Frequently Asked Questions
About the buildathon
What is the Future Caribbean Buildathon?
A fully remote, global agentic AI buildathon. 40 teams across 10 tracks build working AI systems over a 21-day sprint, competing for $70K in prizes and a live pitch at the New York Stock Exchange.
Who can apply?
Builders, founders, and teams from anywhere in the world. It's fully remote and open globally, with a strong focus on solutions relevant to the Caribbean.
Does it cost anything?
No — applying and participating are free. Selected teams receive compute and support.
What are the 10 tracks?
1. The Electron Economy · 2. AI for Tourism & Transportation · 3. Finance, Payments & MSME Capital · 4. Healthcare Systems & Delivery · 5. Climate Risk & Disaster Coordination · 6. Ocean Systems & Blue Economy · 7. Food Systems & Supply Chains · 8. AI for The Arts · 9. AI for Real Estate & Development · 10. Open Track
When do applications close?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis — earlier applicants get priority consideration for compute. There is an internal cutoff for the main cohort; a wildcard spot remains for a standout late applicant.
Building
What do we build?
A working agentic AI MVP for your track, using open-source frameworks and the provided compute. The goal is working infrastructure, not a demo or a plan.
What compute do we get?
All 40 teams get managed access to substantial NVIDIA H200-class compute provided by Highrise AI for the 21-day sprint.
How long is the build?
A 21-day (three-week) remote sprint, with workshops, office hours, and weekly check-ins.
Do we keep our IP?
Yes — teams own their work. Submissions must be original and face an originality check.
What support is there?
Technical mentors and industry experts, advisor workshops, office hours, deployment guidance, and sponsor tooling.
Prizes & the finale
What are the prizes?
$70,000 total: $50,000 cash ($25K first, $15K second, $10K third), plus $20,000 in OWC Thunderbolt 5 AI deployment systems, and a DMZ Soft Landing scholarship for winners.
What happens at the finale?
The top 3 teams travel to New York in September (flights and hotel covered) to pitch live at the New York Stock Exchange, with their companies featured on the screens above the trading floor.
Is there a Caribbean event too?
Yes — a Caribbean Showcase brings selected teams in front of regional leaders, institutions, and investors.
Judges, advisors & volunteers
What's the commitment for judges?
Roughly 9 hours total — about 6 hours scoring applicants and 3 hours judging finalists.
What's the commitment for advisors?
One 1-hour virtual workshop per week during the build (about 50% presentation, 50% Q&A) — open group sessions, not 1:1.
How do I get involved?
Builders, mentors, advisors, judges, sponsors, and partners are all welcome — see the role booklets, or get in touch.
Logistics
Is it really fully remote?
Yes. The build is remote and global, with optional local meetups and the in-person NYSE finale for winners.
What about time zones?
Sessions are scheduled with the cohort in mind and recorded, so no one misses out.
What about visas and travel for winners?
We help winning teams with travel and visas for the NYSE finale — start early once notified.
Who do I contact?
Questions about applying: apply@futurecaribbean.com.