Monthly AI Student Hackathon Challenges + Virtual Conference
July - August 2026
Prize Pool: $15,000
Sponsored by
About the Challenges & Conference
Join the AI Builders Challenge with IBM Bob, sponsored by IBM SkillsBuild, a global program designed for university students to build real-world AI solutions, develop in-demand technical skills, and showcase their work to a global audience.
Through monthly innovation challenges, hands-on learning experiences, and a collaborative developer community on GitHub and Discord, you'll gain practical experience using the latest IBM AI technologies while building projects that strengthen your technical portfolio and help you stand out as a next-generation AI innovator.
After you build during the July and August challenges, join us for a one-day virtual conference (date to be announced)! Learn from IBM experts and watch sessions featuring technical sessions, demonstrations, and opportunities to connect with fellow builders.
The Challenge is open to eligible university students 18 years of age or older across participating countries. Participation is subject to the Official Rules.
How it Works
Participate in the AI Builders Challenge your way.
Learn at the Virtual Conference and through educational resources from IBM SkillsBuild, or build real-world AI solutions with IBM Bob through monthly innovation challenges and compete for your share of the $15,000 prize pool. Learn, build or both — it's up to you!
BUILD
Real-World AI Solutions with IBM Bob
The monthly hackathon challenges feature IBM Bob, IBM's AI development partner.
IBM Bob helps developers move from idea to implementation faster by assisting with planning, coding, testing, and problem-solving across the development process. Instead of spending time on repetitive tasks, you can focus on building, experimenting, and bringing your ideas to life.
Throughout these challenges, you'll gain hands-on experience with IBM Bob while building a portfolio-ready project that demonstrates both technical skills and creative thinking.
with IBM SkillsBuild, the Virtual Conference & More
Attend the IBM Bob Virtual Conference to hear from AI experts, developers, and industry leaders through technical sessions, demonstrations, and discussions focused on AI-assisted development and real-world applications.
Build your knowledge with IBM SkillsBuild and learn how to become a more effective AI-assisted developer with IBM Bob while exploring the latest AI technologies, tools, and best practices.
Throughout the program, you'll have access to learning resources, webinars, and educational content designed to help you strengthen your skills, expand your knowledge, and support your challenge project.
The monthly challenges are designed for university students who want to build real-world AI solutions using IBM technologies. The Virtual Conference is open to students, faculty, and university administrators interested in learning about AI and IBM Bob.
Who Should Participate
Technical Students
(Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science & Related Fields)
Current University Students
(Undergraduate, Graduate & PhD)
Students Passionate About AI
(Business, Design, Marketing & Other Majors)
Faculty, Educators & University Administrators
(Virtual Conference Only)
To be eligible to enter the Challenge, you must be as student at least 18 years of age enrolled at an institution of higher education and be eligible in accordance with the BeMyApp Eligibility Policy and the Official Rules.
Team size is 1–5 participants, solo participation is also allowed.
Prizes
Join each challenge for the opportunity to compete for a share of the $15,000 total prize pool, including a Grand Prize for the top project across both challenges. Top teams will also gain recognition from IBM and the opportunity to showcase their work.
Each challenge awards:
1st Place
$ 2,250 USD
Runner Up
$ 1,250 USD
Most Innovative
$ 750 USD
Best Use of Technology
$ 750 USD
Grand Prize — $5,000
Awarded to the top project across both challenges based on technical execution, innovation, challenge fit, and real-world impact.
Prizes are awarded separately for each monthly challenge. The same prize structure applies every month and is subject to the official challenge terms and conditions.
Participants can register at any time during the challenge month. All solutions must be submitted by the last day of the month at 11:59 PM EST. The prize remains the same for every monthly challenge.
Challenge Themes
Choose one of two challenge themes each month and use IBM Bob to build an innovative AI-powered solution.
July Challenge
Reimagine Creative Industries with AI
AI is transforming how people create content, tell stories, design experiences, and bring ideas to life.
Build solutions that help creators work smarter, explore new forms of expression, and unlock new creative possibilities.
Example Ideas
AI creative partners
Storytelling and content creation tools
Multimedia and multimodal experiences
Creative ideation platforms
Interactive media experiences
Personalized creative assistants
Think About:
How can AI enhance creativity?
How can AI help people create faster?
How can AI unlock entirely new creative experiences?
August Challenge
Advance Space Exploration with AI
Space exploration operates in some of the most complex and high-stakes environments, where decisions must be precise, data-rich, and often made with limited time and resources.
Build solutions that help transform space exploration from data-heavy to insight-driven systems, enabling smarter missions and making space more accessible.
Example Ideas
AI-powered mission planning assistants
Predictive spacecraft monitoring and anomaly detection
Space debris tracking and collision avoidance systems
Tools that translate complex space data into clear insights
AI systems that support astronomy research and discovery
Think About:
How can AI improve mission safety and reliability?
How can AI make space data more usable and accessible?
How can AI help scientists, engineers, and the public engage with space exploration?
Wildcard Challenge
Build Intelligent Systems for the Future of Work
If you have an idea during either the July or August challenge, but it doesn't quite fit into the challenge statements above, you may submit to the wildcard challenge! Please note: For either month, you are submitting one solution, and either focusing on the challenge for the month, or the wildcard challenge.
AI is evolving from a productivity tool into a true collaborator that can help people plan, coordinate, decide, and execute work more effectively. Build solutions that help individuals, teams, and organizations achieve better outcomes through intelligent automation and decision support.
Example Ideas
Workflow automation tools
AI co-workers
Project planning assistants
Decision intelligence platforms
Operations and productivity solutions
Business process orchestration systems
Think About:
How can AI reduce repetitive work?
How can AI improve decision-making?
How can AI help teams achieve outcomes faster?
Submission Requirements
For each monthly challenge, submissions must published on the challenge platform by the last day of the month at 11:59pm ET.
To complete each challenge, your team must provide:
A working prototype or proof of concept using IBM Bob (required primary developement tool)
A public GitHub repository with a clear README that includes:
Problem statement
Solution description
AI approach and architecture
Selected challenge theme
How IBM Bob was used
Submit project page on the challenge platform with all information, including:
Project and team member details
Link to your GitHub repository
A public link to a video (maxiumum 3 minutes)
4.
Judging Criteria
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges who will evaluate submissions based on:
Technical Execution
Innovation
Feasibility
Challenge Fit
Real-World Impact
Sponsored by
IBM SkillsBuild is a trademark or registered trademark of IBM Corp., in the US or other countries or both.
Organized by
BeMyApp is the official organizer of the AI Builders Challenge with IBM Bob, overseeing participant experience, platform management, and challenge execution.
