No, working prototypes are not required. Effective prototypes demonstrate how the invention might look and act, but mockups using alternative materials are fine.

No, there is no fee to participate in the Kansas City Invention Convention.

• Inventors must be in grades 3-12 and live in the Kansas City region, including north to St. Joseph, Missouri, east to Columbia, Missouri, and west to Topeka, Kansas.
• You can participate through your school, club, after-school program, or from home.
•  A parent/guardian or educator must accompany inventors on competition day.

You can compete individually or as a team. You can’t do both. The requirements for teams are:

• Teams can consist of up to four inventors.
• If team members are in different grades, the team will compete in the grade category of its eldest member.
• Every member of the team must complete registration and be in attendance on competition day.

Teammates who do not register or come to the awards show will not be eligible for prizes or compete in the national and global competitions.

• Each individual or team will be allowed to submit only one invention per KCIC season.
• Only those who register and come to the awards show are eligible for prizes and a chance to compete at the national and global competitions. Teammates who do not register or come to the awards show will not be eligible for prizes or compete in the national and global competitions.
• Inventions must be an original idea or an improvement upon a product that already exists on the market.
• Invention submissions must include the following items: an invention logbook, a prototype, a display board, and a pitch. Please see the Inventor Toolkit section for more details.
• Returning competitors may resubmit the same invention every season only if there is evidence that a significant amount of innovation has occurred since the previous season.
• Invention prototypes must not be flammable, combustible, or at risk of a hazard in any way.
• The Library cannot offer electrical power for any inventions during the event.
• The following items are not allowed on your person or in your project: Electric stun guns, martial arts weapons or devices, firearms, replica guns, ammunition, fireworks, mace, pepper spray, razors, box cutters, or knives of any size. Also, no balloons, glitter or confetti are allowed in any form.
• This is a large venue and proper expectations about behavior and projects should be considered.

Yes! Students will have the opportunity to receive support from local inventors and entrepreneurs who serve as KCIC mentors. Mentors will provide feedback on student’s inventions, prototypes, and even their pitches. Multiple mentor workshops will be scheduled in the months leading up to the awards show, so keep an eye out for those dates coming soon!

Yes, everyone is encouraged to participate! Inventors come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Are you a musician? Athlete? Artist? Do you like to cook or garden? Whatever your interest, think of something that can help you, a loved one, or even a pet, and you are on your way to becoming an inventor. Your idea might even win an award or prize!

Yes! By competing in KCIC, you have the chance to win cash prizes and a chance to compete in the national and global competitions! At KCIC 2025, students received over $40,000 in cash prizes and awards. Award opportunities include:

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each grade category
• Best in Show
• Page to Prototype
• Sustainable Innovator
• Educator Appreciation
• KCNSC by Honeywell FM&T Awards
  • Most Patentable
  • Future Shaper
  • Early Innovator

Yes! Students are encouraged to participate in other science fairs and engineering competitions.

You can view all of our past KCIC winners HERE and check out photos from KCIC 2025 Competition Day and Awards Show HERE!