Eligibility & Teams
Who can enter?+
Any student aged 13 or older — middle school, high school, or college. Self-taught builders are also welcome. No school affiliation or club membership required. You can be anywhere in the world.
Can I enter alone, or do I need a team?+
Both are welcome. You can enter solo or with up to 3 others (max 4 per team). Team members don't need to be at the same school or even in the same country.
Do I need coding experience?+
No. Beginners using no-code tools compete on the same rubric as experienced developers. What matters is whether your product works and solves a real problem — not how it was built.
Is there a registration fee?+
No. Free to register, free to submit. No tools or subscriptions required — ever.
Timeline & Process
What happens after I register?+
You'll receive a confirmation email right away. Submissions are now open at
https://forms.gle/3nzk9rGzZ9Yyt5dR8. Build your product April 22–May 31, then submit your deployed URL and pitch video by May 31.
What exactly do I submit by May 31?+
Two things: (1) a publicly accessible URL to your deployed, working product — judges will visit it live — and (2) a 5-minute pitch video uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive showing a live demo and your business case. Submit both at
https://forms.gle/3nzk9rGzZ9Yyt5dR8.
Can I start building before April 22?+
You can plan and design before April 22, but the product must be built primarily during the competition window (April 22–May 31). Open-source libraries and frameworks are fine. Submitting a substantially pre-built product is not allowed.
When are winners announced?+
By July 1, 2026. All registered teams are notified by email — winners and non-winners both.
Building & Submitting
What does my pitch video need to include?+
Six things in any order: the problem (who has it, what it costs), the market (who pays, why now), a live demo of your product, your solution's edge, your team, and your vision. Upload to YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive. Judges stop at exactly 5:00.
Does the product have to use AI?+
No. AI is optional. A simple, reliable product without AI will always score higher than a complex one that doesn't work. Use whatever tools help you build the best product.
What if my product isn't a web app?+
Desktop and mobile apps are accepted. Provide a download link (GitHub Releases or Google Drive) with install instructions. For iOS, use TestFlight. If your product can't be deployed, submit a full screen-recorded demo showing all functionality.
What counts as a "real" problem to solve?+
Something people currently spend money, time, or significant effort on. The strongest submissions are specific: who has the problem, what do they pay for it today, and why hasn't it been solved well? General inconveniences score lower than clear, quantifiable pain points.
Pathways & Opportunities
What is SAFE Security's role?+
SAFE Security is the presenting sponsor and focuses on cybersecurity and defense. They're specifically looking for students building security solutions — threat detection, vulnerability tools, risk automation, defense technology, and similar. Top performers in the Cybersecurity & Defense pathway are reviewed directly by their team for internship consideration.
I'm not building a cybersecurity or defense product. Can I still win?+
Absolutely. Every pathway leads to real opportunities. Top performers in each domain are reviewed by companies and startups actively hiring in that space. Outstanding work in any track — fintech, healthcare, edutech, open track — gets visibility with relevant decision-makers.
When will the selection prompts be released?+
Selection prompts for all categories are released at 12:00 AM CST on April 22nd. Once released, you can view them on the
Selection Prompts page and begin building immediately.
Can I change my pathway after registering?+
Yes, before April 22. Email us at aiclub.ihs1@gmail.com or call 925-477-1197 to update your pathway. After registration closes, pathways are locked.
