2026 conference qualifier · Finalists announced
The global pitch competition for AI-native startups.
Regional rounds on six continents, a grand finale on a main stage, and an investment prize from a fund that actually writes cheques. Free to enter, wherever you are building from.
The qualifying competition at AI Builders Global Conference 2026 is the inaugural AIBN edition of the Cup. 8 finalists are published for the live pitch.
- Prize
- $50,000 to $250,000 investment
- Entry fee
- None. Ever.
- Cup stage
- Pre-qualification
- AIBN qualifier finalists
- 8
- AIBN qualifier pitch
2026 conference qualifier · Finalists announced
The AI Builders Network conference edition is part of the Cup.
Its current stage and published finalist roster come from AI Builders Network. The finalists pitch during the virtual conference on October 15; the edition page follows the live AIBN schedule.
Explore the program
Regions, categories and tracks.
Region and category hubs are navigation infrastructure. Country pages publish from the program's eligibility decisions, and city pages from the official Season 1 target-city decisions. Rounds appear only when published operational evidence clears the data floor.
Regions
Categories and tracks
- Agriculture and Food AI
- AI Agents and Autonomous Systems
- AI Developer Tools
- AI Infrastructure
- AI Security and Trust
- Best Applied AI
- Climate and Energy AI
- Consumer AI
- Education AI
- Enterprise and Applied AI
- Fintech AI
- First-Time Founders
- Healthcare and Life Sciences AI
- Industrial, Robotics and Physical AI
- Open Source AI
- Student and Youth Founders
- Underrepresented Founders
- Women in AI Founders
The prize
$50,000 to $250,000 investment, and we will tell you exactly what that means.
The headline
$50,000 to $250,000 investment
From Chief in Tech Capital, an active pre-seed and seed fund with an AI-native thesis. Offered at the investor’s sole discretion and subject to satisfactory due diligence, with terms provided after the award.
Everything else, for every finalist
- Humenta startup package worth $10,000
- Cloud and AI credits from our platform partners
- Pitch coaching and a professionally produced pitch video
- Introductions across the Chief in Tech Capital investor network
- Press and community feature across Chief in Tech, AI Builders Network, and WomenTech Network
How it works
Win your region, then pitch on the global stage.
Regional rounds are hosted by accelerators, universities and innovation agencies in their own cities. Every round is scored against the same centrally-set criteria, so where you enter does not change the bar.
- 1
Complete the two-minute pre-screen
No fee, no pitch deck and no warm introduction. We ask for the full application only after the first screen.
- 2
Pitch your regional round
Most run virtually by region. Some are hosted live by a local partner.
- 3
Make the semifinal
Regional winners pitch on stream in front of the judging panel and the community.
- 4
Take the main stage
Eight to ten finalists pitch at the grand finale. The winner is announced after diligence.
Why enter
Built for founders, not for the organisers.
Free to enter, always
No application fee, no exhibitor requirement, no equity taken by the competition. If a competition charges founders to pitch, that tells you who it is really for.
Judged by people who write cheques
Regional and finale panels are working investors and operators, with judging criteria set centrally so a round in Lagos is scored the same way as one in Berlin.
A real investment on the table
The headline prize is an investment from an active fund with an AI-native thesis, not a novelty cheque that arrives once and never follows on.
Distribution you cannot buy
Finalists reach the WomenTech Network and AI Builders Network communities, and the finale runs in front of a conference audience already in the room.
Timeline
Season 1 launches in October 2026 and runs through mid-2027.
- October 15, 2026 · live AIBN program Now
Season 1 launch at the AI Builders Global Conference
Season 1 launches with the first live pitch: selected AI-native startups pitch during the second day of the virtual AI Builders Global Conference.
- January 2027
Season 1 applications open
Free to enter, open worldwide to AI-native startups at pre-seed and seed stage.
- March to May 2027
Regional rounds
Six to eight rounds. Most run virtually by region; a few are hosted in person by local partners.
- September 2027
Virtual semi-finals
City, national, regional, and thematic winners pitch live on stream for a place in the October finale.
- October 2027
Grand finale, Silicon Valley
Eight to ten finalists pitch on a main stage in Silicon Valley. The exact date and venue are still being confirmed. The winner is announced only after diligence is complete.
FAQ
The questions founders ask first.
Who can apply?
AI-native startups at pre-seed or seed stage, from anywhere in the world. You do not need to be incorporated in a particular country, and you do not need a warm introduction.
Does it cost anything to enter?
No. Applying is free and it always will be. There is no entry fee, no exhibitor requirement, and no fee to reach the finale.
Is the prize really an investment?
Yes, and we say so plainly. The headline prize is an investment of up to $250,000 from Chief in Tech Capital, offered at the fund’s sole discretion and subject to satisfactory due diligence, with terms provided after the award. It is not a cash grant. Any competition advertising a large number without telling you this is hoping you will not ask.
When is the winner announced?
Only after due diligence is complete. We will not announce an award and then withdraw it, which is a failure other competitions have had to make publicly.
Does the competition take equity?
The competition takes no equity. If the investment prize proceeds, that is a separate, negotiated investment between the startup and Chief in Tech Capital, on terms you see before you sign anything.
What is the Women in AI Founders track?
A dedicated track and award presented with WomenTech Network. It is judged on the same criteria as the main competition; it is a spotlight, not a lower bar.
Can I host a regional round?
Yes, and this is how the competition scales. Accelerators, universities, chambers of commerce, innovation agencies and corporates can host an official regional round. You bring the venue, the local audience and your own local sponsors; we bring the brand, the playbook, the judging framework, and a direct path to the global stage for your winner.
Follow the 2026 conference qualifier.
See the current competition stage, published finalists and live schedule for the AI Builders Network conference edition.