I TECH won the senior category of the Office of the Prime Minister’s 2026 Innovation Challenge, the competition announced. The company secured a cash prize of G$1.5 million, the competition said. MATT Solutions won the junior category, the competition announced. MATT Solutions received a cash prize of G$500,000 for the junior win, the competition said.
LUDGE TECH placed second in the senior category and received G$800,000, the competition reported. G STACK secured third place in the senior category and received G$550,000, the competition reported. Code Lunima placed second in the junior category, the competition reported. Mars placed third in the junior category, the competition reported.
The three‑day competition concluded on Sunday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the organisers said. Fourteen registered teams took part, the organisers said. The junior category was introduced for the first time in 2026 and was open to participants aged 16 to 21, the competition noted. Consolation prizes for the junior category were sponsored by SBM Offshore Guyana, the competition noted.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips told the closing ceremony that the competition formed part of the government’s efforts to build human capital, encourage entrepreneurship and turn locally developed ideas into practical solutions, the Prime Minister said. He added, "Your prototype may become a pilot, a start‑up, a public‑interest solution or a service capable of reaching regional and international markets," the Prime Minister said.
Martin Cheong said the country’s development would depend on new industries and investments as well as creating the skills required for Guyanese to participate in emerging opportunities, he said. He announced that his company would offer entrepreneurial training to all participants in the junior and senior categories, he said.
SBM Offshore has partnered with the Industry and Innovation Unit on the competition for the past four years, the company said. Since 2023, the partnership has facilitated the participation of up to 40 teams and more than 120 persons, the partnership information said.
Participants developed software‑based solutions in the area of education, the competition report said. Participants also developed software‑based solutions in the area of health and safety, the competition report said.
