NEURAL LINK · ACTIVE
STUDENTS · 1,247
SIGNAL · ████████░░
VISION · 98.4%
LATENCY · 4ms
AI CORE · ██████████
Enrollments Open · K–12 through College · Basic & Advanced Tracks
Train. Build. Change the World with AI.
AIYouth.ai transforms students into full-blown AI nerds — with hackathons, startup competitions, summer camps, and industry-linked courses for every student, K–12 through college. Top 10% earn a 100% guaranteed internship.
Seattle, WA
K–12 + College
$18,500 in Prizes
Top 10% get internships
Hackathon 2026 Begins In
000Days
00Hrs
00Min
00Sec
Total Prize Pool
$18,500
Grand Prize
$10,000
🤖 Gen AI⚛️ Quantum AI🛡️ Cybersecurity🦾 Robotics⚡ Agentic AI👁️ Vision AI
Students · AI Builders · Seattle 2026
Enrollments Open ◆Hackathon 2026 · Chicago IL ◆$18,500 in prizes ◆Free to enroll · No experience required ◆Top 10% of teams earn guaranteed internship ◆Mentorship from top AI executives ◆K–12 through College · 8 AI Courses ◆aiyouth.ai ◆Enrollments Open ◆Hackathon 2026 · Chicago IL ◆$18,500 in prizes ◆Free to enroll · No experience required ◆Top 10% of teams earn guaranteed internship ◆Mentorship from top AI executives ◆K–12 through College · 8 AI Courses ◆aiyouth.ai ◆
What is AIYouth?
Built for Builders Who Aren't "Ready" Yet
You don't need a CS degree or years of coding experience. You need curiosity and the drive to become an AI nerd. AIYouth.ai is on a mission to transform every student — from 5th grade to grad school — into a genuine AI builder who ships real things.
We offer year-round AI courses, cutting-edge summer camps, two annual competitions (Hackathon + Startup Cup), real facility visits, and a direct pipeline to internships at partner companies.
The top 10% of participants earn a 100% guaranteed internship offer at Emergera Ventures or a partner company. No extra application. You build it, you earn it.
12K+
Students trained
$18.5K
In annual prizes
85+
School districts
$49+
Starting from
Why AIYouth?
What You'll Walk Away With
This isn't just a weekend competition or a series of videos — it's a launchpad. Every student leaves with real advantages that follow them into college, internships, and careers.
💼
Guaranteed Internship
The top 10% of competitors at AIYouth events earn a guaranteed internship at Emergera Ventures or a partner company. No extra application. No waiting. You build it, you earn it.
★ Top 10% of Competitors
🧠
Mentorship from AI Executives
Get direct access to top AI executives — people actively building at companies like Amazon, Anthropic, Google, and Microsoft. Book 1-on-1 office hour slots. Get feedback that actually matters.
Live During Events
🏆
Win Up to $10,000
Compete for $18,500 in total prize money across Hackathon and Startup Cup. First place Startup Cup wins $10,000 + seed funding introductions. Real cash, real recognition.
$5K · $10K · Seed Intros
📄
AIYouth Certificate
Industry-recognized credentials trusted by 85+ school districts and 42 university partners.
🏭
Real Facility Visits
Tour AI labs and Fortune 500 tech campuses. Sit in real design sessions with engineers.
⚡
Prove It to Yourself
48 hours. A blank canvas. The discovery that you can actually build the thing you imagined.
Programs
Training for Every Level
Structured, project-based AI training from elementary school through graduate level. Every course ends with a real deployed project.
K–5th Grade
🎒
Elementary
Foundations of AI & robotics through hands-on play, creative projects, and storytelling with machine learning. No coding needed.
6th–8th Grade
📐
Middle School
Build your first AI models in Python, explore cybersecurity, and join team hackathon challenges with real stakes.
9th–12th Grade
🚀
High School
Real-world AI projects, hackathons with $5,000 in prizes, and a direct pathway to guaranteed internships.
Undergraduate & Grad · ⭐ Advanced
🎓
College Level
Advanced specializations, startup competitions with $10,000 grand prize, funded research tracks, and direct co-publishing opportunities with faculty mentors.
Why College Track?
VCs attend our Startup Cup Demo Days. Seed funding offers have been made to 3 alumni teams. AI Research Track students have co-published in NeurIPS and CVPR.
AI Training Programs · Basic & Advanced Tiers
AI Courses
8 structured, project-based courses for every level. Each course offers a Basic and Advanced tier — pick the depth that fits your goals. Every course ends with a real deployed project and an industry-recognized certificate.
8 AI Courses ◆K–12 through College ◆Basic from $49 · Advanced from $149 ◆Project-based learning ◆Industry certificates ◆Top 10% → Guaranteed Internship ◆8 AI Courses ◆K–12 through College ◆Basic from $49 · Advanced from $149 ◆Project-based learning ◆Industry certificates ◆Top 10% → Guaranteed Internship ◆
All Programs
Pick Your Level. Pick Your Tier.
Every course offers a Basic and Advanced tier. Basic gets you building. Advanced gets you career-ready. All courses run 8–16 weeks and end with a real deployed project.
Grade
Tier
Topic
16 courses shown
● BasicSelf-paced · recorded lectures · community forum · certificate
Discover how computers learn through interactive games, storytelling with AI, and building simple classifiers. No coding needed — just curiosity.
