FAQ

InnovateX Program

Program Value

How is the program different from the existing ones?

TL;DR:

Problem-First, not Project-First: Students learn how to identify meaningful real-world problems in their area of interest and assess feasibility before building with AI, rather than choosing from pre-packaged projects. This equips them with the skills to innovate confidently as they step into the future. This also helps them stand out on college applications with tangible, portfolio-ready achievements.
Structured Innovation through CONNECT-7: A proprietary, mentor-guided framework developed by an AI innovator with 20+ years of industry experience, guiding students from domain selection to real-world translation.

This isn’t a pre-recorded class or a generic STEM camp. It is a live, high-impact, project-based experience designed and led by Dr. Vinitha Subbhuraam, a top 1% computer science researcher, biomedical data scientist, and health innovation entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience translating AI research into real-world products.

Unlike other AI programs that focus solely on coding or building AI models, this program combines AI and innovation through a structured CONNECT-7^TM framework. Students will identify a real-world challenge, explore solutions using lateral thinking and interdisciplinary innovation, build a prototype, communicate the solution, and explore future pathways to publication, pitches, or projects under the guidance of a real industry expert.

Through this program, students will learn to identify a real problem worth solving, build a meaningful solution, and communicate it effectively. By the end of the program, students will gain a portfolio-worthy innovation project that showcases initiative, interdisciplinary thinking, and the ability to lead from idea to implementation. Then, they have the option to continue their journey through the ScholarX 1:1 Mentorship program.

In their high school experience, what sets students apart is the ability to conduct independent research or complete innovation projects that demonstrate initiative, strong leadership, effective communication skills, and confidence in presenting their ideas. This program offers all of that.

How does this program complement from high school curriculum?

Most school systems don’t teach students how to apply their knowledge to real-world innovation. Here’s what’s missing, and how this program bridges the gap:

🚫 From theory to translation: Traditional coursework teaches concepts like machine learning, public health, or biomedical devices, but in isolation.
☑️ This program helps students integrate their academic learning across courses to design AI-powered solutions for real-world problems.
🔄 Bridging siloed knowledge: Courses are often designed to master knowledge within a single field. Rarely do students have the opportunity to combine research, coding, human-centered design, and ethics into a single, integrated project.
☑️ This program guides students to work across disciplines, just as real research teams do, by applying knowledge from various disciplines to solve meaningful problems.
🛠️ Beyond class assignments: Most student projects conclude with a paper or lab report and remain confined to the classroom.
☑️ This program guides students from problem identification to prototype development to presentation, enabling them to produce a portfolio-ready project that can be utilized for job interviews, research positions, or graduate school applications.
👀 Real-world innovation lens: Academic labs may not always reflect the pace and mindset of startups or product innovation.
☑️ This program utilizes a real-world innovation framework, grounded in experience from the startup, research, and industries, helping students think like founders, builders, and translational scientists.

This program multiplies its value by helping students connect, apply, and extend what they have learned in schools into the real world. It helps students build interdisciplinary passion projects, reflecting how real-world innovation happens outside the classroom, while creating tangible, portfolio-ready achievements that make them stand out on college applications.

This is a must-do program for ambitious students preparing for majors or minors in computer science, data science, biomedical engineering, and other AI- and coding-related fields.

Pre-requisites, Application Process, Pricing, Schedule

Who can apply to the InnovateX program?

Students in high school; ambitious 8th graders with familiarity in coding may apply
Students exploring career and academic pathways in STEM
Students preparing for college and internship applications, science fairs, hackathons, etc.

Apply here!

Should I know coding for InnovateX program?

Basic coding knowledge is helpful but not required. In past cohorts, students with no prior coding experience successfully learned and enjoyed programming through our Week 1 Python refresher. A genuine interest in AI is strongly encouraged.

What happens once I submit my application for the InnovateX program?

Your application will be reviewed within 48 hours. If selected*, you’ll receive an email with tuition details and a secure payment link. Once payment is received and your admission is confirmed, you will receive onboarding instructions via email. If you are not admitted, you will also receive a notification by email.

*Applicants are selected based on intellectual curiosity, initiative, and their readiness to engage deeply in research-driven AI innovation.

What is the program format, outcome, duration, price, upcoming start dates?

