High School
Impact App Challenge

Come up with the next amazing APP idea that solves an environmental or social problem and we will build it for you.

The APP Challenge Prize:

Your APP Live
You become an innovation leader with your name and your APP live on the Apple App store and owned 100% by you.

$15,000 in product development
The Impactree Foundation will cover all product development and engineering costs.

Four-month internship
Work with our team of tech leaders and have a great internship to put on your resume.

Zero Programming Required
You just need to have a great idea and work with our team to make it a reality.

Application Process

Applications Currently Closed. The next round of the Impact APP Challenge will be launched in the Fall.

All students interested in applying to build their APP can apply right online. You can also review applications questions in this PDF

The top 3-5 APP ideas will be asked to do a 5-minute Zoom pitch to the App selection panel consisting of a school advisor, product expert and entrepreneur leader. The winning team will be selected by this committee.

The APP Development Process:

Impactree Foundation will take students through a streamlined product development process to help make their App idea a reality. The following phases will be completed by the students in collaboration with the Impactree Foundation team and Faculty advisor.

Phase 1: Solution & Market Detail

The winning students will begin their Internship and APP development process by adding more definition to their problem and solution, gather user feedback, define the market for their App and work on wireframing the App to send to engineers.

Phase 2: Product & Launch Planning

The team will submit the product plan to the App development engineering team for review and development. The team will review product development progress, test, and prepare for product launch. The team will also work on the marketing and outreach plan, App website and App store submission plan, and prepare for launch.

Phase 3: Beta Testing

The students will test a Beta version of the App and gather user feedback for final product bug fixes / improvements, which will be shared with the engineering team for final product development prior to launch.

Phase 4: Product Launch

The APP will be submitted to Apple’s App Store for review and approval. Students will also launch their webpage for the App, begin to promote it, and gather user feedback.

Requirements:

In order for winning students and their App to be selected, the following criteria must be met.

1. The App must pursue the greater good: it must nurture inclusivity, justice, sustainability and/or compassion.

2. The idea must address an environmental or social problem/challenge a large portion of students at your school or people in your community, teams, clubs or other groups you are associated with experience on a regular basis.

Problems you choose to address may include:

-Environment or climate
-Social justice
-Racial justice
-Gender equity
-LGBTQ+ rights
-Mental Health
-Or any other issue you feel negatively impacts society or the planet.

3. The problem must theoretically be solvable with an iPhone App. (The are no guarantees in technology, but you miss every shot you don’t take)

4. The winning idea must have 2-4 students involved. The students must all be high school students and at least one must be from the participating school.

5. The winning students commit to a 4-month remote internship with Impactree Foundation and expect to spend about 2-3 hours per week working on the project, progressing from initial ideation through to launch and user feedback.

Students will learn:

How to launch products, test early theories and how to iterate a product
Anyone can solve big challenges. Steve Jobs and Sheryl Sandberg are just normal humans with big ideas, self confidence, persistence and an ability to execute on their vision.
Ideas are a dime a dozen and it requires not just a good idea but the willingness to try, fail, be persistent, and execute on your vision.
Students must be the change they want to see in the world because if they don’t, it is likely nobody else will.

Start your APP today!