No-CodeHands-onCreative
⏱ 8 weeks · 16 sessions
$49
Recorded · Self-paced · Community forum
Elementary · K–5th Grade · Advanced
🤖
AI Explorers Advanced
Foundations + Creative AI Projects
Everything in Basic, plus live weekly sessions with instructors, parent progress reports, custom AI art & storytelling projects, and a final showcase presentation.
Live SessionsShowcaseMentored
⏱ 8 weeks · 16 live sessions
$149
Live · Mentored · Showcase event included
Who This Is For
Students in grades K–5 who are curious about technology but have zero coding experience. No prior skills needed. All projects are screen-time intentional and parent-friendly.
Advanced tier recommended for students who want live interaction, guided feedback, and a final project showcase to share with family.
Middle School · 6th–8th Grade
Middle School · 6–8 · Basic
🧠
AI Builders Basic
Python & Neural Networks
Code your first neural network, train image classifiers, and deploy a chatbot — using real tools used by professionals.
PythonMLProjects
⏱ 12 weeks · 24 sessions
$79
Recorded · Self-paced · Forum support
Middle School · 6–8 · Advanced
🧠
AI Builders Advanced
Python, ML & Real Deployments
Everything in Basic plus live coding labs, 1-on-1 code reviews, a deployed public project, and pre-hackathon prep with AIYouth mentors.
Live LabsCode ReviewDeploy
⏱ 12 weeks · 24 live sessions
$199
Live · Mentored · Deployment included
Middle School · 6–8 · Basic
🛡️
CyberAI Lab Basic
AI-Powered Security
Understand cybersecurity through AI — detect phishing, analyze vulnerabilities, and build tools to defend digital systems.
SecurityPythonEthics
⏱ 10 weeks · 20 sessions
$79
Recorded · Self-paced · Forum support
Middle School · 6–8 · Advanced
🛡️
CyberAI Lab Advanced
AI Security + Ethical Hacking
Ethical hacking labs, live threat simulations, CTF (Capture The Flag) challenges, weekly mentor sessions, and a final security audit project for your portfolio.
Live LabsCTFPortfolio
⏱ 10 weeks · 20 live sessions
$199
Live · CTF Labs · Mentor access
High School · 9th–12th Grade
High School · 9–12 · Basic
⚛️
Quantum AI Basic
Next-Gen Computing
Explore quantum circuits, quantum ML, and IBM Qiskit to solve optimization problems that are impossible for classical computers.
QuantumQiskitResearch
⏱ 14 weeks · 28 sessions
$149
Recorded · Self-paced · Forum support
High School · 9–12 · Advanced
⚛️
Quantum AI Advanced
Research-Level Quantum + Paper Prep
Live IBM Qiskit labs, faculty mentor sessions, a co-authored research brief, college application AI essay coaching, and hackathon team placement.
Live LabsResearchMentored
⏱ 14 weeks · 28 live sessions
$349
Live · Research track · College essay prep
High School · 9–12 · Basic
⚡
Agentic AI Basic
LLMs & Autonomous Agents
Build autonomous AI agents with LangChain, fine-tune LLMs on custom data, and deploy multi-agent systems that act in the real world.
LLMsAgentsAPIs
⏱ 12 weeks · 24 sessions
$149
Recorded · Self-paced · Forum support
High School · 9–12 · Advanced
⚡
Agentic AI Advanced
Ship Real AI Products
Live builds with senior engineers, a shipped public product at graduation, startup cup application prep, API credits included, and direct portfolio feedback from hiring partners.
Live BuildShip ItCareer Prep
⏱ 12 weeks · 24 live sessions
$349
Live · Ship real product · Career intros
High School · 9–12 · Basic
👁️
Computer Vision Basic
CV & Deep Learning
Train CNNs, build object detectors, and deploy vision models in real healthcare, agriculture, and robotics contexts using PyTorch.
PyTorchCVReal-world
⏱ 10 weeks · 20 sessions
$149
Recorded · Self-paced · Forum support
High School · 9–12 · Advanced
👁️
Computer Vision Advanced
Deploy Real Vision Systems
Live model training sessions, GPU credits included, a deployed real-world vision app in your portfolio, and direct feedback from industry vision engineers.
GPU CreditsDeployed AppIndustry Mentors
⏱ 10 weeks · 20 live sessions
$349
Live · GPU credits · Deployed app
College · Undergraduate & Graduate
College · Undergrad · Basic
🔬
AI Research Track Basic
Publish Your First Paper
Work with faculty mentors, run original experiments, and submit to student AI conferences. Access to full research library and peer group.
ResearchPublicationsMentored
⏱ 16 weeks · 32 sessions
$249
Recorded · Mentor async · Forum
College · Undergrad · Advanced
🔬
AI Research Track Advanced
Co-Publish at NeurIPS / CVPR
Weekly live sessions with faculty, co-authorship on a submitted paper, introductions to PhD programs and top AI labs, and priority Startup Cup application support.
Co-AuthorNeurIPSPhD Prep
⏱ 16 weeks · 32 live sessions
$549
Live · Co-publication · PhD intros
College · Grad/Undergrad · Basic
🌱
AI for Social Good Basic
Ethics, Policy & Impact
Apply AI to global challenges — climate, health, education. Access to case studies, NGO datasets, and policy templates.
