate as an individual or as part of a team. Teams may have a maximum of 5 members. Individuals, or at least half of a team’s members, must be currently enrolled as students or have received a degree (undergraduate or graduate) after March 1, 2017. If you are registering as part of a team, your team leader will need to register first and then you can register using your email address. For detailed eligibility requirements, please click here. Once you are ready, click here to register.
Prepare your Submission
There will be two distinct submission rounds: Round one opens October 23, 2018 and closes January 11, 2019 at 5:00 PM PST. To prepare your submission you will need to complete an online questionnaire which will cover the following topics:
- Defining the problem you are solving
- Explaining the solution, including:
- Its benefits and how it uses IoT or digital technologies
- How it is unique and will be taken to market
- Risks associated with the solution
- 90 second pitch video of team member(s) explaining the solution
- Additional supporting documentation:
- Contact information for faculty advisor
- Proof of eligibility (student or degree status)
Once you are ready, click here to register (or log in) and prepare your submission.
Submit Your Solution
Once you’ve prepared and double-checked all your materials, have your team leader log onto the challenge website here. You must upload all materials and submit them before January 11, 2019 at 5:00 PM PT. Remember, you must click submit before the deadline in order for your entry to be considered.
Judges evaluate submissions and are looking for ideas that are especially innovative and which clearly articulate their use of technology, feasibility and scale of impact.
On February 25, 2019, semi-finalists will be invited via email to submit a more detailed proposal.
The round two application window opens February 25, 2019 at 9:00 AM PST and closes March 29, 2019 at 5:00 PM PST. Finalists will be announced on April 29, 2019.
In addition to the information provided in round one, the online questionnaire for semi-finalists will include the following sections:
- Problem and solution summary explanation (up to 250 words, will be posted for public voting if chosen as finalist)
- Detailed technical overview of solution
- Dependencies
- Timeline for next 12-24 months
- Addressable Market
- Financial model
- Team bios
If your expanded application is not submitted by the deadline, it will not be considered. Be sure to check that your content meets the submission guidelines, which can be found here, or your submission will be disqualified. Check for completeness, appropriate content, video length, and unlicensed images, music, or video.
Vote and Promote
Share your participation in the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge with your supporters and invite them to vote for their favorite entries. Voting for the People’s Choice Award takes place from April 29 - May 17, 2019.
Celebrate the Winners
Once the submission period closes on March 29, 2019 our judges will begin evaluating the submissions, looking for solutions that are especially innovative and which clearly articulate their use of technology, feasibility and scale of impact. Winners (including the People’s Choice Award) will be announced on May 20, 2019!
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