GLOBAL AI hackathon 2026
Build For Good
An international hackathon by Young Founders School, where young people use AI to tackle real global challenges, from sustainability to education to inclusion.
Submit your ideation or speed run project for a chance to present at the Global Finals in Singapore.
Trusted by 500+ companies worldwide
Salesforce
Microsoft
Oracle
ServiceNow
1000
YOUNG INNOVATORS
14-18
AGE GROUP
6
COUNTRIES
3
FINALISTS TO SINGAPORE
Six Countries. One Mission.
Regional hackathons taking place simultaneously across six hubs, uniting young innovators from different backgrounds around shared global challenges.
China
Indonesia
Nigeria
Nigeria
Phillipines
India
Singapore
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Refine With Coaches
Concepts are stress-tested, iterated upon, and sharpened with guidance from expert AI coaches and industry mentors.
Rapid Prototyping
Students build early versions of their AI-powered solutions, going from idea to prototype in just 3 hours using the latest AI tools.
Pitch Locally
The journey culminates in presenting innovative projects to judges in each regional hub, the best advance to the next stage.
Three Phases to the Grand Finale
Speedrunning Hackathons
Regional hackathons across all six hubs. Students use YFS's AI-Powered Speed Running Course to rapidly ideate, validate, and prototype solutions. Top teams from each hub advance.
Training & Mentorship
Selected teams enter YFS Studio, a 2-month accelerator with mentorship from industry experts, entrepreneurs, and AI specialists. Advanced training in go-to-market, finance, and vibe coding.
Grand Finale at Singapore
The 3 champion teams travel to Singapore for the Grand Final at the YFS Annual Gala. Live pitch showdown, masterclasses, innovation tours, and global networking. Champions crowned on stage.
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Build For Good Timeline
Workshops
1st April – 30th June
Ideation or speed run workshops across all countries.
Project Submission
1st April – 30th June
Submit projects via google form in this page.
Judging
15th June – 30th June
Projects reviewed by panel
Mentorship
1st July to 15th August
Mentorship of selected teams and pitch training
Final Pitching
5th September
3 Winning teams pitch in front of live audience at Singapore
What Will You Build?
Three challenge tracks tackle real global issues, from sustainability to education to inclusion.
AI for Sustainability
Design environmental solutions powered by artificial intelligence. From climate modeling to resource optimization, build for a greener planet.
AI for Education
Transform learning through intelligent technology. Make quality education accessible, personalized, and effective for every student, everywhere.
AI for Inclusion
Create equitable access and opportunities for all. Build AI that bridges divides, amplifies underrepresented voices, and levels the playing field.
3 Winning Teams Fly to Singapore
All travel & accommodation fully covered by YFS
Live pitch competition at the prestigious YFS Annual Gala
Masterclasses with global innovators & tech leaders
Innovation tours across Singapore's startup ecosystem
Global networking with entrepreneurs, VCs & corporates
Champions crowned on stage in front of 330+ attendees
Everything You Need to Know About YFS Build For Good
Any student within age group 14-18working with a Young Founders School partner organization can participate. Whether you've completed an ideation workshop or a speed running workshop, you're eligible to submit your project.
Click the "Submit Your Project" button and fill out the short form — it takes about one minute. If you completed ideation, upload your pitch as a PDF. If you completed a speed run, just paste the link to your MVP.
The three tracks tackle real global issues — sustainability, education, and inclusion. Choose the track that best fits the problem your project addresses.
Shortlisted teams will receive mentorship from experts to refine their projects. After the mentorship phase, a judging panel will review all projects and select the winning teams.
Winning teams will travel to Singapore for the Build for Good Global Finals, where they'll present their projects live on an international stage.
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