Technovation: Current Season

The Technovation Girls Global Challenge is restricted to girls and gender-diverse youths to create an environment where these populations that are underrepresented in tech have our full attention, enabling us to encourage more kids from these populations to be involved in tech in the future. However, the curriculum is free and available to everyone.

Technovation Girls Global Eligbility Criteria:

"All divisions must meet the following Student Participation criteria:

• Students must be between the ages of 8 to 18 as of August 1, 2026.
• Students must identify as female, trans, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming. Students who are assigned male at birth and self-identify as male cannot enter the competition.
• Teams are composed of 1 to 5 students. Students can only join 1 team. There is no limit on the number of mentors per team.
• Competition Divisions are based on the age of the oldest student on the team on August 1, 2026.
  • Beginner Division: girls ages 8-12 
  • Junior Division: girls ages 13-15 
  • Senior Division: girls ages 16-18
• Students can participate in Technovation Girls for multiple seasons until they reach the age of 18
• Students can work with the same team members and mentors
• Teams can explore the same problem, but the app must be different or greatly improved upon each year.

Technovation Girls is a self-select program with no application/selection process."

All events and program materials are available to participants at no cost. Our program is funded through grants and donations (both in-kind and monetary) to ensure it remains accessible to everyone.

We also offer a Tech Loan Program (first come, first served) for participants who do not have access to the necessary equipment, such as:

• A laptop or Chromebook
• A cell phone

We work to ensure that every participant has the tools they need to complete the challenge successfully.

During the Technovation Waterloo Chapter program, participants will...

1. Form a team (optional)
2. Select a community they would like to help (we recommend selecting one they are a part of or have connections to)
3. Select a wicked problemrelated to one or more UN SDGs experienced by their selected community. 
4. Create a tech-based solution (either a mobile or web-based app)
5. Create a low-fidelity prototype of their solution
6. Code an MVP (minimum viable product) of their solution using MIT App Inventor or another coding language of their choice.
7. Create a business canvas (Senior Division) or user adoption plan (Junior Division) for their solution.
8. Film and edit a technical video explaining how their solution works
9. Create a pitch video and presentation for their solution
10. Write a learning journey describing what they learn during the process
11. Submit their final project to the Technovation Global Challenge
12. Participate in the Waterloo Regional Pitch Event (quarterfinals for the challenge) and pitch their solution to a panel of judges.

Please visit the Technovation Global website to learn more about the Challenge Submission Requirements. 

Participants MUST complete BOTH the Waterloo Chapter Registration AND the Technovation Global Registration to be officially a part of the Technovation Waterloo Chapter and Global Challenge.

Complete the Waterloo Chapter registration form!
→ If you are under 18 years old, we need your parents’/guardians’ consent. Filling out our form registers you as an official member of our Chapter.

Register on the Technovation Global Platform
→ To officially be a part of the Technovation Global Challenge, you must be registered on the Technovation Global platform in addition to the Waterloo Chapter registration form you previously completed. Click here for a step-by-step registration guide.
→ Parents/Guardians, please make sure that you complete the media and parental consent forms sent to you from Technovation Global. Note: You can log in to your Technovation Global account to resend them!
 

To participate in Technovation Waterloo, you’ll need:

• A Google-enabled account (e.g., Gmail) that is NOT a school account (WRDSB accounts will not work).
  This account will be used to access:

  ✅ Please ensure you can log into your Google account before the first workshop!

  • Waterloo Chapter Google Classroom
  • Waterloo Chapter Slack Channel
  • MIT App Inventor

• A laptop or Chromebook for:

  • Joining workshops via Zoom
  • Coding in MIT App Inventor (or your chosen language)

• If using a laptop:
  Access to a mobile device (phone or tablet) with the MIT App Inventor Companion app installed to test your code.

• If using a Chromebook:
  Access to either:

  • A mobile device with the Companion app (ideal), or
  • A Chromebook with the Companion App installed

What if I don’t have access to a mobile device and/or laptop?

The Waterloo Chapter offers a Tech Loan Program with a limited number of loaner devices available on a first-come, first-served basis for the duration of the program. More details on how to request a device will be shared during the first two weeks.

We also provide laptops and tablets for teams to use during in-person workshops. You are not required to bring your own device(s) to in-person sessions, but are encouraged to if you can.

No! You do not need to have a team before registering for the Technovation Waterloo program. The first two weeks of the program are dedicated to:

• Brainstorming ideas
• Meeting like-minded participants

During this time, participants are encouraged to form their own teams—whether with friends or with people they’ve connected with who share similar interests.

While the Waterloo Chapter can help facilitate team matching upon request, we do not create teams. Team formation is entirely up to the participants.

Team Details

• Teams can have 1 to 5 members (solo projects are allowed).
• The team’s division is determined by the oldest member in the group.

Having a mentor is not required to participate in Technovation, but it is highly encouraged, as mentors are an invaluable resource for guidance and support.

Ways to Find a Mentor

1. Bring Your Own Mentor
   If you have a trusted adult in your life who can serve as your mentor, that’s fantastic!

   • Mentors must be at least 18 years old,
   • Pass a background check, and
   • Complete Technovation Global’s mentor training.

   If you know someone who would like to be your team’s mentor, please have them sign up as a volunteer here:
   Technovation Get Involved – Waterloo Chapter

2. Request a Mentor from Us
   The Waterloo Chapter has a group of mentors available. We do our best to match you with a mentor who fits your team’s needs and schedule.

Participation in any of our workshops or events is optional but highly encouraged. The Technovation program is what you make it! We recommend taking advantage of all the resources we offer, but you are not required to attend to participate in the challenge.

What if I am unable to attend an in-person event?

We understand that not everyone can attend in-person events. That’s why we ensure that any important content covered during these events will also be available in our online workshops.

The primary purpose of in-person events is to provide a collaborative space for teams to work on their projects alongside coaches and mentors. We find that teams often make the most progress during these sessions, so if you can attend, it’s a great opportunity!

What if I am unable to attend/will be late for an online workshop?

No need to worry if you’re late! You can join the Zoom meeting whenever you’re able. We just ask that you don’t interrupt the presenter to ask what you missed.

If you arrive late or miss an online workshop entirely, you can:

• Watch the recording of the presentation, which will be posted after the workshop.
• Connect with your team members to review any group work you may have missed.

Attendance & Teams

At the beginning of the season, we ask every team to create a team contract outlining:

• Communication expectations
• Meeting schedules
• Other team norms

During this process, it’s important to discuss whether your team plans to attend online and/or in-person workshops regularly.

If your team decides to meet during our workshops, please do your best to attend. When only part of the team shows up, it can leave others to handle a large portion of the project on their own.

We understand that life happens! If you cannot attend a workshop, communicate with your team in advance so they can plan accordingly.