Team SA has not made it through to the second round of Microsoft's Imagine Cup software design competition.
However, the team says it still has its sights on getting one of the prized three seats in the Innovation Accelerator programme.
Judges yesterday afternoon whittled down the 55 finalists in the software design category to 12 teams for the second round.
Countries entering the second round include: Austria, Jamaica, Greece, China, Korea, Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, Czech Republic, Serbia and Netherlands.
Although disappointed at being out of the running for the $50 000 prize money, Team SA says it has its eye on other opportunities offered by the competition.
Explains Nicholas Goossens: "We all win at Imagine Cup; some of us just don't make it through to the second round. Of course we are a little disappointed, but there are still other prizes to go for."
Intensive programme
Of topmost importance now is the Microsoft 2007 Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator programme. A joint venture between Microsoft and BT, the Innovation Accelerator sees the top three finalists of the software design competition, and a further three teams chosen at BT's discretion, spending two weeks in the UK.
The programme is aimed at helping the teams reach the next step - whatever that next step may be, says BT's director of concept-to-market, Kevin Nickels.
"We expose each team to a variety of specialists, technologies and insights in order to give them the best start. It's an intensive programme which is aimed at fulfilling the individual aspirations of the team," he explains.
This evening, the software design semi-finalists will be announced.
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