EthicsPolicyInterdisciplinary
⏱ 10 weeks · 20 sessions
$249
Recorded · Async mentor · Forum
College · Grad/Undergrad · Advanced
🌱
AI for Social Good Advanced
Real Policy Implementations
Collaborate live with NGO and government partners, present to real policy-makers, co-author impact briefs, and receive grant writing support for your AI initiative.
NGO PartnersPolicyGrant Writing
⏱ 10 weeks · 20 live sessions
$549
Live · NGO partnership · Grant support
Summer 2026 · July–August · In-Person & Online
Summer AI Camps
Intensive 1–2 week camps that transform students into AI nerds — building real AI projects in robotics, cybersecurity, agentic systems, quantum computing, and generative AI. Top 10% of camp graduates earn a guaranteed internship.
K–12 · All Levels
In-Person & Online
From $299/week
Limited Spots — 24/camp
Summer 2026 Camps ◆AI in Robotics · Cybersecurity · Generative AI · Agentic AI · Quantum AI ◆Elementary · Middle School · High School ◆In-Person & Online Options ◆Top 10% → Guaranteed Internship ◆Only 24 students per camp ◆Summer 2026 Camps ◆AI in Robotics · Cybersecurity · Generative AI · Agentic AI · Quantum AI ◆Elementary · Middle School · High School ◆In-Person & Online Options ◆Top 10% → Guaranteed Internship ◆Only 24 students per camp ◆
2026 Summer Lineup
Find Your Camp. Start Building.
5 cutting-edge tracks, 3 grade bands, both in-person and online. Filter to find exactly what fits your student.
☀ Filter Camps
🎓 Grade Level
🧠 AI Topic
💰 Budget
📍 Format
📅 Duration
15 camps match your filtersSpots fill fast — reserve early
🏆
100% Guaranteed Internship for Top 10%
AIYouth tracks every camp participant. The top 10% of graduates — measured by project quality, peer reviews, and mentor scores — receive a guaranteed internship offer at Emergera Ventures or a partner company. No extra application. You earn it.
★ Top 10% Guaranteed Internship
K–5th GradeIn-Person1 Week
🦾
Robot Builders Academy
AI in Robotics · Elementary
Students build and program their own AI-powered robots using LEGO Spike and MIT App Inventor. No coding experience needed — by end of week, every student's robot responds to voice commands and navigates obstacles autonomously.
Dates
July 7–11
Location
Seattle, WA
Spots Left
6 / 24
Ages
5–10 yrs
K–5th GradeOnline1 Week
✨
AI Storytellers Studio
Generative AI · Elementary
Kids become AI creators — generating illustrated stories, music, and animations using generative AI tools. They'll understand how diffusion models work, prompt engineering basics, and publish their own AI-generated book by Friday.
Dates
July 14–18
Format
Live Online
Spots Left
14 / 24
Ages
6–11 yrs
6–8th GradeIn-Person2 Weeks
🤖
Autonomous Systems Lab
AI in Robotics · Middle School
2-week deep dive into computer vision-powered robotics. Students train custom object-detection models and deploy them on physical robots using Python + ROS. Final showcase: autonomous navigation challenge judged by real engineers.
Dates
Jul 21 – Aug 1
Location
Seattle, WA
Spots Left
4 / 24
Ages
11–14 yrs
6–8th GradeOnline1 Week
🛡️
Junior Cyber Defenders
AI in Cybersecurity · Middle School
Students become ethical hackers using AI tools — detecting phishing emails with ML classifiers, analyzing network traffic anomalies, and running live Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges. Culminates in a team red-vs-blue cyberwar exercise.
Dates
Aug 4–8
Format
Live Online
Spots Left
11 / 24
Ages
11–14 yrs
6–8th GradeIn-Person1 Week
🎨
GenAI Maker Studio
Generative AI · Middle School
Build with GPT-4, DALL·E, Stable Diffusion, and Suno. Students fine-tune models on custom datasets, build multi-modal AI apps with Python, and ship a real product by end of week. No experience needed — just ideas.
Dates
Aug 11–15
Location
Seattle, WA
Spots Left
9 / 24
Ages
11–14 yrs
6–8th GradeOnline2 Weeks
⚡
AI Agent Builders
Agentic AI · Middle School
Build autonomous AI agents that browse the web, write code, and complete tasks without human intervention. Using LangChain and Claude APIs, students ship a personal AI assistant that can actually do things for them in the real world.
Dates
Jul 14 – Jul 25
Format
Live Online
Spots Left
16 / 24
Ages
11–14 yrs
9–12th GradeIn-Person2 Weeks★ Elite
🦿
AI Robotics Engineering
AI in Robotics · High School
The most advanced camp we offer. Students build ROS2-based autonomous robots with integrated vision, language understanding, and real-time decision-making. Tour Amazon Robotics facilities. Final demo to hiring engineers. Internship pipeline for top performers.
Dates
Jul 7 – Jul 18
Location
Seattle, WA
Spots Left
3 / 24
Ages
14–18 yrs
9–12th GradeIn-Person1 Week
🔐
AI Threat Intelligence
AI in Cybersecurity · High School
Train ML models to detect cyberattacks in real network traffic datasets from Amazon & Microsoft. Build AI-powered intrusion detection systems. Run adversarial AI attacks (and defend against them). Attend a real SOC walk-through at a partner company.
