Future Caribbean Opens Applications for Global Agentic AI Buildathon, Deadline Set for July 3

Organizers describe the initiative as the first buildathon designed around an entire region, with participants challenged to create open-source Agentic AI systems that can help address issues affecting economies spread across multiple jurisdictions, currencies, industries, and regulatory environments. The event's guiding theme is "Intelligence that moves the real world."

Founded by Barbadian lawyer, entrepreneur, and technologist Lily Dash, Future Caribbean was created around the belief that the Caribbean possesses significant talent and opportunity but is often constrained by fragmentation across markets and institutions. The initiative aims to explore how emerging AI technologies can help bridge those gaps and create new opportunities for economic growth, entrepreneurship, and regional collaboration.

The buildathon comes at a time of rapid growth within the Agentic AI ecosystem, where autonomous AI systems are increasingly being developed to perform complex tasks, coordinate workflows, and support decision-making across industries. Future Caribbean's focus is on applying those technologies to practical challenges facing distributed economies.

"Agentic AI creates the possibility of coordinating across that complexity in ways that simply weren't possible before," Dash said. "The Caribbean provides a powerful proving ground for solutions that could ultimately be deployed across distributed markets worldwide."

The competition will bring together 40 teams from around the world and provide participants with access to H200-class compute infrastructure, open-source Agentic AI frameworks, global mentors and advisors, real-world deployment opportunities, and support from corporate, government, academic, and institutional partners.

Participants will focus on building solutions that can drive economic development, modernize government services, improve cross-border commerce, increase workforce productivity, streamline institutional operations, and unlock new opportunities for regional collaboration.

Selected teams will compete for a range of prizes and opportunities, including cash awards, GPU credits, technology resources, access to startup support programs, and a live pitch opportunity at the New York Stock Exchange later this year. Organizers say participants will also gain exposure to a global network of founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem partners.

The initiative has attracted support from regional and international organizations, including IDB Invest and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), as well as leaders from the private sector and global technology ecosystem. More than 60 judges and advisors have already signed on to support participating teams.

According to Future Caribbean, the broader goal extends beyond a single competition. Organizers hope the buildathon will demonstrate how emerging AI technologies can help regions overcome barriers created by geographic and economic fragmentation while fostering the development of globally competitive companies.

"If it can work in the Caribbean, it can work anywhere," Dash said. "The goal is to show how Agentic AI can create measurable economic impact across complex, distributed environments while building the next category-defining companies at the same time."

Applications for the Global Open-Source Agentic AI Buildathon are open through July 3, 2026. Builders, developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators from around the world are encouraged to apply.

Editor's Note: This article has been condensed for publication. The full release contains additional details on participating organizations, partner support, prizes, advisors, and opportunities for applicants.