Teen Innovators Challenge 2026

Finalists Guide

You have made it to Demo Day. Here is everything you need to prepare a strong presentation and make the most of the day.

Demo Day

2026-10-13

Full venue and slot details will be sent to your email.

What Demo Day looks like

Each finalist gets a 10-minute slot: 7 minutes to present your project, 3 minutes of questions from the judging panel. You present to the judges, ATTP staff, and a small invited audience.

There is no fixed slide template. Present in whatever format works best for your project, slides, a live demo, a prototype, or a combination. What matters is clarity and conviction, not polish.

What judges are looking for

The judging panel scores you on the same rubric used throughout the competition. Coming in strong on all seven areas gives you the best result:

Problem clarity, Is the problem real? Do you understand who it affects and why it matters?
Innovation, Is your approach genuinely different from what already exists?
Impact potential, How many people could this help, and how meaningfully?
Feasibility, Can this actually be built and used, given your resources and stage?
SDG alignment, Does the project connect clearly to a global development goal?
Team, Does the team have the skills, commitment, and awareness to execute this?
Communication, Can you explain this clearly to someone who has never heard of it?

How to structure your 7 minutes

0:00–0:45

Open with the problem. Not a statistic, a person. Who is affected, and what does their life look like because of this problem?

0:45–2:30

Explain your solution. What does it do, how does it work, and why does it work better than what already exists?

2:30–4:00

Show it. Demo, prototype, pilot results, or a concrete example. Even a paper prototype demonstrates serious thinking.

4:00–5:30

Who will use it, how many people, and what does success look like? Be honest about what stage you are at.

5:30–7:00

Team, next steps, and what winning TIC would make possible. Close with the same energy you opened with.

What to bring

Your presentation on a laptop or USB drive (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, or PDF)
Any physical prototype or demo materials
A printed one-page summary of your project (optional, but judges appreciate it)
Your slot confirmation email, you will need your reference number at registration

ATTP will provide a projector, screen, and microphone. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your slot for sound check and setup.

Preparation checklist

Practice your full 7 minutes out loud at least 5 timesTime yourself, 7 minutes is shorter than you thinkPrepare for these three questions: What have you actually built so far? Why can't someone just use [existing tool] instead? What is the single biggest risk to this project?Have your demo ready on two devices in case one failsDress professionally, you are presenting to a panel and a live audienceGet a good night's sleep the night before

On the day

Judges will ask follow-up questions after your presentation. Short, honest answers are better than long defensive ones. If you do not know something, say so, it is not a disqualifier. Pretending to know is.

The audience includes your fellow finalists. Show up to support everyone, not just yourself. The TIC community lasts longer than the competition.

Questions?

Reach ATTP via the contact page. Your slot confirmation email also contains a direct contact for day-of logistics.

Contact ATTP →

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