Applications are open for the first edition of the Shanghai Yanyuan-Dishui Lake Collegiate AI+ International Startup Challenge.

This international competition is designed as a platform for university students passionate about artificial intelligence, combining innovation, entrepreneurship, and real-world impact. With a full-cycle training system that spans product planning, technology development, and business promotion, the program aims to support student teams in transforming their AI concepts into practical solutions.

Participants are invited to explore how AI can address real-world challenges in areas such as smart tourism, commerce, smart living, cities, AI-driven social platforms, and education. Throughout the process, teams will gather user feedback and continue refining their ideas through iterative development.

To apply, please visit: https://synnovator.syntrust.agentour.cloud/.

 

Competition theme and storyline

The year is 2125. Humanity has built a cross-planetary AI ecosystem called Stellar Relay, enabling interstellar collaboration. However, technological progress has reached a standstill. Each planet's civilization faces distinct bottlenecks, hindered by siloed systems and a lack of shared innovation.

Without a central authority, Stellar Relay relies on decentralized governance. For any new technology to gain momentum, it must first earn adoption from users across multiple planets. This fragmented system has made scaling AI+ innovations increasingly challenging.

To break this impasse, the Stellar Relay Foundation has launched the AI Genesis Initiative. Its mission is to recruit a new generation of young entrepreneurial talent and form the AI Startup Envoy — a team dedicated to co-developing AI+ innovations that tackle humanity's most pressing challenges.

Participants will step into the role of Interstellar Pioneers, form teams via the SynTrust Hub platform, and develop AI-driven solutions tailored to the following scenarios. Their ultimate mission is to impress the Interstellar Jury, secure the AI Startup Fund, and unlock the exclusive Star-Certified Gift Pack.

Scenario A: Smart travel on Mars

As the frontier of interplanetary exploration, Mars is filled with lava canyons, shifting sands, and magnetic anomaly zones. More than sixty percent of its surface remains unmapped, and frequent dust storms make traditional travel planning unreliable.

Your task is to develop AI-powered tools that can handle complex, multi-source spatiotemporal data to accurately forecast extreme weather events. At the same time, you'll need to create personalized travel recommendations and optimize transportation by integrating multiple modes of travel, ensuring a smooth and safe journey across the Red Planet.

Scenario B: Smart living on the Moon

Lunar base construction has advanced steadily, yet daily life remains anything but convenient. Extreme temperature fluctuations, an unforgiving environment, and scarce resources continue to pose significant obstacles.

Your task is to design an innovative AI-powered home management system that automatically adapts to environmental changes. You will also need to rethink space layouts and user interactions to make daily tasks more intuitive and efficient. The solution should integrate essential services such as supply management and equipment maintenance, while providing personalized living plans tailored to each resident's needs.

The aim is to make life on the Moon not only possible, but also comfortable, efficient, and intelligent.

Scenario C: Connected community on Mercury

Mercury's harsh climate confines residents to enclosed bases, leaving little room for meaningful social interaction. Communication is further disrupted by the planet's crater-filled surface, which interferes with signal transmission.

Your challenge is to create a next-generation social platform that matches users by interests, encourages engagement through curated events, and fosters knowledge exchange and community support. At the core of your solution should be robust, real-time communication tools that help build a resilient and emotionally connected society.

Scenario D: Smart learning on Venus

The dense atmosphere of Venus creates turbulent conditions that hinder the delivery of education and access to learning resources.

Your challenge is to create an intelligent learning app that adapts to each student's knowledge level, learning ability, and personal interests. The app should offer customized study plans and intelligent content recommendations that truly cater to each learner's needs. To enhance the learning experience, your solution should also enable real-time tutoring and interactive feedback, making instruction more responsive and effective.

Another key task is to organize fragmented information into a well-structured knowledge graph, helping to dismantle educational barriers. The ultimate goal is to empower learners and nurture the next generation of researchers.

Scenario E: Urban pulse on Europa

Cities on Europa face intense cold, soaring energy demands, and mounting pressure on infrastructure. Combined with the disruptive effects of Jupiter's powerful magnetic field, these factors create a complex urban landscape marked by traffic congestion, escalating energy costs, and limited environmental monitoring.

You are tasked with developing a smart city management system that monitors real-time data on traffic, energy source, and environment. The system should be able to predict potential issues and recommend intelligent strategies to optimize transportation, energy distribution, and infrastructure maintenance, ensuring the city remains sustainable and efficient.

Scenario F: Interstellar marketplace on Titan

Titan's methane-rich atmosphere and liquid seas have turned it into a bustling center for interstellar trade. As competition intensifies, merchants need cutting-edge tools to attract and retain customers across planetary markets.

Your assignment is to build an AI-powered marketing system. This could include content generation, avatar-based livestreaming, data-driven community engagement, or optimized e-commerce flows. You may also develop intelligent customer service systems that provide responsive, high-quality support. The objective is to help merchants thrive in Titan's fast-paced trade environment.

Scenario G: Exploring new galaxies

Beyond the known planetary metaverse lies countless undiscovered galaxies, each holding new challenges waiting to be solved.

This open-ended scenario invites the boldest innovators to step forward. Identify emerging challenges, define them with clarity, and assemble a top-tier team to address them with vision and precision.

 

Participation

Who can join: The competition is open to university students worldwide, including undergraduates, graduate, and doctoral students. Students from all academic backgrounds are welcome.

How to participate: Students may register individually and form teams during the preliminary stage. Each team should consist of three to six members, and may include up to two faculty advisors.

What to submit: Entries should demonstrate originality, practical value, and real-world applicability, with a strong focus on problem-solving and user-centered design.

 

Schedule

Registration: June 16 to July 15

Preliminary round: July 15 to Aug 15

Semifinals: Aug 16 to Oct 7

First stage of the finals: Oct 11 to Oct 17

Second stage of the finals: Oct 18 to Oct 19

 

Awards

A total of six award categories will honor 100 outstanding teams. Prizes are as follows:

First prize: One team

A reward valued at a minimum of 100,000 yuan ($14,300).

Second prize: Two teams

Each winning team will receive rewards worth at least 60,000 yuan.

Third prize: Three teams

Each winning team will receive rewards worth at least 40,000 yuan.

Excellence award: Four teams

Each winning team will receive rewards worth at least 20,000 yuan.

Finalist award: 40 teams

Each winning team will receive rewards worth at least 10,000 yuan.

Participation award: 50 teams

Each winning team will receive rewards worth at least 1,000 yuan.

All teams ranking in the top 50 percent during the preliminary round will be eligible to download certificates of recognition, which serve as valuable credentials for graduate applications or future career opportunities.

Additionally, advisors of teams advancing to the offline finals (if applicable) will be awarded certificates of outstanding guidance.

 

Contact

Official email: synnovator@h2oslabs.com

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Source: Official website of the Shanghai Yanyuan-Dishui Lake Collegiate AI+ International Startup Challenge