Dates
Aug 4–8
Location
Seattle, WA
Spots Left
8 / 24
Ages
14–18 yrs
9–12th GradeOnline1 Week
🧬
Agentic AI Bootcamp
Agentic AI · High School
Build multi-agent systems using CrewAI, AutoGen, and Claude APIs. Students design agents that collaborate, use tools, and complete complex real-world tasks. Ship a portfolio-ready agentic product by Friday. Top project gets Startup Cup fast-track.
Dates
Jul 21–25
Format
Live Online
Spots Left
12 / 24
Ages
14–18 yrs
9–12th GradeIn-Person2 WeeksResearch-Level
⚛️
Quantum AI Research Camp
Quantum AI · High School
The most cutting-edge camp we run. Students work with IBM Qiskit, run actual quantum circuits on real quantum hardware, and explore quantum machine learning. Co-author a research brief. Facility visit to Microsoft Quantum lab. College essay material guaranteed.
Dates
Jul 28 – Aug 8
Location
Seattle, WA
Spots Left
5 / 24
Ages
14–18 yrs
9–12th GradeOnline1 Week
🤯
Generative AI Founders
Generative AI · High School
Build an AI startup in 5 days. Fine-tune frontier models, build product wrappers, ship to real users, and pitch to AIYouth mentors on Friday. Top 3 pitches get Startup Cup automatic entry + seed funding introductions. This is the real deal.
Dates
Aug 11–15
Format
Live Online
Spots Left
10 / 24
Ages
14–18 yrs
9–12th GradeOnline2 Weeks
🕵️
AI Red Team Academy
AI in Cybersecurity · High School
Advanced adversarial AI training — learn how attackers use AI to break systems, and how defenders use AI to stop them. CTF competitions, live red-team vs blue-team war games, and a final penetration testing report that will stand out on any college application.
Dates
Aug 18 – Aug 29
Format
Live Online
Spots Left
13 / 24
Ages
14–18 yrs
🔍
No camps match those filters
Try adjusting your filters or to see all camps.
Annual Competition · Applications Open · Free Entry
48 Hours to Build the Future.
AIYouth Hackathon 2026 — Chicago's biggest student AI competition. 4 tracks. $5,000 in prizes. Real problems. Build something that changes the world and launch your career.
May 16–17, 2026
Chicago, IL
$5,000 in prizes
Teams of 1–4
Students · AI Hackathon · Chicago 2026
Applications Open ◆May 16–17, 2026 · Chicago IL ◆$5,000 in prizes ◆Free to enter ◆48 hours · 4 tracks ◆Teams of 1–4 ◆Top 10% get guaranteed internship ◆Applications Open ◆May 16–17, 2026 · Chicago IL ◆$5,000 in prizes ◆Free to enter ◆48 hours · 4 tracks ◆Teams of 1–4 ◆Top 10% get guaranteed internship ◆
4 Competition Tracks
There's a Track for Every Builder
Pick the one that excites you most. Don't know what to build? Our Day 1 idea workshop has you covered.
Track 01
🤖
Generative AI
Build a tool using GenAI to solve a real community problem — AI tutors, mental health apps, language tools, education assistants. Most accessible entry point.
Easiest Entry Point
Track 02
⚛️
Quantum AI
Design a quantum-enhanced optimization solution using IBM Qiskit. Tackle problems in logistics, drug discovery, or financial modeling. High ceiling, high reward.
Advanced · Research Level
Track 03
🦾
Robotics
Program a robot to assist in a real-world scenario. Smart sorting bots, disaster rescue rovers, AI-powered arms. If it moves and thinks, it belongs here.
Hardware Provided
Track 04 · ⭐ Featured
🛡️
Cybersecurity AI
Create an AI-powered security tool for schools, hospitals, or NGOs. Build phishing detectors, network watchdogs, threat classifiers. Defend the digital world — or break into it ethically.
Cloud Credits Included · Top VC Attention
Why This Track?
AI in cybersecurity is the fastest-growing hiring category. VCs and partner companies will be watching this track closely. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud credits provided free for the weekend.
📋 Official Rules & Eligibility
Read This Before You Register
These are the complete, binding rules for AIYouth Hackathon 2026. By registering, you and your team agree to all rules below. Questions? Email [email protected] before the event starts.
Section 1 — Who Can Participate
✅ Eligible
→Any student enrolled in grades 6–12 (middle or high school)
→Undergraduate or graduate students at any accredited institution
→International students (for virtual tracks)
→Solo participants and teams of 1–4 members
❌ Not Eligible
→AIYouth staff, board members, or their immediate family
→Judges, mentors, or sponsor company employees
→Teams with more than 4 members
→Anyone not enrolled as a student at time of registration
ℹ️ HIGH SCHOOLERS: You must provide a valid student email OR a school enrollment letter. Students under 18 require a parent/guardian to complete the digital consent form sent after registration. No exceptions.
Section 2 — Team Rules
2.1Teams may have 1–4 members. Solo entries are welcome in all tracks.
2.2Every team member must be individually registered before the event starts.
2.3Team mergers or member additions are only permitted before May 14 at 9:00 AM CT.
2.4Each participant may only be on one team. Split submissions will be disqualified.
2.5Cross-school and cross-city teams are encouraged and welcome.
