After a rigorous application and interview cycle this Fall, we are excited to introduce the newest cohort of innovators participating in the 2025–2026 Innovating for X (i4X) program!
We had the pleasure of welcoming talented student teams into five community-driven innovation challenges. Students will tackle a diverse set of real-world challenges centered on improving community systems, strengthening organizational impact, and designing user-centered solutions.
They will develop tools that help small businesses in
City of Carlsbad navigate zoning and property availability; create a centralized, intuitive resource-mapping and support system for
Father Joe's Villages staff serving people experiencing homelessness; design a flexible, engaging wayfinding experience and awareness strategy for
La Jolla Playhouse's WOW Festival; research U.S. immigrant communities and identify retail partners to help
PriceSmart build more accessible, affordable remittance pathways; and analyze
UC San Diego’s extensive construction data to produce predictive insights, visual dashboards, and recommendations that improve capital project planning.
Each challenge offers students the chance to engage deeply with issues that shape our region and beyond. These challenges represent both the complexity and the potential of interdisciplinary work, and we can’t wait to see how our students bring their skills, creativity, and curiosity to them.
Thank you again to everyone who joined us for our onboarding session and kickoff activities! A special thank you to our project partners -
Josh Bohannan,
Chris Hickman,
Rachel Maltz,
John Wang, and
Mia F. - whose expertise, enthusiasm, and support make this program possible.