The Problem
What needs fixing? Who does it affect? Why does it matter?
TECHTIDES YOUTH · TECH FOR GOOD
Pick a problem.
Fix it with technology.
Open to 16 to 21 year olds across the North West. Spot a real problem around you, explain it in four short answers and a 90-second video, then show how AI or technology could make it better. No coding or finished product needed.
90 secOne short video to explain your idea.
Solo or teamEnter on your own or with a team.
15 OctEntries close at 4pm on Thursday 15 October.
26 OctMonday 26 October, 10am–2pm at NWRC Foyle Theatre.
Choose your theme →
Pick the area that matters most to you. Your idea only needs to fit one.
Your video. Four things.
Keep it simple. The phone camera is fine. Just cover these four questions.
Your Solution
What’s your idea, and how does AI or technology help make it work?
Why Now
Why is this the right moment for your idea to exist?
Why You
Why are you the right person, or people, to take it forward?
What happens next?
Your community group or school/college can help shape your idea and get it ready for TechTides Youth.
Build your idea
Talk to people. Find a real problem. Shape the simplest version of your solution.
Entry deadline
You submit your own 90-second entry. Your school, college or group can help you prepare it.
Teams attend TechTides Youth
10am–2pm at NWRC Foyle Theatre. Check the FAQ for attendance and award details as they are confirmed.
Questions people ask
The practical details, all in one place.
01Who can enter?
16 to 21 year olds across the North West.
02Do you have to be a student to enter?
No — as long as you're aged 16 to 21 and live in the North West, you can enter.
03What do we actually have to do?
Spot a real problem around you, then explain it in four short answers plus a 90-second video showing how technology could help fix it. No coding and no finished product needed — a phone camera is fine.
04What are the four questions the video needs to cover?
The Problem — what needs fixing, who it affects, why it matters. Your Solution — the idea, and how technology helps make it work. Why Now — why this is the right moment for the idea. Why You — why you (or your team) are the right people to take it forward.
05Can I enter with a friend, or as a team?
Yes — enter solo or as a team.
06What are the themes?
Pick whichever one fits your idea best: Safer Communities, Smarter Cities, Mind Matters, Learn Different, or Young & Building.
07When do entries close?
4pm, Thursday 15 October 2026.
08When and where is the event?
Monday 26 October 2026, 10am–2pm, NWRC Foyle Theatre (Strand Road).
09What's the prize?
One £1,500 prize for the winner and two £500 prizes for the runners-up, sponsored by NWRC.
10Can I just attend as a spectator?
Yes. It is free to register and attend. Use the button above to ask for registration details; the Luma event link is not available yet.
11Can my school or group help me prepare?
Yes — you submit your own entry, but your school, college or community group can help you shape the idea and get the video ready.
12Does entering mean missing school, and who sorts that out?
Entering the competition itself (four answers + a 90-second video) doesn't require time off — it's done in your own time. Monday 26 Oct falls in the school/college mid-term break, so most, if not all, entrants will already be off school.
13Is travel covered? Is lunch provided?
Lunch is covered — networking and lunch (12:45–1:45pm) is built into the programme for everyone attending. There's also a budget available to help with transport, so if getting to NWRC Foyle Theatre is a barrier, get in touch and we'll help sort it. You can also check bustimes.org for routes.
14Do you have to be there on the day to win?
Yes.
15Do you pitch live on stage, or is the video the whole thing?
Judging is purely on the submitted 90-second video, however finalists will be selected and asked some questions on stage on the day itself.
16What is the £2,500 award: cash, equipment, or something else?
It's a cash prize fund sponsored by NWRC: £1,500 for the winner, and £500 each for the two runners-up.
17Who judges it, and what are they looking for?
An independent panel of entrepreneurs judges every entry. They're scoring on four things: clarity of problem, feasibility, originality, and delivery.
Got a problem worth fixing?
Enter on your own or with a team. You submit your own entry; your school or group can help you get it ready.
Event partners
