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*Early access for people who live, work or study in the City of Parramatta. When you RSVP, we ask for your postcode.

Get your Online ticket on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-online-tickets-2002985256822

WSTI Festi 2026: Build with AI Innovation Challenge, Online

Solve a real challenge with AI, set by City of Parramatta or one of your own, compete for prizes and pitch your solution on the festival stage. No coding background needed. If you can describe what you want to build, AI will help you build it. And we will help you gain the essential skills to use AI to achieve this.

How it works
The challenge launches at the WSTI Festi Opening Night on Thursday 5 November. Pick one of two tracks:
• City Challenge: real-world challenges set by City of Parramatta and WSTI
• Open Innovation: bring your own challenge, from your business, your industry or your community. Innovators, this is the place to build the idea you want to turn into a business

Every team, in person or online, joins through the WSTI Festi hackathon portal, where the challenges are published and teams form.

One rule for both tracks: build from scratch. Bring a problem or an idea, but not an existing project or product. Everything you submit must be built during the challenge, from 5 to 17 November.

Choose how you take part
• Online, free (this page): build from anywhere. For people who live, work or study in the City of Parramatta
• Build Day, Sat 7 Nov, $15 (book here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-x-google-sat-7-nov-tickets-2002679991766): at Maker Space PHIVE with Google. Antigravity sessions led by Brett Morgan, plus hands-on mentoring
• Build Day, Sat 14 Nov, $15 (book here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-sat-14-nov-tickets-2002985253813): at Western Sydney Startup Hub with WSTI mentors

Want the live sessions, mentoring and lunch? Add a Build Day ticket. You can book online and a Build Day.

Every ticket dollar goes back into the challenge: prizes for participants, event costs and our volunteers.

From launch to the big stage
• Thu 5 Nov: the challenge launches at the WSTI Festi Opening Night
• Sat 7 or Sat 14 Nov: Learn and Build Days at Maker Space PHIVE or Western Sydney Startup Hub, for in-person ticket holders
• Tue 17 Nov, 11:59 PM: submissions close. Submit a 90-second video pitch, a landing page and a working prototype
• Thu 19 Nov, by noon: finalists announced
• Fri 20 Nov: finalists pitch at the WSTI Festi Pitch Night
• Sat 21 Nov: winners and finalists showcase to government, industry, business leaders, investors and local communities at the Grand Festival Day

What you get
• Access to the hackathon portal: the challenges, team formation and your submission
• Build at your own pace, from wherever you are
• A real shot at prizes, a pitch on the festival stage and a showcase booth
• Connection with Western Sydney's largest grassroots AI community, 4,000+ members strong

Who should join
You do not need a tech background. What you know about your field is the most valuable thing you can bring.
• Business owners and professionals from any field, such as health, finance, education, property, trades or community services, who want the skills to create with AI
• Founders and startups
• University students, recent graduates and young people
• Developers, designers and creatives curious about building with AI
• Anyone who wants to go from "I have an idea" to "I built it"

What you need
• A laptop and a stable internet connection
• Your own challenge for the Open Innovation track, or pick a City Challenge
• To live, work or study in the City of Parramatta

With
WSTI · Investment NSW · Google · City of Parramatta · Western Sydney Startup Hub

Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: https://wsti.org.au/wsti-festi

Notice of Photography and Filming
By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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