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The Tech Challenge
Since 1988, The Tech Challenge has been the signature youth engineering program of The Tech Interactive. Over 40,000 students have gained real-world problem-solving skills through this months-long design adventure, inspiring the next generation of innovators across Silicon Valley and beyond.
Why Participate in The Tech Challenge?
Participating in The Tech Challenge gives students the opportunity to step into the shoes of an engineer and bring creative ideas to life. Here is why young innovators, educators, and families love taking part in the program:
- Team up with your crew: Collaborate with friends or classmates to brainstorm, share roles, and tackle complex puzzles together.
- Fail forward and grow confident: Discover that test failures are simply helpful data points that guide design improvements and build lifelong resilience.
- Practice user-centered design: Put human needs first by interviewing real community members and creating solutions tailored specifically for them.
- Celebrate at the Showcase: Document the team journey in an engineering journal and demonstrate projects live before supportive volunteer judges.
Who Can Participate?
The Tech Challenge is open to all students in Grades 4 through 12. Teams consist of 2 to 6 students, grouped into division levels based on the highest grade represented in the group.
Every team needs one Adult Guide or Adviser (a teacher, parent, after-school leader, or community mentor) to encourage team members, support safety, and facilitate access to tools. All solutions must be designed, built, and tested entirely by the students themselves. We welcome teams from public and private classrooms, after-school programs, homeschool groups, and friends gathering in neighborhood garages.
A New Challenge Every Year
Each fall, The Tech Interactive introduces a fresh challenge scenario rooted in real-world issues. Past challenges have tasked students with constructing earthquake-resistant structures, repairing simulated satellites in orbit, solving water conservation problems, and designing precise lifting devices inspired by affordable housing construction. Every annual challenge encourages creative problem-solving and out-of-the-box thinking.
The Engineering Journey
The program kicks off each fall when the new challenge scenario and official rules are released. Team registration remains open through the winter, leading up to the main event in the spring.
- Fall Kickoff: Review the annual rules, form your team, and start brainstorming creative solutions.
- Winter Building & Testing: Prototype your design, log discoveries in your engineering journal, and attend free community support events.
- Spring Test Trials: Bring your device to test trials at The Tech Interactive to gather feedback from volunteer judges and iterate your design.
- Final Showcase: Gather with hundreds of teams, families, and industry volunteers for an inspiring two-day celebration of student innovation.
Affordable and Accessible to All
The Tech Interactive believes that high-quality STEM programs should be accessible to everyone. Team registration is completely free for students from Title I schools and publicly funded afterschool programs. For all other teams of 2 to 6 students, registration is a flat fee of $150 per team when registered by Thursday, December 31, 2026. That breaks down to just $25 per student for a full team of six! Rates increase to $300 per team starting January 1, 2027. Generous support from sponsors and community donors ensures every participating team has the opportunity to shine.
Title I Fee Waiver Request Form
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