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§ Concept stage · Application

E-Cup 2026–27 Concept application.

The Concept stage is for early ideas. You do not need a prototype, a team, or a business plan. Answer honestly and specifically — we reward the best-thought-through idea, not the biggest one. Most applicants finish in about 20 minutes.

Application deadline

Want to know what reviewers look for? Read the Concept Study Guide (PDF) before you apply.

Prefer to draft on paper? Download the printable application (PDF). The PDF is a worksheet; submit your answers here online.

Reviewers score four things: Insight, Evidence, Originality, and Why you. There are no points for scale, technology, or polish. Your answers save in this browser as you type.

About you
Complete all applicant fields. Only the main applicant must use an approved email domain: virginia.edu or its subdomains (including darden.virginia.edu), uva.edu, uvahealth.org, or uvawise.edu. Teammates may use any valid email address.
Required to submit.

A working name is fine.

This question is required.

Explain what your idea does in your own words. 125 words maximum.

This question is required.
Teammates, if any

Solo applicants are welcome. Add each teammate separately. Teammates may use any valid email address; only the main applicant needs an approved email domain.

Complete every field for each teammate and enter a valid email address. Any email domain is accepted for teammates.
The problem

State it plainly, in your own words. What is going wrong, or what is now possible that was not before?

This question is required.
Q1Who specifically has this problem?Insight

Describe one real person who has it. No names needed. “Everyone” is not an answer.

This question is required.
Q2How do they solve it today, and what is wrong with that?InsightOriginality

Name the products, workarounds, or habits people use now. Then say how your idea is different.

This question is required.
Q3How many people have you talked to about this problem, and what is one thing someone said that surprised you?Evidence

Enter 0 if you have not talked to anyone yet — that is an acceptable answer. Tell us who they were (classmates, strangers, people in a specific job).

This question is required.
Q4What is the one assumption that, if wrong, would sink this idea?Insight
This question is required.
The idea
Q5Who would pay for this?Not scored

Select all that apply.

This question is required.
Q6If AI tools disappeared tomorrow, would your idea still work?Not scored
This question is required.
Q7Why are you the right person or team for this?Why you

Personal experience, a skill, a connection to the people who have this problem.

This question is required.
Q8What have you done so far?Evidence

Select all that apply. Starting from nothing is fine.

This question is required.
Where you want to go
Q9What are you hoping this becomes?Not scored

Every answer is welcome. This helps us match you with the right mentors.

This question is required.
Q10What would help you most right now?Not scored
This question is required.
Q11Are you looking for teammates? If so, what skills?Not scored
This question is required.
Before you submit
Both boxes are required to submit.

Answer this simple question so we know a person is submitting.

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Your application is in.

We will be in touch by email with next steps. Between now and then, the best thing you can do is talk to five more people who have this problem.

Feedback is available on request after decisions: your average score on each criterion plus reviewer comments, with no reviewer names. Scores are final; we review process errors only.

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