Do I need coding skills?

No. Many modern AI tools require little to no coding. Curiosity and follow-through matter more than a computer science background.

Can non-technical students join?

Yes — business, marketing, design, finance and communications students are welcome and bring skills technical teams often lack.

Bootcamp registration has closed. Visitors can register through Eventsize to attend the Grand Final in Penang on 7 Nov 2026.

When does registration close?

Bootcamp registration closed on 16 Oct 2026.

Is the registration fee refundable?

Refund policy will be confirmed by the organising committee — contact for the latest.

Yes, please bring your own laptop for workshops and the build period.

Do I choose my workplace problem, or is it assigned?

You state a preference when registering. Final assignment is confirmed by the organising team.

What workplace problems can I choose from?

Choose from five real workplace problems: discovering talent beyond the CV, matching talent better, hiring fairer and faster, understanding early employee disengagement, or growing purpose, potential and careers.

Can students from different colleges or universities form a team?

Yes. Students from different colleges or universities can form a team together, with 1 to 5 participants per team.

What do we need to build?

A basic working web app, dashboard, or AI-supported digital tool that responds to your chosen workplace problem.

How long is the programme?

About four weeks — online workshops, a build period, Round 1 pitching, and the Grand Final on 7 Nov 2026 (Sat).

What AI tools can we use?

Any AI tool that genuinely helps solve your chosen workplace problem — no-code builders, LLM APIs, or custom models are all fair game.

Is there a workshop to help us get started?

Yes — online workshops from 3 Oct 2026 (Sat) to 4 Oct 2026 (Sun) cover AI discovery, tools, and pitching skills.

Is Round 1 pitching online?

Yes, Round 1 runs online, judged by industry mentors.

How long is each pitch?

Each team is given 5–10 minutes to pitch.

How is judging scored?

Problem Identification & Understanding (15%), AI Solution & Functionality (20%), Innovation & Creativity (20%), Business & Economic Impact (15%), ESG Impact (10%), and Pitch, Live Demo & Teamwork (20%).

Where and when is the Grand Final?

7 Nov 2026 (Sat) in Penang — a physical, in-person event.

How are finalists selected?

Judges score every team during Round 1; the Top 20 Finalists are shortlisted for the Grand Final.

Will employers be present?

Yes — industry speakers, mentors and judges from real companies take part throughout.

How big is the prize pool?

RM10,000 across 9 awards: Champion, 1st Runner-Up, 2nd Runner-Up, 4 × Creativity Awards and 2 × Teamwork Awards.

What certificate will I receive?

All participants receive a . Finalists also receive .

How can my company get involved?

Reach out to — we welcome speakers, mentors, judges and talent partners.

Who is organising this?

AI Future Makers Bootcamp is powered by PDX (Penang Digitalisation – AI Conference & Exhibition) and co-hosted by CKM (Agensi Pekerjaan CKM Sdn Bhd).

For programme-related communication and relevant internship or career opportunities, with your explicit consent provided when submitting the registration form.

Which SDGs are in focus?

Quality Education, Decent Work & Economic Growth, Industry Innovation & Infrastructure, and Partnerships for the Goals.

7 NOV 2026

AI FUTURE MAKERS BOOTCAMP
BUILD AI
THAT MATTERS.

Q: Who can join?

Any university student in Malaysia — diploma, undergraduate, or foundation level, from any discipline.

Q: What is the registration fee?

The RM50 registration fee is a commitment fee to participate in the AI Future Makers Bootcamp 2026, covering participation in the competition journey through to the final pitching stage. Workshops, AI discovery sessions and industry exposure are additional value-added activities provided as part of the programme and are not separately charged under the RM50 fee.

A four-week AI hackathon for Malaysian university students. Learn in the AI workshops, pick a real challenge, build an AI-powered solution, and pitch it live to industry judges.

Registration closes

00days

00hrs

00min

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Prize poolRM10,000

About

What is AI Future Makers Bootcamp?

AI Future Makers Bootcamp (AIFM) is a four-week AI hackathon for Malaysian college & university students, organise by PDX(Penang Digitalisation-AI Conference & Exhibition) . It combines online AI workshops, a supervised build period and live pitching to industry judges — open to every college & university in Malaysia, at diploma, foundation or degree level.

Show your AI Innovation, Shine your Idea.

From an idea nobody has heard of, to a solution that gets seen: learn, build, pitch, and shine — in front of the people who can actually open doors.

"A dream becomes meaningful when we dare to act. If we could do it, our young people can too."

Why Join

The Fastest Way From Caterpillar to Butterfly.

Innovate, build, and shine your idea in weeks, not years — more than a certificate, not just sitting through slides.

A caterpillar beside an AI interface — the idea stage

Innovate

Turn a real workplace problem into an idea worth building.

Build

Ship a working AI-powered prototype, not just a slide deck.

Pitch

Present live to industry judges and get direct feedback.

Shine

Finalists pitch at the physical Grand Final for the prize pool.

At a Glance

Four Weeks. Real Stakes.

4 Weeks

Hybrid Format — online + physical Grand Final in Penang

5 Problems

Real Workplace Problems — choose one that matters to you

Prize RM10,000

Prize Pool to be won — across 9 awards

The Challenge

Five Real Workplace Problems. Your Choice.

Choose the workplace problem you care about most, then build an AI-powered solution that could make a real difference.

Problem 01

Discover Beyond the CV

Help employers recognise skills, portfolios and potential that a traditional CV can miss.

Problem 02

Match Talent Better

Help students and employers find a stronger fit based on skills, goals and real evidence.

Problem 03

Hire Fairer & Faster

Make screening, shortlisting and interviews more inclusive, consistent and efficient.

