IBM SkillsBuild AI Builders Challenge<h1 id="isPasted">Welcome to the IBM SkillsBuild AI Builders Challenge</h1>You’re officially in! Now it’s time to start building.This platform is your central hub for everything you need to participate, including challenge details, learning labs, tools, resources, and submission requirements. You will take on real-world AI challenges and build a portfolio-ready project using IBM technologies.Please note: To be eligible to enter the Contest, you must be a legal resident of, and/or be part of an organization registered in: United States of America, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom (England, Ireland, Scotland) and India<hr>About the ProgramThis program brings together university students from around the world to build real-world AI solutions using IBM technologies while gaining hands-on experience and showcasing their work. Participate in two innovation challenges to compete for a share of the $15,000 prize pool.Each monthly challenge features:<ul><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;">A real-world AI innovation challenge inspired by F1 car racing (May) and the FIFA World Cup (June)</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;">A GitHub based learning lab created by IBM experts to help you build foundational skills with IBM tools</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;">Live webinars to guide you and support your progress</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;">A Discord community to ask questions, find teammates, and stay up to date</li></ul>What You’ll Get:<ul><li data-start="151" data-end="225" id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;">Experience building real-world AI solutions using IBM technologies</li><li data-start="226" data-end="278" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;">Develop and submit a portfolio-ready project</li><li data-start="279" data-end="399" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;">Multiple ways to win prizes from the $15,000 prize pool across both challenges, including an overall Grand Prize</li><li data-start="400" data-end="477" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;">Showcase your work to IBM, potential employers and a global audience</li></ul><hr>Start HereFollow these steps to get started:1. Join the Discord Community <a href="https://discord.gg/Nmcm2uCze4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">→ Join Discord</a> Connect with other participants and organizers in the IBM SkillsBuild Developer Community on Discord. This is your space to ask questions, find teammates, get support, and stay up to date throughout each challenge. 2. Accept GitHub Invitation & Complete the Learning Lab Once you register on this platform, you’ll receive an invitation within 48 hours to join the GitHub organization via the email you signed up with. The learning lab is where you will build the foundational skills for the tools you’ll use for the challenge.3. Explore Core Tools & Resources <a href="https://ibmskillsbuildchallenge-hub.bemyapp.com/#/news" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">→ Review Resources</a>Get familiar with the core tools you’ll use, including IBM Granite, Docling, Langflow, Context Forge, and IBM Bob, with links to each tool and additional learning resources.4. Join Live Webinars <a href="https://ibmskillsbuildchallenge-hub.bemyapp.com/#/talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">→ See Scheduled Webinars</a>Join live webinars hosted by BeMyApp and IBM throughout each challenge. Learn from experts and get guidance to support your project. Recordings will also be available if you miss a session.5. Form a Team & Start Building Your Challenge SolutionWork solo or collaborate with up to 5 participants, then apply what you’ve learned in the learning lab to begin developing your project. Need help finding a team? Introduce yourself in the #team-formation channel or join the team formation webinar. 6. Create & Submit Your Project <a href="https://ibmskillsbuildchallenge-hub.bemyapp.com/#/projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">→ See Project Page</a> Create your submission on the project page for your selected challenge and upload all required materials before the deadline. See submission requirements below. <hr>Submission RequirementsAll submissions must be completed and submitted through the challenge platform. To complete the challenge, your team must provide:<ol style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Use of at least one IBM AI-supported technology (e.g., Granite, LangFlow, Docling, or related tools)</li><li dir="ltr" style='list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "IBM Plex Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;'>A public GitHub repository</li><li dir="ltr" style='list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "IBM Plex Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;'>A functioning prototype or proof of concept</li><li dir="ltr" style='list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "IBM Plex Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;'>A clear README that includes:<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; color: initial; font-weight: initial;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">The problem you are solving</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Your AI/technical approach</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Why your solution matters in the context of racing</li></ul></li><li dir="ltr" style='list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "IBM Plex Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;'>Submission on the challenge platform, including:<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; color: initial; font-weight: initial;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Project and team member details</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Link to your GitHub repository</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">A solution presentation video (up to 3 minutes)</li></ul></li></ol><hr>Judging CriteriaProjects will be evaluated based on the following:<ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Technical Execution — Effective use of IBM and open source technologies, with a functional and well-structured solution</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Innovation — Creativity, originality, and unique application of AI</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Challenge Fit — Relevance to the challenge and ability to address real-world problems</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;">Implementation & Feasibility — Practicality, scalability, and potential for real-world use</li></ul><hr>PrizesCompete for a share of the $15,000 total prize pool across two innovation challenges, including a $5,000 Grand Prize awarded to the top project across both challenges. Each Challenge Awards:<ul data-start="332" data-end="470"><li data-start="332" data-end="362" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1st Place — $2,250 USD</li><li data-start="363" data-end="393" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Runner-Up — $1,250 USD</li><li data-start="394" data-end="428" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Most Innovative — $750 USD</li><li data-start="429" data-end="470" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Best Use of Technology — $750 USD</li></ul>