What You'll Build, and How You're Judged
You don't need to build something huge. Choose a real workplace problem and build something focused, working and yours.
A Working AI-Powered Solution
Your team creates a basic web app, dashboard, or AI-supported tool for your chosen workplace problem. We don't restrict the format — we care that it works and solves something real.
AI-Powered Dashboard
Turn data into a decision-support tool.
Website or Web App
A working, demonstrable product.
AI-Supported Digital Solution
Any tool that meaningfully uses AI to solve the problem.
Rules & Conditions
Solo or 1–5 Per Team
Join independently or as a team. Solo participants can take part from start to finish and are not matched into teams.
Working Prototype
Teams must show a working prototype, not only slides.
Live Pitch
Teams must present live — minutes per team.
How Your Solution Is Scored
Problem Identification & Understanding
AI Solution & Functionality
Innovation & Creativity
Business & Economic Impact
ESG Impact
Pitch, Live Demo & Teamwork
Online Round 1 → Physical Grand Final
Round 1
Online pitching ( – ) judged by industry mentors.
Shortlisting
The Top 20 Finalists are shortlisted for the physical Grand Final.
Grand Final
The Top 20 Finalists pitch live at on .
See the Finalists Take the Stage
Join us in Penang for the AI Future Makers Bootcamp Grand Final.
Register Know MorePick the problem you actually care about
Choose one of five workplace problems. Focus on a specific part of it and build a practical solution that could help real people at work.
01 — Discover Beyond the CV
Help employers recognise skills, portfolios and potential that a traditional CV can miss.
02 — Match Talent Better
Help students and employers find a stronger fit based on skills, goals and real evidence.
03 — Hire Fairer & Faster
Make screening, shortlisting and interviews more inclusive, consistent and efficient.
04 — Understand Early Employee Disengagement
Spot when new employees are losing connection and help teams respond sooner.
05 — Grow Purpose, Potential & Careers
Help young employees understand their strengths, see meaningful pathways and keep growing.
How judging actually works
Round 1 — online, 24 to 25 October 2026
Each team gets 5–10 minutes to pitch, followed by questions from industry mentors in online breakout rooms. Judges are looking for a working prototype and a clear account of the problem it solves. The Top 20 teams advance to the Grand Final.
You will get direct feedback in the room. Take notes — teams that revise between Round 1 and the Grand Final consistently place higher.
Grand Final — physical, 7 November 2026 in Penang
The same 5–10-minute format, in person, in front of industry judges. Nine awards are decided here from a RM10,000 prize pool: Champion, 1st Runner-Up, 2nd Runner-Up, 4 × Creativity Awards and 2 × Teamwork Awards.
The two award tracks matter. Innovation recognises the most original idea; Teamwork recognises the strongest collaboration. A team that does not win overall can still leave with an award.