Your Future Job, Powered by AI
+400 Points
$10000
You've probably heard two contradictory messages about the future of work: "AI is replacing entry-level jobs" and "you need experience before anyone will hire you." Both feel true, and that tension is real.
But here's what's also true: the professionals using AI tools every day are running into real gaps. These are things the tools don't do well, problems people still solve manually, and frustrations nobody has bothered to fix. Those gaps are opportunities. This Challenge asks you to find one problem and design something that actually addresses it. The best submissions won't be the most ambitious. They'll be the ones where you can tell a real person's real problem was truly understood. Get ready to wow the KPMG judges. This Challenge addresses the question:
What's one real problem in a career that you (and your teammates) are genuinely interested in, and how could AI help solve it?
This Challenge runs from April 13th through May 25th, 2026
Prizes: 1st Place: $5,000 š„| 2nd Place: $3,000 š„| 3rd Place: $2,000 š„ | Please note: For team entries, prize amounts will be divided equally among team members.
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Skills you'll develop
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Problem Solving
This Challenge runs from April 13th through May 25th, 2026
Create a Business Concept
It's time to get creative and CREATE a prototype of your idea. This is what you'll use to explain your awesome solution! By the end of the Create phase, you should be able to:
Show your Business Blueprint
Explain how you created your prototype(s)
Share your feedback and demonstrate how you revised your prototype(s)
Be ready to create your video pitch
Understand the Create Phase for a Business
ā±ļøTime: 4-5 Hours (Week 3 of Challenge)
āļøUse the optionalĀ KNOtebookĀ to record your ideas
š¼Ā Mentor: Get feedback from a mentor, and others, on your business concept
šÆĀ Future Ready Skills: Problem-Solving, Collaboration
Business Concept
In this phase, you'll create a concept for a new or improved "business". Perhaps, a for-profit business or a non-profit organization?
Meet a Professional
Yay! You have an idea for a business, organization, or service! First, letās meet someone who started their own business.
Your Favorites
Your "business" idea may be a for-profit business, like a restaurant or shoe store; an organization, like the Girls and Boys Club or a sports team or a service, like Uber or tutoring, for example.
Think of a business, organization, or service that you really love or one that solves a hard problem or meets a deep need. Ask yourself:Ā
What makes this company one of my favorites?
What value does it add to my life?
What problem does it solve?
What do I like/dislike about their name?
Business Planning
Use a Business Design Framework to help you plan out your idea.
Business Design Framework
All businesses, organizations and services create something of value, gain from it, and deliver it to customers. The following framework is useful for business, organization, or service planning. Flip the cards to learn about each element of the framework.
Create Value
Create Value
What problem are you solving? What are you creating that someone will benefit from and pay for? For example, Uma's business addressed the problem of people not being able to celebrate occasions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Capture Value
Capture Value
How will you make sure that you benefit from creating the business? How will your business spend money in order to deliver value to its customers? For example, Lawn Party charged $50+ for each sign and used the money to create more signs, pay for gas, etc.
Deliver Value
Deliver Value
Who does your business serve? How will they benefit from your business, organization, or service? How are you providing this value for your customers? For example, Lawn Party allowed its customers to use customized lawn signs to celebrate their important moments while preventing the spread of COVID-19.Review the slide show below to understand how to put together a business concept.
You may wish to use this Google Doc Business Blueprint which is also in your KNOtebook.
Rapid Prototyping
Rapid Prototyping Example
Now that you have a blueprint, you're ready to create a prototype to get feedback. Rapid prototyping is the process of turning assumptions into opportunities to learn. You can create all kinds of prototypes to transform abstract concepts into something that people can experience. Prototypes should be real enough to get valid reactions from people, but not so real that they take a long time to build. Watch the video to see a unique example of prototyping.
Prototyping is an iterative process and involves the following:
Live Prototyping Examples
Live prototyping is one way to get feedback. It can be hard but is also fun and rewarding. You can learn a lot in a short time. Flip the cards to see some different types of rapid prototyping.
āLemonade Standā
āLemonade Standā
Make a small batch of your food product and bring to your class to get feedback, or set up a mini store in your class. This is sometimes referred to as a ālemonade standā prototype.
An App Experience
An App Experience
Instead of creating a working app to test, spend time prototyping the app experience. For example, if it's a service: hang posters to promote, have people submit texts, respond to texts, do the physical act, like standing in line to pick up food.
Community Testing
Community Testing
Try a pop-up in a store or venue that is relevant to your product or service, or create a prototype and try it out in your community.Physical Prototyping Examples
Creating physical prototypes is another way to test your ideas and get feedback.
Paper Prototypes
Paper Prototypes
Paper prototypes might be sketches and diagrams drawn quickly on a napkin or using a ruler and pen, but you donāt need to be an artist! A paper prototype is useful at the beginning of the process of conceptualizing a new idea, enabling you to create multiple versions of your idea quickly and get feedback.
Small Scale Models
Small Scale Models
You may want to create a quick sample of what your idea will look like using building materials, such as: cardboard, Legos, blocks, etc. Or, you may want to create a digital model.
Storyboards
Storyboards
Storyboards can communicate a concept by visualizing user interactions. They focus on a personās experience and tell a story.Prototyping Tools
Using your Design Brief as a guide and your selected materials, determine which part of your product youād like to prototype first and how youād like to prototype, then start creating! Consider using any of the following tools:
Building materials: Great for prototyping processes, infrastructures, and work flows and just fun for everyone
Recyclables: Take something apart and use the parts for your prototype or dig into your recycling bin and see what you can use.
Video: A short and scrappy video can go a long way to communicate anything
Paper, cardboard: Sketching, drawing, diagramming, building
Digital Prototyping Tools
Testing & Feedback
Now that you have your first prototype, it's time to share it and get feedback so that you can improve it.
Testing Plan
Take a look at an example of creating a testing plan to get feedback.
Testing Suggestions
Getting Feedback
Consider using any of the following methods to structure and organize your feedback-gathering process. Select the plus signs.
Iterative Process
Iterating
After you get feedback, itās time to make changes to your prototype or prototype another part of your product. Remember, the goal is not for your prototypes to be universally loved. The goal is to get as much feedback as you can to help you make your concept better. Continue to prototype, test, and iterate as much as you can, until you are satisfied with your prototype. This may be a multi-day process and is not to be rushed.
Mentor Moment
Get feedback from a professional who will be judging your project!
Consider how you will test and get feedback from a mentor who may be reviewing your prototype online and giving written feedback. Depending on what you create as prototypes, you could scan, take a photo, or capture video to share and get feedback. You may want to use the āI Like, I Wish, What If...ā or the grid method.
Get feedback on your prototype now!
Next Steps
PITCH IT!
Now you get to create a video pitch for your idea. Be ready to WOW the KPMG judges!
