Stark Industries is launching the Stark Austin $1 Million Innovation Challenge, a citywide competition inviting entrepreneurs, engineers, students, researchers, small businesses, and independent creators to develop practical solutions to problems affecting Austin and Central Texas.

Stark will commit $1 million in awards and project funding to the strongest ideas in four areas:

• Energy & Resilience — Grid reliability, extreme heat, water conservation, and energy efficiency.
• Transportation & Growth — Congestion, mobility, infrastructure, and challenges created by rapid population growth.
• Housing & Affordability — Practical approaches that reduce housing costs or help residents remain in the region.
• Technology for Everyday Life — Technology that makes Austin safer, healthier, more productive, or easier to live in.

Applicants will submit a specific problem, proposed solution, implementation plan, estimated cost, and measurable outcome.

Finalists will be invited to a public Austin showcase, where teams will present and demonstrate their ideas. Stark will invite local business leaders, educators, researchers, community organizations, investors, and residents to attend and participate.

Awards will not be based simply on the most impressive presentation. Projects will be evaluated on practicality, measurable local benefit, scalability, responsible use of funding, and the likelihood that the idea can actually be implemented.

Stark will publish the finalists, award recipients, award amounts, selection criteria, and progress of funded projects. Individual proprietary information will be protected where appropriate.

The challenge will be open to both established organizations and individuals or teams without institutional backing.

$1 million. Four challenges. One question: What would you build to make Austin better?