Format: 11 live online small-group sessions of 2 hours each, ending with a 2-hour Demo Day.
Student-to-mentor ratio: 20:1 for lectures and 4:1 for projects.
Duration: 3 months
Outcomes: A group project in their domain of interest. Students with similar interests will be placed in teams. Additional program elements included in tuition are listed in the Curriculum section of this FAQ.
Price: ~~$999~~ $897
Upcoming Cohort: Feb 2026 to April 2026
Schedules: Choose 1.
- Cohort 1: Sundays, Feb 1 – Apr 26, 2026, 3:00–5:00 PM CST (No class on Mar 15)
- Cohort 2: Mondays, Feb 2 – Apr 27, 2026, 7:00–9:00 PM CST (No class on Mar 16)

What is your refund policy?

The total program tuition is ~~$999~~ $897, payable in full. A full refund of any payments made will be issued if cancellation is requested before the cohort start date. Cohort programs operate on fixed schedules and limited enrollment; therefore, refunds are not available once the program has started. Once the cohort begins, all payments are non-refundable, regardless of attendance or participation level. Failure to attend sessions does not constitute grounds for a refund.

I do not reside in the U.S. Can I still participate?

Yes! As long as you can accommodate the program’s timezone, you are more than welcome to apply. We have had students from outside the U.S. in previous cohorts. Please submit your application, and we will reach out with additional information and next steps.

Are there any discounts for the InnovateX program?

The first 10 applicants per cohort receive a 20% discount. The discount code will be provided in the acceptance email. Aside from this, we do not offer additional discounts, as our program is already priced below comparable offerings in the market, reflecting the high value, mentorship, and outcomes it provides.

Are there any scholarships for the InnovateX program?

Yes, we provide two types of scholarships:
Need-Based Full Scholarships: Up to 5 full scholarships per cohort are awarded based on family income and demonstrated potential to benefit from the program. Income verification and responses to the scholarship questions on the application are required for consideration.
Merit-Based Partial Scholarships: Up to 2 partial scholarships per cohort are available, open to all applicants regardless of family income. Selection is based on demonstrated merit and potential impact.

Please indicate your interest in the application form.

Is there an Info session?

Yes! Please join an upcoming session here – Info Session. If the dates/times don’t work for you, please email contact@impactlabsacademy.com expressing your interest in an information session.

Curriculum

What is included in my tuition?

24+ hours of live workshops + mentorship
Python for AI
AI/ML foundational modules
The CONNECT-7^TM Innovation framework
Research skills to identify a real-world challenge in the domain of interest
Prototype solution build using AI model building framework
Communication pointers
Modules on research publication and pitching
Weekly study materials and assignments
Individualized project feedback
Access to a small, curated peer group
Demo day showcase & certificate
Lifetime access to the alumni community
Opportunity to join the IMPACT Labs Academy volunteering & internship portal

How is the curriculum structured?

The curriculum is built around two powerful pillars: AI and Innovation.

In the first half of the program, students will learn Python for AI and then the fundamentals of AI/ML, including a step-by-step model-building framework. Then they will be introduced to the first half of the CONNECT-7^TM Innovation framework, which guides them to identify a meaningful real-world challenge, explore its broader ecosystem, generate cross-disciplinary ideas (interdisciplinary innovation), and choose a solution worth building.

In the second half of the program, students uncover the rest of the CONNECT-7^TM framework, which focuses on bringing their ideas to life. They will use their AI skills to prepare a dataset and build a prototype. They will then master the fundamentals of academic publishing and also learn the art of pitching, exploring what it takes to move their idea forward through publication, continued innovation, or even a future 1:1 IMPACT Labs Fellowship via the ScholarX program.

The program culminates in Demo Day, where they will present their prototype to invited guests, fellow teammates, friends, and family. They will graduate with a certificate, walk away with a portfolio-ready project that reflects not just what they learned, but what they innovated, and will also will personal feedback on their next path.

What if I miss a live session?

This is a team-based program, and live participation is important for real-time collaboration with peers. Regular attendance is essential to fully benefit from the program. We understand that occasional conflicts may arise, and in such cases, Dr. Vinitha will provide guidance to help students catch up on missed material.

Post-program Details

Are course materials accessible after the program?

Yes, students will have lifetime access to the copyrighted, proprietary material provided during the program. Sharing, distributing, or reproducing this material in any form is strictly prohibited and subject to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Are there any follow-up programs for those who completed the InnovateX program?

Yes, if students wish to continue building their AI and research portfolio independently or work on challenging new projects in-depth and require mentorship, they can enroll in the ScholarX 1:1 Mentorship program. For more details and to apply, visit this page or email contact@impactlabsacademy.com.

Will I receive a letter of recommendation after the InnovateX program?

