Build With AI: Basics 2026
Devpost, Inc.
📌About the Event
Build With AI: Basics is a beginner-friendly online AI hackathon organized by Devpost. The challenge is designed to help participants learn practical AI development best practices while turning an idea into a working proof of concept. Participants use Devpost’s Learn Skill Pack with a compatible coding agent to plan, build, and demonstrate an application that solves a useful problem in their work or everyday life. The program also includes a live build session, office hours, community support, and project-review opportunities.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Organizer: Devpost, Inc.
- Event Type: AI / Machine Learning Hackathon
- Mode of Conduct: Online
- Participation: Individuals, eligible teams, and organizations can submit projects.
- Skill Level: Beginner-friendly; the event focuses on learning AI development while building a functional first version of an application.
- Participants need Node.js and Git, along with a coding agent that supports the required skills.
- Participants install the Devpost Learn Skill Pack and use the guided workflow to plan and develop their project.
- The event includes a live build session, Discord community support, office hours, and live project review.
📅 Important Dates
- Submission Period Begins: September 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET
- Live Build Session: October 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
- Cup of Joe Office Hours: October 6 and October 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
- Will It Ship Live Review: October 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
- Registration & Submission Deadline: October 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET
- Judging Period: October 27–30, 2026
- Winner Announcement: On or around November 4, 2026
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibilty:
- Participants must be at least the age of majority in their place of residence; the event overview describes participation as 18+, subject to the official eligibility rules.
- Participation is open internationally except for countries, territories, or individuals excluded under the official rules.
- Eligible participants may compete individually, as a team, or through an eligible organization.
- Team or organization entries must appoint an authorized representative.
- Participants must register through the hackathon’s Devpost page.
- The project repository must be public and include the generated planning documents such as scope.md, prd.md, and spec.md.
- The submission must contain a 1–3 minute working demo video; reviewers are not expected to clone or run the submitted code.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Total Prize Pool: $2,500
- First Place: $1,250 cash — 1 winner
- Second Place: $750 cash — 1 winner
- Third Place: $500 cash — 1 winner
- The First Place winner also receives exposure through the Devpost newsletter and Devpost social channels.