2.6Prize money is split equally among all registered team members unless all members submit a written agreement before the deadline.
2.7Use Discord #team-matchmaking to find teammates before the event.
Section 3 — What You Can & Cannot Build
✅ Allowed
→New projects started at or after kickoff (May 16, 9:00 AM CT)
→Open-source libraries, APIs, and pre-trained models (must be credited)
→Publicly available datasets
→AIYouth-provided cloud credits and hardware
❌ Not Allowed
→Projects started before kickoff — no pre-built submissions
→AI-generated code passed off as original without disclosure
→Projects that harm, deceive, or collect unauthorized personal data
→Commercial products rebranded as original work
Section 4 — How to Submit
Deadline: April 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM Pacific Time. No exceptions. No extensions. Late submissions are automatically disqualified.
4.1GitHub repo — public, all source code, README with setup instructions.
4.23-min demo video — YouTube, Vimeo, or Loom. Must show working product. No slide-decks only.
4.3One-page project brief (PDF) — problem, AI approach, how it works, impact.
4.4All 3 items must go through the AIYouth submission portal. Email submissions will not be reviewed.
4.5If you used AI coding tools (Copilot, ChatGPT, etc.) you must disclose this in your README. Non-disclosure = disqualification.
4.6Submit early. Broken links or private repos discovered after deadline = disqualification, not an extension.
Section 5 — Code of Conduct (Zero Tolerance)
AIYouth is committed to a safe and inclusive environment — especially for high school students. The following result in immediate disqualification and removal, no exceptions:
✗Harassment, bullying, or intimidation of any participant, mentor, or staff
✗Discrimination based on race, gender, age, ability, religion, or background
✗Cheating, plagiarism, or misrepresentation of your project
✗Sharing another team's ideas or code without permission
✗Building anything designed to harm, surveil, or deceive real people
✗Violating the privacy or security of other teams' systems
To report a concern during the event, text/email the safety officer (contact shared in your confirmation email). Reports are confidential. Retaliation against reporters is also a violation.
⚖️ Judging Criteria
Exactly How Your Project Gets Scored
Every submission is scored on 5 criteria by a panel of 3–5 judges. Scores are averaged. Total = 100 points. Here's precisely what each judge looks for — no surprises, no guessing.
How real, specific, and meaningful is the problem you chose? Who is affected and how badly?
21–25Urgent, clearly-defined problem affecting a real community. Measurable impact potential with evidence.
14–20Solid real-world problem. Impact is plausible but not fully evidenced.
7–13Generic or vague problem statement. Impact unclear or speculative.
0–6No clear problem identified, or problem is trivial.
25% of Total Score
🤖
AI Innovation / 25 pts
How well does the AI/ML component actually solve the problem? Is AI central — or just decorative?
21–25AI is the core of the solution. Novel approach, thoughtful model choices, handles edge cases well.
14–20AI is meaningfully applied. Standard approach executed well with solid results.
7–13AI present but peripheral. Note: just calling an API and displaying results does NOT qualify as AI innovation.
0–6No meaningful AI component, or AI is purely cosmetic.
25% of Total Score
⚙️
Technical Execution / 20 pts
Does the project actually work? Is the code clean, documented, and reproducible by a stranger?
17–20Fully functional demo. Clean, commented code. Anyone can run it using your README in under 10 minutes.
11–16Works with minor bugs. Code is readable. README covers most of setup.
5–10Partially working. Hard to reproduce. Code is messy or undocumented.
0–4Non-functional or unable to be evaluated from submission materials.
20% of Total Score
🎨
User Experience / 15 pts
Could a real, non-technical user actually use this? Is the design intuitive, accessible, and empathetic?
13–15Polished UI/UX. Evidence of real user testing. Handles errors gracefully. Accessible.
8–12Functional interface. Could be used with some guidance.
3–7Rough or confusing UI. Requires significant technical knowledge to use.
0–2No discernible interface or no UX consideration.
15% of Total Score
🎤
Presentation & Story / 15 pts
Does your 3-minute video clearly show what you built, why it matters, and how it works? Could anyone watching understand it?
13–15Compelling story arc: Problem → Solution → Live Demo → Impact. A non-technical viewer would understand and be excited.
8–12Clear presentation covering all key elements. Mostly easy to follow.
3–7Confusing or incomplete. Key elements missing or hard to evaluate from video alone.
0–2No video submitted, or video is unusable/inaccessible.
15% of Total Score
Judging Process — Step by Step
Step 1All submissions reviewed by AIYouth screening team (Apr 3–6). Incomplete or rule-violating entries removed.
Step 2Top 20 teams selected for semi-finals. All teams notified by Apr 8 via email.
Step 3Semi-finals (May 22): Top 20 present live via video call to a 3-judge panel. 10 minutes each including Q&A.
Step 4Top 5 selected for Grand Finale (Apr 20). Live in-person pitch: 5 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A from judges and audience.
Step 5Winners announced live at the finale. Prize distribution within 14 business days via check or bank transfer.
⚠️ Judge decisions are final. Written score appeals accepted within 48 hours of results announcement. Individual scores are private but shared with each team upon request.
Prize Structure
Real Cash. Real Recognition.
$5,000 in total prizes. Plus internship offers, press coverage, and access to the AIYouth alumni network.