Yes. InnovateX 1:1 program graduates are eligible for a letter of recommendation upon completion, at the mentor’s discretion and based on demonstrated merit, project work, and commitment.

ScholarX 1:1 Research Mentorship Program

Who can apply to the ScholarX 1:1 Mentorship program?

ScholarX is for highly motivated, self-driven ambitious students who have a decent grasp of Python coding and a strong interest in building AI models to solve a real-world problem and publishing in an academic journal.

Apply here

Do I need to know my research topic in advance?

Not all students come with a research idea or topic. If you do not have a topic in mind or a specific domain of interest, you will work with your mentor during the first month to explore potential research questions and identify a suitable area for your project.

Students can conduct research in nearly any academic field, ranging from Healthcare/Pre-Med, Business/Finance, Computer Science/Robotics, Psychology/Neuroscience, Environmental Science & Sustainability, Political Science & Law, Education, Art, Media, Communication, Sports Science, Agriculture/ Food Systems. The only requirement is that the research question involves AI-powered innovation.

Should I know coding for ScholarX program?

Yes! Students who have a decent grasp of Python coding and a strong interest in building AI models to solve a real-world problem and publishing in an academic journal can apply. A genuine interest in AI is strongly encouraged. Students new to programming are recommended to join our InnovateX program here before pursuing this 1:1 research program.

What happens once I submit my application for the ScholarX program?

Your application will be reviewed within 48 hours.
If your application is shortlisted, you will move to the interview round with the Program Director. This is your opportunity to elaborate on your research interests and ideas!
If admitted, you will receive an email with tuition details and a secure payment link. Once the initial payment is received and your admission is confirmed, you will receive onboarding instructions via email. If you are not admitted, you will also receive a notification by email.

What is the program format, outcome, duration, price, refund policy, and upcoming start dates?

Format: Guided, outcome-driven 1:1 mentorship. The program includes up to 24 hours of personalized mentorship delivered over the program duration (6-8 months). Mentorship hours are applied toward live sessions. Students work closely with their mentor to define a research question within their domain of interest, prepare or acquire relevant datasets, develop and validate an AI model, draft a research manuscript, and prepare submissions to appropriate academic journals. The program includes support for up to three submission cycles to selective high school and academic journals. Please note that we cannot guarantee publication.
Duration: 6 – 8 months
Outcomes: Research foundations (including hypothesis formulation, literature reviews, and manuscript writing), AI model development and evaluation, guidance to research paper submission, digital certificate of completion.
Price and refund policy:
- $600 per month for four 1-hr sessions. Up to 1 unused session per month can roll over to the following month. Sessions can be rescheduled with at least 48 hours’ notice. If the program is canceled, future payments will not be billed; the current month is non-refundable. The mentorship is milestone- and outcome-based, so early completion does not trigger prorated monthly refunds. Progress will be tracked through defined project milestones.
- Additional mentorship hours beyond the included scope may be added at a rate of $150 per hour, subject to mentor availability.
Please note: This mentorship is directly with Dr. Vinitha Subbhuraam. Due to her busy schedule, she accepts only up to 10 students at a time. Apply early to secure your interview and admission.

What is the program timeline?

Since high school is a busy time, the timeline below is tentative and will be adjusted based on each student’s level of expertise, pace, and availability. At least 4 mentor sessions per month are strongly encouraged to maintain a consistent pace and meet targeted paper submission deadlines.

Month 1: Exploration & Learning:
Formulate the research question and conduct a literature review.
Assess project feasibility and available resources.
Begin dataset collection, if applicable.

Months 2–3: AI Model Development & Evaluation
Build and test the AI model.
Troubleshoot code and refine model performance.

Months 4–6: Manuscript Preparation & Submission
Draft and review the research paper.
Finalize the manuscript.
Submit to selective high school and academic journals (up to three submission cycles supported).

I do not reside in the U.S. Can I still participate?

Yes! We have mentored students around the globe. Please apply, and we will reach out to you with additional information.

Are there any discounts for the ScholarX program?

We do not currently offer discounts. Our program is already priced below comparable offerings in the market, reflecting the high value, mentorship, and outcomes it provides.

Is there an Info session?

Yes! Please join an upcoming session here – Info Session. If the dates/times don’t work for you, please email contact@impactlabsacademy.com expressing your interest in an information session.

Will I receive a letter of recommendation after the ScholarX program?

Yes. ScholarX 1:1 Mentorship program graduates are eligible for a letter of recommendation upon completion, at the mentor’s discretion and based on demonstrated merit and commitment.

IMPACT Labs Academy