The 2025-2026 Conrad Challenge competition cycle kicked off on Thursday, August 28, 2025! Are you ready for an extraordinary year of innovation? Hear words of encouragement from innovation leaders across industries and fields to inspire you as you prepare to participate in Phase 1: Activation Stage!
Special thanks to these industry leaders for supporting the Conrad Challenge, in order of appearance:
Nancy Conrad | Founder & Chairman, Conrad Foundation
Mike Foreman | NASA astronaut
Jacob Avery | MIT Alum & Board Member, Manned Space Flight Education Foundation
Joshua LaBaer | Director, ASU Biodesign Institute
Ella Bianco | Co-Lead, Conrad Challenge Alumni Leadership Council
Lindy Elkins-Tanton | Director, UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory & Principal Investigator, NASA Psyche mission
Megan McArthur | NASA astronaut & Chief Science Officer, Space Center Houston
Tim Bartlett | Technology Manager, Equinor
