Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services is now accepting entries in the Fairfax Area High School Student Shark Tank Technology Challenge. Initial proposals are due Dec. 19, 2025.
Open to all students in Fairfax County, Fairfax City and the City of Falls Church, the 2025-26 challenge invites youth to develop an innovative device or app that will have a positive impact in the lives of older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers or wounded warriors. A winning device should enhance independence and life enjoyment for the target audience, foster social connection and help reduce isolation, and be truly innovative – either by introducing something new to the marketplace or significantly improving an existing product.
The winning students will be recognized with cash awards provided by sponsor IntegrityOne Partners. Winners will also be recognized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a spring 2026 reception.
In the challenge, students make a pitch for funding to corporate leaders, community leaders and County supervisors. The winning pitch for the 2024-25 challenge came from Varsha Ayala and Eesha Viswanathan from The Madeira School in McLean. The team developed RapidX, a wearable health device that allows paramedics to retrieve patient data instantly, improving emergency response outcomes.
The competition is an initiative of the Fairfax 50+ Community Action Plan, which was passed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2014. It supports Fairfax County’s Economic Success Program that seeks to grow and diversify the economy through innovation, social equity and expansion of science, technology, engineering and math education.
Key Dates:
- December 19, 2025 - Deadline for initial proposals
- February 25, 2026 - Deadline for full submissions
- April 10, 2026 – Board of Supervisors reception for challenge winners
Please visit the Shark Tank Technology Challenge website for more details, including a detailed application packet. For additional assistance, email NCSTechChallenge@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Cristin.Bratt@fairfaxcounty.gov