No, you do not have to be a winner in Phase I to submit to Phase II of the Challenge.  More details concerning submission to Phase II will be released when Phase II is announced.

Phase I winners are not required to participate in Phase II - however, we encourage you to consider applying to Phase II if you received a Phase I prize, as this indicates that you would be likely to develop a functional prototype in Phase II.

Phase II was kept open for all Participants, not just Phase I winners, to allow both Phase I winners to submit as well as individuals who have a viable technology that was too advanced for submission to Phase I.

Phase I will proceed as dictated in the Challenge announcement, this will not change.  Additional details related to how to submit your solution for Phase I will be provided late March/early April 2026.  For Phases II and III, high level details have been provided to allow submitters to understand the final goals of the Phases as well as the overall goals of the Challenge itself so that submitters can effectively put together a Phase I submission.   The goals of the Challenge will not change, but additional details will be provided on submission requirements, judging criteria, etc. once Phase II and III are announced.