Build it. Test it. Prove it.
This isn’t about hacking together a flashy, brittle AI demo. Proving Ground sprints are where founders turn their AI idea into scalable, investment-ready companies. Past teams are now backed by 500 Global, are raising rounds, and shipping fast!
📍 Location: 135 Constitution Dr. Menlo Park, CA.
📅 Dates: October 17–19, 2025
🟠 In-person only — at least one team member must be physically present to demo live.
⚠️ Approval Required
⚡ Participation is curated. Every registration is reviewed to ensure a high-caliber community of enterprise builders and founders aligned with this sprint’s goals.
👉 To be considered, all participants must sign-up on our Luma page, here. in addition to your registration on DevPost.
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🏃 How will the Snowflake Sprint work? Over 2.5 days, over 150 founders will build with Snowflake to prove if their AI startup has what it takes to launch, last, and (ideally) get funding! Winners and select founders will receive an exclusive invitation to receive 1:1 feedback from Snowflake Ventures and VC partners. Eligible winners will also gain priority consideration for Snowflake’s Startup Accelerator. All participants will get 15% off their first Snowflake contract to accelerate their data and AI journey! 🏆 Two Tracks, One Goal: Validation
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📅 Schedule of events Exact times are subject to change. Afternoon snacks and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be provided on Friday. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided on Saturday and Sunday. Friday, Oct 17: LEARN
Saturday, Oct 18: BUILD
Sunday, Oct 19: PITCH
👥 Who Should Apply
🚀 Why Join
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WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
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Requirements
Over one focused weekend, you and your team will:
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Discovery Track: Build a working MVP from scratch in 72 hours.
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Startup Track: Ship a meaningful new feature in 72 hours to advance an existing MVP.
Projects should:
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Showcase creativity and technical execution.
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Leverage AI/agentic systems, infrastructure, or integrations in novel ways.
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Prioritize usability and real-world applicability.
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Be demo-ready by Sunday’s showcase.
Each team must submit the following on Devpost:
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Project Summary
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1–2 paragraphs describing the problem and your solution.
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Clear explanation of why it matters.
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How It Works
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1–2 paragraphs explaining the technical approach.
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Key components, models, APIs, or frameworks used.
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Demo Assets
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A live demo or recorded demo video (3–5 minutes).
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Screenshots or visuals that illustrate functionality.
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Code Repository
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Public repo link (GitHub, GitLab, etc.).
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Must be tagged #provingground and include a README with setup instructions.
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Track Eligibility
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Indicate if you are competing in the Discovery Track (new project) or Startup Track (existing MVP + new feature).
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Prizes
Office Hours w/Startups @ Snowflake
Winners and select founders will receive an exclusive invitation to receive 1:1 feedback from Snowflake Ventures and VC partners. Eligible winners will also gain priority consideration for Snowflake’s Startup Accelerator. All participants will get 15% off their first Snowflake contract to accelerate their data and AI journey!
Office Hours w/Startups @ Blitzscaling Ventures/Lama Lounge; Jeremiah Owyang
Exclusive Office Hours with Jeremiah Owyang — Partner at Blitzscaling Ventures and founder of Lama Lounge, where AI builders and investors converge. Get high-impact feedback on your product, positioning, and fundraising strategy — plus insight into the investor lens that backs market-shifting companies.
Proving Ground Catalyst Award
Proving Ground Sprint Winner Prizes
From the Proving Ground team — designed to keep your momentum going beyond the 72-hour sprint:
Post-Sprint Debrief & Mini Demo Session @ SAP
An invite-only follow-up where select teams get deep feedback from industry leaders and investors, plus support on refining product, market, and pitch.
Featured Spot at the October 28 Demo Pitch Session @ Snowflake HQ
Present live to tier-one VCs, angels, and strategic partners in an exclusive room curated by Proving Ground and Snowflake’s Startup Program.
Investor & Ecosystem Signal Boost
Inclusion in Proving Ground’s investor update + tailored warm introductions to select angels, funds, and ecosystem partners.
Priority Post-Sprint Support
Access to between-sprint check-ins, office hours, and intros that help founders validate faster and prepare to raise.
500 Fast Track Award
500 Global Fast Track
Direct access to one of Silicon Valley’s most active seed investors.
Office Hours with a 500 Global Investor
Private session to pressure-test your product, traction story, and fundraising strategy with a member of 500’s investment team.
Direct Visibility to the 500 Global Deal Team
Winners are highlighted in Proving Ground’s curated investor update and introduced to 500’s partners evaluating new deals.
Proven Pathway
Our Spring Sprint surfaced PromptDriven.ai, which went on to raise from 500 Global and join its accelerator cohort — this prize gives you that same early line of sight.
Your win doesn’t guarantee funding — but it gets you a real conversation with a team that has already backed Proving Ground founders.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Matt Weeks
CEO, HealthyOPs
Tharun Tej Tammineni
Meta AI
Yi Ding
AI Architect, Qventus
Abhinav Balasubramanian
Nvidia
Judging Criteria
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PULL - Market Demand
Pull — Market Demand *(Customer)* (0–5) Real market pain, early customers/users, signs of adoption. -
MOMENTUM — Velocity
Tech and Execution)* (0–5) How fast they ship & learn, visible traction, clarity of next moves. -
TEAM FIT - Domain
Domain expertise, customer access, technical ability to build. (0–5)
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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