Cohort 2 · Spring 2027
Eight Fridays. Idea on Friday one. Demo day on Friday eight.
Applications for Cohort 2 close January 8, 2027. The first Friday is January 15.
These dates are predicted. Cohort 2 runs after Cohort 1 finishes, and we will confirm the schedule before applications open. Everything below is what we are planning, not a commitment.
The eight Fridays
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01 Kickoff
Friday, January 15 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Kickoff: your idea, your team
Meet the cohort, share your idea in 30 seconds, and join or form a team. Then learn how to define the need (what people want but do not have), the problem (what is stopping them), and your solution.
You leave with A team, and a clear need, problem, and solution.
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02 AI toolkit
Friday, January 22 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM
AI toolkit
A hands-on introduction to the AI tools you will use to build: prompting, chatbots, and no-code builders. Try them on your own idea, with mentors around to help.
You leave with Experience using AI tools on your project.
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03 Networking night
Friday, January 29 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Networking night and pitch coaching
Meet mentors, professors, and local founders. Give your first short pitch to a coach in a small group and get feedback.
You leave with First pitch feedback, and new connections.
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04 Build day 1
Friday, February 5 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Build day 1
A full session on building. The focus is getting a real first version of your idea working, and AI is the main way you will do it: generating and editing code, laying out screens, writing the copy, and standing up something people can actually click. You watch a live example of a first version being built, then start on yours with mentors going around to help.
You leave with The start of a working version of your idea.
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05 Build day 2
Friday, February 12 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Build day 2 and demo practice
The second build session. Same focus, further along: keep building and make it better, using AI to debug what broke, refine what works, and fill in the gaps. You also learn how to show it off, then practice a 60-second demo with a partner.
You leave with A working demo you can show.
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06 Business basics
Friday, February 19 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Business basics and storytelling
Learn who pays for an idea, what it costs, and how it can make money. Then turn your problem into a short story and sketch your pitch outline.
You leave with A basic business model and a pitch outline.
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07 Rehearsal
Friday, February 26 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Pitch coaching and rehearsal
Pitch your full presentation to a coach, with questions and answers, then run it on the stage with a timer and feedback from other teams. Review how judging works.
You leave with A polished, practiced pitch.
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08 Demo day
Friday, March 5 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Demo day and pitch competition
Teams pitch to a panel of judges in front of an audience, then everyone celebrates with food and an awards ceremony.
You leave with A pitch on the big stage, and feedback from judges.
Open to the public
Between sessions, each team has one task: interviews, a prototype, or a pitch. The sessions are workshops and feedback. The building happens in between.
Free. No cap on teams. $1,000 for first place.
- Demo day (March 5) is open to the public. The other Fridays are for students and mentors.
Cohort 1 runs sooner and its dates are confirmed: five Fridays, November 6 to December 4, 2026. You choose which one you are applying to on the form.