The Garage drives a culture of innovation
See what’s new in The Garage — sparking inspiration worldwide
A Global Hackathon project leads to partnership that boosts solar water system sustainability in rural Africa.
“Using AI to help ensure reliable access to clean water is a powerful example of how technology can be a true force for good. Together, we’re proving how data and compassion can change lives.”
Read the latest news
Three words sparked an AI breakthrough in restaurant operations: “Hair. On. Fire.”
That’s how an EcoLab® executive described decision‑making for quick‑service restaurant managers during peak rush—raw instinct, pure adrenaline, with seconds ticking away. That moment sparked a Microsoft Garage Hackathon project that became RushReady™, turning frontline kitchen data into real‑time guidance that helps managers boost sales per hour, speed of service, and profit margin. What started as a hackathon idea now helps….
Solve for one, extend to many
A single red dot in a usability test changed everything. For one participant, it was enough to stop the task entirely—a reminder that small moments can create big cognitive barriers. That insight sparked Inclusive Design for Cognition, an effort born in the Microsoft Garage Hackathon 2022 to design with, not just for, neurodivergent people. Through fast loops and co‑design sessions,….
Project Pathfinder exemplifies AI in Action
Project Pathfinder accelerates sovereign cloud deployments, cutting onboarding time by 85% while ensuring compliance and security. A true example of moving beyond automation to AI-first workflows that scale. According to Microsoft EVP and COO Carolina Dybeck Happe, “This project was singled out for two things that should be priorities for any AI implementation: first, it was rooted in an actual….
Turning customer feedback into actionable insights
Please join us in celebrating CX Observe Product Feedback Copilot’s induction onto the Garage Wall of Fame. CX Observe Product Feedback Copilot is an AI-driven solution designed to convert large volumes of customer feedback into actionable insights, enabling Microsoft’s product leaders to prioritize roadmaps and maximize customer value. Developed by Amir Banai and Yoav Dobrin during the Microsoft Global Hackathon….
AI-powered offerings and programs that move ideas forward
The Garage is a worldwide program with online offerings and activities at The Garage local sites. It’s a place for employees and customers to get inspired.
Learn more
The Innovation Studio platform is all about democratization of innovation, putting the power of AI into the hands of teams and organizations to drive collaboration and move ideas forward.
Learn more
The Microsoft Global Hackathon is a company-wide, multi-day, global event produced by The Microsoft Garage that brings employees and interns from all over the world together to create, innovate, and hack on ideas that inspire them. It’s the largest private hackathon on the planet.
Learn more
The Garage Wall of Fame highlights some of the most compelling projects that got their start in the Microsoft Garage and in the Global Hackathon.
Learn more
The Garage Growth Framework (GGF) is a four-phase system for early-stage innovation based on the innovation lifecycle we’ve learned from running the world’s largest private hackathon. The GGF guides teams of hackers everywhere to grow their ideas from passion to impact.
Learn more
INNOVATION STUDIO
Empowering the democratization of innovation
Innovation Studio is Microsoft’s AI-powered innovation management platform, built to help organizations discover ideas, form high‑impact teams, and turn innovation into measurable outcomes.
Learn more
Make innovation everyone’s job. Innovation Studio gives every employee a place to contribute ideas, join projects, and collaborate across organizational boundaries – while giving leaders visibility into where innovation is happening and how to accelerate it.
Originally created to power the Microsoft Global Hackathon, Innovation Studio now enables organizations to run innovation programs year‑round—securely, at scale, and with enterprise‑grade insight.
THE GARAGE GROWTH FRAMEWORK
The how-to of an innovation lifecycle
The Garage Growth Framework
The Garage Growth Framework (GGF) is a four-phase system for early-stage innovation based on the innovation lifecycle we’ve learned from running the world’s largest private hackathon. The GGF guides teams of hackers everywhere to grow their ideas from passion to impact.
GGF: It starts with a wave
Regardless of what causes a wave—a change in consumer behavior, a new government regulation, a market disruption, or a popular new technology—it inspires a need for ideas and innovation.
GGF: Recruiting a team
The first step is recruiting people with diverse skill sets who have the confidence, desire, and ability to do the work and bring the idea to life.
Link copied to clipboard