The SXSW EDU 2026 Student Impact Challenge, presented by The Allstate Foundation, named Immunova AI, from Singapore as this year’s winner. Plus, The Bionic Leaf from Plano, TX and Pathways to Potential from Chandler, Arizona were named the first and second runners-up.
Singapore
Immunova is developing a non-profit open-source AI platform that integrates medical scans, genetic data and patient records to support early detection and diagnosis across 35 cancers. Designed holistically, ethically and sustainably, our three-module suite predicts immunotherapy outcomes, guides treatment decisions and enhances overall diagnostic accuracy. Immunova aims to save lives, reduce treatment costs and minimise the carbon footprint of cancer care by reducing unfit treatments.
The Student Impact Challenge shines a spotlight on youth leaders who are driving meaningful change in their communities through innovative projects and solutions. It offers high school students the opportunity to showcase their work, strengthen and validate their ideas, and gain real-world experience as changemakers. This year, six exceptional teams of youth changemakers were selected as finalists:
Finalists
- Futr (Mars, PA)
- H2Know (Lafayette, CO)
- Immunova AI (Singapore)
- Pathways to Potential (Chandler, Arizona)
- Shared Skies Initiative (Dallas, TX)
- The Bionic Leaf (Plano, TX)
Judges & Emcees
For the first time ever, the Student Impact Challenge was emceed and judged entirely by other youth changemakers, thanks to The Allstate Foundation’s commitment to youth empowerment. The competition was emceed by Zöe Jenkins, director of Civic Trust and Recruitment at Civics Unplugged, and Kennedy Little, Founder of Evergreen. The pitches were judged by:
- Alex Quian, Youth Empowerment Program Officer for The Allstate Foundation
- Nandana Menon, founder of Spark and SXSW EDU 2025 Student Impact Challenge winner
- Sophia Kianni, founder of Phia
- Tejasvi Manoj, founder of Shield Seniors
Coaching provided by CASE at Duke helped the student finalists refine and perfect their pitch in the months leading up to the live competition.
Congratulations to Immunova AI!
Photo by Andy Wenstrand
