Proving Ground: Agentic Startup Hackathon

enterprise ·
Location: Palo Alto
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IMPORTANT:

Thanks for your interest in the Proving Ground Hackathon! While you can register on Devpost, all participants must complete our application process to be eligible.

After registering here, you'll receive an email with a link to our qualification form. Selected participants will be notified within 48 hours.








PROVING GROUND: AGENTIC STARTUP HACKATHON


May 16-18, 2025 | 500 Global, Palo Alto, CA









WELCOME TO THE PROVING GROUND


For enterprise professionals exploring startup ideas: You have domain expertise and technical skills, but limited time to test your concepts. Is your idea worth pursuing further? Could it become your next career move?


For committed founders with early projects: You've started building, but is your direction right? Are you solving a real problem? Is your solution fundable and scalable?


Most startups fail because they never validate early. This 72-hour sprint will pressure-test your AI-driven concept and give you clarity on your next strategic move.


 









WHY THIS MATTERS




  • 99% of pitches get rejected—not because they're bad ideas, but because they lack proof


  • $250B wasted annually on startups that never validate product-market fit


  • 900K+ tech layoffs since 2022 = Massive untapped builder potential









CHOOSE YOUR PATH



INNOVATORS TRACK




  • Perfect for: First-time founders and enterprise professionals exploring startup ideas


  • Deliverable: Working prototype + documented feedback from 3+ potential users


  • Outcome: Clear understanding of your next validation milestone and viability assessment


STARTUP TRACK





  • Perfect for: Committed founding teams with existing projects seeking acceleration



  • Deliverable: Key feature implementation + feedback from existing or potential customers


  • Outcome: Defined roadmap for what to build or validate next to reach funding milestones


 









COLLISIONS BY DESIGN




  • Team formation opportunities: Connect startup-curious talent with committed founders


  • Skill matching: Find the technical or domain expertise your project needs


  • Founder dating: Test compatibility with potential co-founders in a high-intensity environment


  • Career transitions: Enterprise professionals can explore joining existing startups









WHO CAN PARTICIPATE



  • Tech Industry Professionals

  • Above legal age of majority in country of residence

  • Professionals/Post grads only


  • In-Person Attendance Requirement: This is an in-person event. Remote participation is permitted; however, each team must have at least one member physically present at the event to present their project.


EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday, May 16th

PRE-EVENT WORKSHOP 




















1:30 PMPRE-EVENT WORKSHOP REGISTRATION
2:00 PMWorkshop: Building Reliable Agentic Systems and Agents
3:00 PM10 minute break
4:00 PMMain workshop ends

MAIN EVENT SCHEDULE DETAILS


Friday, May 16
Hackathon, Day 1








































6:00 PMRegistration & Reception
7:00 PMWelcome: Hackathon Overview
7:10 PM​Make Agents Make Sense and Commerializing Them
7:35 PM:Co-host presentations
 

  • Arize AI

  • SAP


8:15 PM:Sponsor/Partner Pitches
 

  • Arize

  • Groq

  • South Bay GenAI Meet Up


8:55 PMTeam Formation 
9:30 PMGo home, get rest and be ready to go!


May 17
Hackathon, Day 2












































9:00 AMBreakfast
10:00 AMHousekeeping
10:30 AMCode/Hack
12:00 PMLunch
12:30 PMCode/Hack
3:00 PMSnack/Break
3:15 PMCode/Hack
5:30 PMDinner
6:00 PMCode/Hack
9:00 PMEnd of Day


Sunday, May 18
Hackathon, Day 3








































10:30 AMCode/Hack
11:00 AMCode/Hack (Updates & Q&A)
12:00 PMLunch
12:30 PMCode/Hack
3:00 PMSubmission Deadline
4:00 PMDemos/Presentations
5:00 PMDinner/Judges deliberate
6:00 PMAwards ceremony
7:00 PMIt's a Wrap

Ready to Prove Your Idea?

This isn’t just another hackathon—it’s your proving ground to validate, refine, and stress-test your AI-driven concept.

Spots are limited. Apply now to secure priority admission.

Ended
Dates:

May 16, 2025 - May 18, 2025

Organisation:

FutureProof

Location:

400 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA

Prizes:

$5,000

Link to website

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