1st Place
$2,500
The grand prize winner receives cash, a guaranteed internship, and direct introductions to our VC and press partners.
Guaranteed internship at partner company
Featured in Tech Press & AIYouth blog
6-month mentorship program
AIYouth Certificate of Excellence
2nd Place
$1,500
Runner-up receives significant cash plus course credits and a curated company visit package.
Company Visit Package (3 partner sites)
Full AIYouth Course Credit Bundle
LinkedIn feature + Certificate
AIYouth Alumni Network access
3rd Place
$1,000
Third place wins cash, swag, and permanent recognition in the AIYouth Hall of Builders.
Optional — idea refinement, team roles, API setup.
Online
Event Days — May 16–17
9:00 AM
Kickoff & Problem Reveal
Challenges revealed live. 48-hour sprint begins.
Day 1
2:00 PM
Mentor Office Hours Open
Book 1-on-1 slots with AI executives and engineers.
9:00 PM
Mid-point Check-in
Optional progress share + team morale boost.
9:00 AM
Submission Deadline
GitHub repo + 3-min demo video due. No extensions.
Day 3
After the Event
May 22
Semi-Final Judging
Top 20 teams present to the judge panel via video.
Apr 20
Grand Finale & Awards
Top 5 pitch live. Prizes, internships, press coverage.
★ Main Event
May+
Internship Onboarding
Top 10% begin partner company placements.
Ongoing
📍 Venue
Chicago, Illinois
AIYouth Hackathon 2026 is heading to Chicago — the Midwest's fastest-growing tech hub. Venue finalization is in progress. Check back soon for the full address and all logistics details.
Venue Details
📍
Chicago, IL
Venue · To Be Announced
⏳ Venue Finalization In Progress
We're finalizing our Chicago venue partner. The space will feature dedicated quantum computing stations, robotics build areas, and breakout mentor rooms. Full address and logistics will be published 60 days before the event.
📅May 16–17, 2026 · 48-Hour Sprint
🏙️Chicago Metro Area, Illinois
🌐Hybrid — In-Person + Virtual Track Available
✈️Travel grants available for qualifying out-of-state teams
Venue Will Feature
⚛️
Quantum AI Lab
Dedicated quantum computing stations with IBM Qiskit access
🦾
Robotics Build Bay
Open floor with hardware kits, robotic arms & assembly tools
🧠
Mentor Rooms
Private 1-on-1 breakout rooms with AI executives
🎤
Main Stage
Live judging, keynotes, and award ceremony
🔔 GET NOTIFIED WHEN VENUE IS ANNOUNCED →
Why Chicago →🏙️ Midwest Tech Hub🎓 100+ Colleges Nearby✈️ Major Airport Access🤝 Growing VC Ecosystem⚡ Diverse Talent Pool
FAQ
Common Questions
Any student currently enrolled in K–12, undergraduate, or graduate school can participate. International students are welcome for the virtual tracks. No experience required.
Teams of 1–4. Solo submissions are accepted across all tracks. You can also use our Discord to find teammates before the event.
Yes — registration is free, food and drinks are provided during the event, all API credits are covered, and hardware is provided for the Robotics track. No hidden costs.
A laptop, a student ID, and your ideas. Everything else — APIs, cloud credits, hardware, food, and WiFi — is provided.
The top 10% of teams by judge score receive automatic internship introductions at AIYouth partner companies. No additional interview required — the hackathon performance is your interview.
Annual Competition · Applications Open · All Levels
Turn Your AI Idea into a Real Company.
AIYouth Startup Cup 2026 — 11 weeks from concept to investor pitch. $18,500 in prizes and a real shot at seed funding from our VC partners.
11 Weeks
Seattle + Virtual
$18,500 in prizes
Seed funding intros
Startup Cup 2026 ◆$18,500 in total prizes ◆11 weeks concept → pitch ◆Seed funding introductions ◆VC Demo Day ◆All AI sectors welcome ◆Startup Cup 2026 ◆$18,500 in total prizes ◆11 weeks concept → pitch ◆Seed funding introductions ◆VC Demo Day ◆All AI sectors welcome ◆
Program Structure
11 Weeks. Concept to Investor.
Each phase builds on the last. By Week 11, you're pitching to real VCs who have written checks to previous AIYouth alumni.
Phase 1 · Wks 1–3
💡
Idea Lab
Validate your problem, define users, and map the AI opportunity space with mentor guidance. Customer discovery sessions included.
Phase 2 · Wks 4–7
🔨
Build Sprint
Rapid MVP development. Weekly mentor check-ins. User testing with real communities. Ship something real, not a demo.
Phase 3 · Wks 8–10
📊
Market Ready
Go-to-market strategy, financial modeling, early traction metrics, press intros, and partnership conversations.
Phase 4 · Week 11
🚀
Investor Demo Day
Pitch to VCs, angels, and corporate partners. Top teams receive seed funding offers on the spot. Live-streamed to 500+ viewers.
Awards
$18,500 in Prizes + Seed Funding
Grand Champion
$10,000
The top startup receives cash and direct seed funding introductions to our VC network — firms that have already backed AIYouth alumni.
Seed funding introductions (≥2 VC firms)
1-year mentorship from Emergera Ventures
Feature in TechCrunch + AIYouth press
AWS Activate $100K credit package
Runner-Up
$5,000
Second place receives significant cash and accelerator fast-track access to two of Seattle's top startup programs.