Problem 04

Understand Early Employee Disengagement

Spot when new employees are losing connection and help teams respond sooner.

Problem 05

Grow Purpose, Potential & Careers

Help young employees understand their strengths, see meaningful pathways and keep growing.

The Journey

Register → Learn → Build → Pitch → Shine

Online

Workshops and Round 1 pitching run entirely online — compete from anywhere in Malaysia.

You will attend 4 workshops led by industry experts.

Physical

Finalists step off the screen and pitch live for the prize pool.

7 NOV 2026 · · GRAND FINAL

16 Oct (Fri)

3 Oct (Sat) – 4 Oct (Sun)

Learn

5 Oct (Mon) – 22 Oct (Thu)

Build

24 Oct (Sat) – 25 Oct (Sun)

Round 1

7 Nov (Sat)

Grand Final

You pitch live to industry mentors in online breakout rooms during Round 1. The Top 20 Finalists are shortlisted for the physical Grand Final — see the full judging criteria.

The Prizes

The Transformation Is Complete.

Total Prize Pool

Up To RM10,000

🏆

1st Runner-Up

RM2,000

🏆

Champion

RM3,000

🏆

2nd Runner-Up

RM1,000

4 ×

Creativity Awards

RM750 per group

Ideas that solve real problems

2 ×

Teamwork Awards

RM500 per group

Strongest team collaboration

What You Take Forward

The prize may end. The opportunity continues.

for every participant
Finalists:
Direct feedback from industry mentors and judges for the better of you
Real exposure to employers taking part as speakers, mentors and judges

Participation does not guarantee employment — it creates genuine industry exposure, feedback and networking opportunities.

Grand Final Recognition PDX2027

The Panel

Meet the Industry Judges

The people evaluating ideas, giving feedback, and helping students see their work through an industry lens.

Physical Judges

Ts. Lukas J. Tan, Founder & CEO, OPERiON — Ts. Lukas J. Tan

Founder & CEO, OPERiON

Organising Chairman, PDX

Christine Chuah, Agensi Pekerjaan CKM Sdn Bhd — Christine Chuah

Agensi Pekerjaan CKM Sdn Bhd

Senior HR Consultant

Online Judges

Chung Yao Liang, INTI International College Penang — Chung Yao Liang

INTI International College Penang

Lecturer

Mohd Amizar Bin Abdul Majid, SEGi College Penang — Mohd Amizar Bin Abdul Majid

SEGi College Penang

Lecturer

Ricky Soo, AICoach.my — Ricky Soo

AICoach.my

Founder

Jane Chew, Digital AI Business Club — Jane Chew

Digital AI Business Club

AI Strategy Coach

Guidance Before the Spotlight

Mentors

Mentors help teams sharpen their thinking and refine their idea before it reaches the judging panel.

Jean Ng, The AI Collective Kuala Lumpur — Jean Ng

The AI Collective Kuala Lumpur

Chapter Co-Lead

Yap Chin Pok, Artino Solutions — Yap Chin Pok

Artino Solutions

Director

Deanna Tung, Tactevo Consulting — Deanna Tung

Tactevo Consulting

Founder & CEO

Kalmen Chia, E-Global SCM Solutions Sdn Bhd — Kalmen Chia

E-Global SCM Solutions Sdn Bhd

Founder / Developer

The People Behind the Programme

Partners

Our Partners

Digital Economy Partner

Organiser

Co-Hosted

Venue Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Supporting Partner

FAQ

Common Questions

The ones people ask most. See all questions for the full list.

What is AI Future Makers Bootcamp? +

A hybrid AI hackathon by PDX where student teams choose a real workplace problem, build an AI-powered solution, and pitch for a growing prize pool.

Who can join? +

Any university student in Malaysia — diploma, undergraduate or foundation. Technical and non-technical students are equally welcome.

Can I join as a solo participant? +

Yes. You can register and participate independently as a solo participant from the start of the programme through the Grand Final. The organising team does not match solo participants into teams.

What’s the registration fee? +

The registration fee is a commitment fee to participate in the AI Future Makers Bootcamp 2026, covering your participation in the competition journey through to the final pitching stage.

Workshops, AI discovery sessions and industry exposure are additional value-added activities provided as part of the programme and are not separately charged under the RM50 fee.

Does participation guarantee a job? +

No. Participation does not guarantee employment — it creates real industry exposure, feedback and networking opportunities.

See All Questions →

Innovate. Build. Shine.

Turn your ideas into something real — and create new possibilities for your future career.

Build with AI, learn from industry mentors, showcase your potential, and gain exposure to industry partners looking for emerging talent.

Grand Final · 7 November 2026 · Penang

Join the Grand Final

Bootcamp registration has closed. Attendance registration for the Grand Final is now open.

AI FUTURE MAKERS BOOTCAMPBUILD AITHAT MATTERS.

What is AI Future Makers Bootcamp?

The Fastest Way From Caterpillar to Butterfly.

Innovate

Build

Pitch

Shine

Four Weeks. Real Stakes.

Five Real Workplace Problems. Your Choice.

Discover Beyond the CV

Match Talent Better

Hire Fairer & Faster

Understand Early Employee Disengagement

Grow Purpose, Potential & Careers

Register → Learn → Build → Pitch → Shine

Online

Physical

The Transformation Is Complete.

The prize may end. The opportunity continues.

Meet the Industry Judges

Physical Judges

Online Judges

Mentors

The People Behind the Programme

Our Partners

Common Questions

Innovate. Build. Shine.

AI FUTURE MAKERS BOOTCAMP
BUILD AI
THAT MATTERS.