← EdAI EdAI Chicago Fall Summit 2026 · Applications open

Build something someone wants.

Bring an idea—or discover one. Work alongside mentors and fellow builders to turn a real problem into a working product, test it with people, and explore whether someone would pay for it.

When: November 7–8, 2026 (Saturday & Sunday · two full days)
Where: Chicago, Illinois — hosted with ICW Legacy; venue details sent to applicants
Hosting & community partner: ICW Legacy
Who: High school and college students, graduates and anyone not in school · Middle schoolers welcome
Format: Morning to evening on both days. Day-only — no overnight stay. Exact arrival and finish times will be sent to applicants.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided on both days.
Cost: Early application $200 through October 25, 2026, then $349 from Oct 26 until applications close November 1, 2026. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner on both days. You pay by card at secure checkout (Stripe) right after applying, and your place is confirmed once payment completes. If cost is a barrier, email aidris@edai.fun before you apply.
Prize pool: $3,500 in EdAI Builder Grants: $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second and $500 for third. Prizes are paid as EdAI Builder Grants in two stages: 60% when the winning team signs the grant agreement and submits a one-page plan, and 40% when their product is live with at least 10 real users, within 8 weeks.

Apply now → See the experience →

An idea is the starting point. Here's the work.

Find a specific person and problem.
Challenge the idea with mentors.
Build a useful first version.
Put it in someone's hands.
Ask about value and price.
Show the evidence and choose the next step.

These are the goals of the two days. Progress depends on the project and the team; EdAI does not guarantee finished products, customers, revenue or investment.

Two days. A clear path from idea to evidence.

Day 1 · Sat, Nov 7 — Discover, challenge, and build. Day 2 · Sun, Nov 8 — Test, improve, and demonstrate. Detailed schedule to follow.

See what EdAI students have built

DecideWise, StudySnap and MentorMatch — EdAI student projects presented at previous Summits. Summer Summit 2026 recap · Seattle Summit 2026 archive

Mentors

People who will challenge your idea: better questions, a clearer problem, a smaller achievable scope, feedback on product decisions and a concrete next action.

Chicago mentors announced soon.

Featured at previous Summits: Nasser Chanda, Shahed Amanullah, Amany Killawi, Omar Waseem, Subhan Jahromi and Nida Ansari (EdAI Summer Summit 2026, Washington, DC); Mian Khurrum, Mohamed Ahmed, Nazar Abdelrahman, Haytham Abuelfutuh, Bilal Quadri and Usman Khan (EdAI Seattle Summit 2026). The Chicago mentor lineup and additional sponsors and partners will be announced separately.

Frequently asked

Who can apply? High school and college students, recent graduates and anyone not currently in school; middle school students are welcome too. You do not need to be enrolled anywhere to apply.
Do I need an idea or a team? No. Come with an idea or discover a problem at the Summit; you can arrive on your own.
Is coding experience required? No.
What does it cost? $200 through October 25, 2026, $349 after; paid at secure checkout right after applying. Refund terms to be confirmed — email aidris@edai.fun if you need to cancel.
What happens after applying? You are taken to secure checkout to pay and confirm your place, and you get a receipt by email. An unpaid application is saved but is not a confirmed seat.