Accelerator fast-track (2 programs)
6-month mentorship
AIYouth alumni network lifetime access
Certificate of Excellence
Social Impact Award
$2,500
Awarded to the team whose AI solution demonstrates the most meaningful social, environmental, or health impact.
NGO partnership introductions
Grant writing support
Press + social feature
Certificate of Achievement
All Participants Get →AIYouth Certificate11 Weeks of MentorshipInvestor FeedbackAlumni NetworkPortfolio Project
Requirements
Who Can Apply
👥
Team Composition
Teams of 1–5 founders. At least one team member must be a currently enrolled high school or college student. Cross-school teams are encouraged.
🤖
AI Core Requirement
AI must be a core, non-trivial component of your solution. Using an LLM API alone does not qualify — the AI should be central to your value proposition.
📝
Original Work
No pre-existing commercial products. You may build on open-source tools and APIs, but the product concept and implementation must originate during the program.
📋 Official Rules & Judging Criteria
Everything You Need to Know Before You Apply
The Startup Cup has clear, binding rules and transparent scoring. Read all of this before submitting your application — especially if you're a high schooler, this tells you exactly what to prepare and how you'll be evaluated at every phase.
Section 1 — Eligibility
✅ Who Can Apply
→Teams of 1–5 founders; at least one must be an enrolled high school or college student
→High school students (grades 9–12) competing individually or in teams
→Cross-school, cross-city, or mixed undergraduate/high school teams
→AIYouth staff, mentors, judges, or their family members
→Pre-existing companies that have received institutional investment or revenue
→Teams with more than 5 members
ℹ️ HIGH SCHOOLERS: You must provide a valid student email OR an enrollment letter from your school. Students under 18 need a parent/guardian to sign and return the digital consent form emailed within 24 hours of application. Your spot is not confirmed until consent is received.
Section 2 — What Your Startup Must Be
2.1AI must be core. AI cannot be peripheral — it must be central to your value proposition. Simply wrapping an LLM API does not qualify.
2.2Original concept. The idea and MVP must originate during the program. Pre-existing commercial products are not eligible, even with modifications.
2.3Real problem. Your startup must address a real, identifiable problem affecting real people. "AI for AI's sake" concepts will score poorly.
2.4Open-source is fine. You may build on open-source tools, models, and APIs. All third-party components must be disclosed and credited.
2.5IP stays with you. AIYouth does not claim any ownership of your startup, product, or IP. You retain 100% of what you build.
2.6Pivot allowed. You may change your concept between Phase 1 and Phase 2 with mentor approval. Major pivots after Phase 2 require review.
Section 3 — Phase-by-Phase Deliverables (What You Submit & When)
Missing a phase deliverable without prior notice to your mentor = automatic elimination from prize consideration. If you have an emergency, contact [email protected] immediately.
Phase 1 — Idea Lab (Wks 1–3)
→Written problem statement (1 page max): Who has the problem, how severe, why AI helps
→5 customer discovery interviews (documented, not just summarized)
→2-minute pitch to mentor panel via video call
Phase 2 — Build Sprint (Wks 4–7)
→Working MVP demo (video or live — no mockups-only submissions)
→User testing results from at least 3 real users (not friends or family)
→Weekly check-in with assigned mentor (attendance required, not optional)
Phase 3 — Market Ready (Wks 8–10)
→Go-to-market plan (target customers, acquisition channel, pricing model)
→Basic financial model (cost, revenue assumptions, break-even estimate)
→At least 1 traction metric (signups, waitlist, pilot users, LOI from a potential customer)
Phase 4 — Demo Day (Week 11)
→10-slide investor deck (template provided in Week 8)
→5-minute live pitch to VCs + judges, followed by 5-minute Q&A
→Live product demo — working software, not a video of the software
Is the problem big enough to build a company around? Is the long-term vision credible and ambitious?
17–20Large addressable problem, clearly evidenced. Vision is bold, believable, and specific.
11–16Real problem. Vision is plausible but underdeveloped or generic.
5–10Problem is vague or small. Vision is unclear or not company-scale.
0–4No clear problem or vision presented.
20% of Total Score
🤖
AI Differentiation / 25 pts
Is AI genuinely what makes your startup better than the alternatives? Would this product be impossible or significantly worse without AI?
21–25AI creates a genuine moat. The solution would be substantially worse — or impossible — without it. Novel AI application.
14–20AI meaningfully improves the product. Thoughtful, purposeful model choices.
7–13AI is present but feels bolted on. Could be replaced with simpler software.
0–6AI is cosmetic. Calling a paid API without customization does not count.
25% of Total Score
📈
Traction & Validation / 20 pts
Have real people — outside your team — validated that this problem is real and your solution works?
17–20Paid users, signed LOIs, or measurable waitlist. Real user feedback documented and incorporated.
11–16Unpaid but active users. Solid customer discovery interviews. Iteration based on feedback.
5–10Few conversations with potential users. Limited iteration evidence.
0–4No external validation. Team assumptions only.
20% of Total Score
💰
Business Model / 20 pts
Is there a credible path to revenue and sustainability? Does the economics make sense at scale?
17–20Clear, defensible revenue model. Realistic financial assumptions. Unit economics make sense.
11–16Reasonable model, some assumptions need work. Path to revenue is credible if uncertain.
