Buildathon
Where Ideas Turn into Prototypes
19 & 20 January
For international nomads and local entrepreneurs to brainstorm and build innovative solutions
Co-organised with
Supported by
What is it
The Buildathon is all about bringing ideas to life in an inspiring, fast-paced environment. Think of it as a playground for ideas—small teams working together, combining skills, and creating something amazing in a short amount of time. We’re hosting it as part of Nomad Summit to give participants a chance to pitch ideas, form teams, and go from concept to prototype. Every skill is needed—whether it’s tech, design, marketing, project management, storytelling, research, or simply bringing fresh ideas and energy to the table. Just show up, work together, and create something cool. Plus, we’re inviting local (Thai) entrepreneurs and tech talent to join in, so it’s a great chance to connect, collaborate, and bring two worlds together.
How it works?
Pre-registration (Until 13 Jan)
Sign up and let us know your skills or pitch an idea you’d like to work on. Our mission is to maximise the impact, that is why we are inviting local (Thai) entrepreneurs to join as well, making this a truly global collaboration.
Pitch Ideas and Form Teams (19th Jan @ 1.30 pm)
On Sunday, participants pitch their ideas in quick, 90-second sessions. Everyone then gathers to form diverse teams, combining skills to tackle the most exciting concepts. Don’t worry—facilitators will help you find the right match.
Building day and Mentorship (20th Jan @ 9.30am-7pm)
The teams meet again on Monday. You’ll join workshops on customer discovery, rapid prototyping, and pitching techniques. Mentors will guide your team through the process of validating and refining your idea.
Pitch to the Jury (20th Jan)
Wrap up by presenting your prototype to the jury in a final pitch session. Impress them with your idea and execution for a chance to win prizes and recognition!
Themes
AI-powered tools
Build AI-driven solutions to transform work and life
Location-independent business ideas
Create businesses that thrive from anywhere
Services for nomad communities
Design tools to support and connect digital nomads
Next-gen financial technologies
Innovate the future of money and personal finance
Solutions for freelancers and entrepreneurs
mpower individuals to work independently and succeed
Wildcard Innovations
Have a bold idea that doesn’t fit the themes? Bring it to life here!
Agenda
Sunday, 19 Jan (Location Shangri La)
Pre-workshop for Thai participants
8:30am–9:30am Breakfast & Introductions
Casual breakfast and informal introductions to get to know fellow participants.
9:30am–10:30am Team Bonding & Vision Alignment
Crew moves to the event space at Shangri-La, receiving wristband. Discuss community objectives and success criteria. Review rules and past prototype artifacts to ensure alignment.
10:30am–12:00pm Unconference-Style Knowledge Exchange Identify missing knowledge gaps for collective success. Crowdsource topics and sign up instant speakers. Deliver talks in split groups following the unconference format.
12:00pm–1:30pm Lunch Break together.
Thai participants join the Nomad Summit participant in the main hall
1:20pm-1:25pm Opening words
1:25pm–1:50pm Keynote by Dr. Daniel Duma
Building the AI Startup – How to Do Customer Discovery with AI Tools.
1:50pm–2:15pm Keynote by Alex Enache
Building as a Solo Founder – AI Productivity Hacks.
2:15pm-2:50pm Buildathon Idea Pitches
Each idea owner has 90 seconds to pitch their idea.
2:50pm–3:00pm Closing words by Co-Organizers (Kai & Christoph)
Buildathon participants stay for the team formation and everyone else is welcomed to move to the pool area.
3:00pm–3:45pm Buildathon Team Formation
Participants form teams around pitched ideas. Teams ensure diversity of skills (design, development, marketing, PM, etc).
3:45pm–4:00pm Team Submission
Final submission of the teams who will be participating at the Monday hacking day.
Wrap up of the pre-workshop day.
4:00pm Pool Party
Relax and socialize with fellow participants after a productive day.
Monday, 20 Jan (Location 4Seas)
9.30am arriving
10am Opening words, overview of the day
10.05-10.35am Workshop no 1: setting the tone. How to reach the goal by the end of the day.
Goal: How to put your team to work in the most efficient way. How to put together a value proposition. How to validate and reach out to potential customers.
10.35am-11.05 Workshop no 2: Rapid prototyping
Goal: Empower teams with the tools to bring their ideas to life quickly and efficiently, ensuring their concepts are tangible and testable by the end of the hackathon.
11.05-12.30 Teams work together with the help of mentors.
12.30-13.00 Lunch
14.00-18.00 Teams split up tasks—some focus on building the prototype, while someone else works on crafting the pitch presentation. Mentors will be around to guide and support along the way.
18.00-19.00 Final pitches. Each team has 3 minutes on stage + QA from the jury. Best teams get awarded.
Meet the Mentors
Our mentors and facilitators bring expertise in AI, design, business strategy, and pitching to guide you through the Buildathon.
Daniel Duma
AI researcher, serial entrepreneur, public speaker
Alex Enache
Chief AI Officer
Ariel Fu
Venture Capitalist, FinTech Product Leader
Madelynn Martiniere
Community-Centered Designer, Facilitator, and Strategist
Andrew Peters
Advisor: Strategy
Kaspar Kitsing
Director of Global Partner Relations at Latitude59
James Kurtak
Digital Delver
Scott Morris
All things Regenerative Economic Systems
Pete Chemsripong
COO and Community Co-Founder
Kai Isand
Co-owner of Nomad Summit
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate?
The event is opened for Nomad Summit ticket holders and local Thai talent.
Do I need to have a technical background to participate?
Not at all! Hackathons need all kinds of skills—tech, design, marketing, project management, and idea generation. Everyone has something valuable to contribute.
Do I need to come with an idea?
Yes and no. You can join as someone with an idea or as someone looking to help build one. Either way, you’ll find a team and get involved in creating something amazing.
How are teams formed?
After the pitching session, participants will connect with idea owners and form diverse teams based on shared interests and skills. Don’t worry—facilitators will help you find the right match.
What if I don’t have a team?
No problem! The team formation process is designed to help everyone find a group to collaborate with, most of the participants arrive solo.
What should I bring?
Just your creativity, energy, and any tools you usually work with—like a laptop. We’ll provide the rest, including workspace, lunch, and plenty of coffee!
How long does the event last?
The Buildathon starts with a pitching session and team formation on Saturday afternoon. The workshops and team work happens on Monday. Check the agenda for the full schedule!
Will there be mentors to help?
Absolutely! Experienced mentors will be available throughout the event to guide you, answer questions, and help refine your ideas and prototypes.
What happens to the ideas after the Buildathon?
That’s up to you! Many participants continue developing their projects, pitching them to clients or investors, or using the experience as a springboard for future opportunities.
Is there a prize?
Yes! The winning team will receive special prizes, including mentoring hours and other surprises, to help take their idea to the next level.