2026 Future Makers Challenge
Submissions must include the following:
- Your problem statement(s).
- A CLEAR description of the process or product proposed to solve the problem.
- Illustrations (ex.drawings, CAD, photos) .
- Link to a video pitch of no more than 3 minutes.
- Setbacks you may have encountered in developing your idea, or how it changed from your initial idea to your final solution. We want to see your iterative or testing process.
- Market research that confirms your problem is a problem other people experience too, and how you’ve verified that.
- Competitive analysis: Does anything else like your solution already exist, and if so, how is your solution different?
- Cost to produce, and how you arrived at that cost.
- Your suggested retail price and what you’re basing that retail cost estimate on.
Please follow entry guidelines and form field requests carefully. Submissions that fail to adhere to submission rules will be disqualified.
Judges are looking for:
- An actual problem statement that describes a challenge you and others face.
- A well-researched and well-documented solution.
- Potential actual marketability of your solution, including documentation (through a sufficient number of interviews, tests or market research) that people need and/or want the solution and therefore the demand is already there.
The 2026 Future Makers Challenge (formerly Young Innovators Challenge) is hosted by the Foundation for Community Driven Innovation, and AMRoC Fab Lab, in partnership with the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame , the Florida High Tech Corridor and Innovation Station Kits, is open to teams of 1 or more people in two age/grade categories:
6th-12th grade and- Post-Secondary
This challenge asks: What problem do you or someone you know encounter at school, at home, at work, or at play? Is it a problem for others, too? If you had the chance to solve that problem, how would you do it? Would you create a new product? A service? A method? A tool? Do you think your challenge is enough of a problem for others that they might be interested in trying your solution?
If you think you have a winning solution to the problem, here’s your chance to share it for an opportunity for cash awards and to take your solution to the next level!
Deadline for submissions is February 28 2026.
Awards Process
Semi-Finalists will be selected and notified by March 16, 2026 and invited to present at a special Future Makers Presentation and Awards Ceremony at AMRoC Fab Lab on March 28, 2026 before a panel of judges hailing from the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, University of South Florida, Innovation Station Kits, and Foundation for Community Driven Innovation.
Top prizes of $500 to 1st place, $300 to 2nd place and $200 for 3rd place in each of the two age/grade categories.
Top team in each category also receives support incorporating and further developing their product or service idea as an actual business or product. Secondary school finalists also receive invitations to the Invention Convention Florida at the University of South Florida, on April 11.
Only completed submissions, with all required elements, will be considered.
Participants may request access to AMRoC for prototyping services like 3D printing or design guidance on things like materials recommendations, etc., but the Fab Lab will NOT do design work for teams.
Note to adults supporting youth teams: *We are looking for **students’** work! Thank you. *
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