5–10Vague monetization ("ads" or "freemium" without specifics). No financial modeling.
0–4No business model presented or plan is clearly not viable.
20% of Total Score
🎤
Pitch & Team / 15 pts
Is the pitch clear, confident, and compelling? Does the team have what it takes to execute — even as students?
13–15Compelling, confident pitch. Team clearly owns the space. Live demo works flawlessly. Q&A answered directly.
8–12Solid pitch with minor clarity issues. Team is credible. Demo mostly works.
3–7Pitch is unclear or unfocused. Demo fails or is replaced by slides. Q&A struggles.
0–2Presentation not delivered or entirely non-functional.
15% of Total Score
Startup Cup Judging Process
Phase 1Mentor panel reviews problem statement + customer interviews. Feedback given within 5 days.
Phase 2Mentor scores MVP demo + user testing. Teams below threshold receive improvement plan or are exited with feedback.
Phase 3Judge panel reviews go-to-market plan and traction. Top 10 teams advance to Demo Day.
Demo DayLive pitch to VCs and judges. 5-min pitch + 5-min Q&A. All criteria scored live. Scores averaged across 3–5 judges.
ResultsWinners announced same day. Prize distribution within 14 business days. All teams receive written judge feedback.
⚠️ AIYouth does not take equity, IP rights, or any ownership in participant startups. Judge decisions are final. Written appeals accepted within 48 hours. All teams receive individual score breakdowns upon request.
The People Behind the Mission
Built by Builders Who Were Shut Out.
Two immigrants who know firsthand what it means to be denied access to opportunity — and who refused to accept that for the next generation.
Co-Founders
Meet Rani & Jay
AIYouth was built on one belief: the AI revolution shouldn't belong to the privileged few. Here are the people who acted on it.
RA
Rani A
Co-Founder & CEO · Ex-Microsoft
"AI is the great equalizer — if we give everyone access to it."
Former Senior Leader, Microsoft
Decades of experience building enterprise AI products at scale
Passionate about closing the AI education gap for underserved communities
Advocate for K–12 STEM access in Title I school districts
Speaker: AI for Good, EdTech Summit, NW Tech Leaders
"The best AI engineers I know didn't come from elite schools. They came from relentless curiosity."
B.Tech, IIT Delhi (Indian Institute of Technology)
Former Senior Engineer & Leader, Microsoft
Currently Director of AI at the world's largest strategic consulting firm
Built enterprise AI systems deployed across Fortune 500 clients globally
Mentor: AI startup ecosystems, university AI labs, student founders
CTO · aiyouth.ai
Our Story
Both Rani and Jay spent years building AI at Microsoft — one of the world's most influential technology companies. They saw firsthand how transformative AI can be, and how few students ever get a real shot at learning it.
Jay went on to become a Director of AI at the world's largest strategic consulting firm, advising the biggest organizations on the planet. Rani channeled her Microsoft years into education — building the program she wished had existed when she was starting out.
AIYouth is what two ex-Microsofters built when they decided the next generation deserved better access.
What Drives Us
The Principles We Build On
🌍
Equity First
Every course starts free. No student is priced out of AI education. We partner with Title I schools, rural districts, and underrepresented communities by design.
🔬
Real Science
Our curriculum is built with AI researchers, not just educators. Students work with actual datasets, real tools, and industry-standard frameworks from day one.
🚀
Outcome-Obsessed
We measure success in careers launched, companies founded, and papers published — not just certificates issued or videos watched.
Our Mission
Democratizing AI Education.
AIYouth.ai was founded on one belief: the AI revolution shouldn't belong to the privileged few. We train the next generation of AI builders — from every background, every zip code, every grade level.
What We Do
We Build Builders.
AIYouth offers structured AI courses for K–12 through graduate level, two annual competitions (Hackathon + Startup Cup), real facility visits at Fortune 500 tech campuses, and direct pathways to internships and funding.
We partner with Title I schools, rural districts, and underrepresented communities by design — not as an afterthought. Every course is free to start. Every student is welcome.
The top 10% of competitors earn guaranteed internship offers at our partner companies. Alumni have co-published in NeurIPS, founded VC-backed companies, and gone on to roles at Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic.
12K+
Students trained
85+
School districts
42
University partners
340+
Hackathon teams
Trusted Partners & Supporters
Who Stands Behind Us
MIT CSAILStanford HAIMicrosoft ResearchGoogle AINVIDIAAWSNSFGates FoundationCity of SeattleAnthropic
FAQ
Common Questions
Yes. All courses are free to enroll and complete. Competition entries are free. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by corporate partners, grants, and individual donors. We will never paywall education.
We serve students from Kindergarten through graduate school (K–PhD). Each course is level-appropriate. Elementary courses require zero prior tech experience. College tracks assume strong programming ability.
The top 10% of competitors across Hackathon and Startup Cup are automatically introduced to our hiring partners — no additional application or interview required. The competition performance is the interview.
Our flagship 2026 Hackathon is held in Chicago, IL. However, all courses are 100% online. The Hackathon has a virtual track, and the Startup Cup is hybrid. Students from anywhere can participate.
Email us at [email protected]. We have active partnerships with 85+ school districts including Title I schools. Partnership is free and includes curriculum materials, teacher training, and student enrollment support.
AIYouth.ai
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