Free 30-day AI builder sprint

T-Minus30

How far could your build go? You've got 30 days to find out, plus a night to demo it live to other builders, startup leaders, and the local community.

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Start where you are

T-Minus30 is a free AI builder sprint. Take an existing project further or make your first working demo. You set the goal, and you can change it as you go. You won't be building alone: everyone else is on the same clock, and Genesis backs you with AI credits and product coaching.

It doesn't matter if you've never used the tools or you're building every chance you get. What matters is what you create in 30 days.

Sign up solo or with a team. No idea or coding experience required.

Three ways in

Take the full 30 days, or just come to the events. Two are open to everyone: the launch on October 19 and Demo Night on November 25.

Take on the 30-day build sprint

Set a goal, take 30 days, and see what you can make. The launch sets you up with AI credits, a Get Building workshop on the latest AI tools, and everything you need to know about the sprint. Demo Night is your chance to put what you made in front of real people, even if it's still in progress. Free and open to anyone in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Watch and learn at the event launch

October 19, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., St. John's Convention Centre, as part of the techNL Summit. techNL has opened this session to everyone, so you can register for the launch on its own at no cost.

It starts with a workshop on the latest AI tools from Get Building's Jan Mertlik, then moves into the official launch of T-Minus30: how the sprint works, and a chance to meet the coaches and the other builders.

RSVP for the event launchAbout the techNL Summit →

Explore what's been built at Demo Night

November 25, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., St. John's Farmers' Market. 19+. Tickets are $20, free for builders.

Thirty days of work under one roof: watch demos on stage, try the projects, grab food from local vendors, and catch live music from Xia-3, with a cash bar and plenty going on from the moment doors open. Come to see what a month of building looks like, meet the people who did it, and find out which of them you'll be hearing about next.

Get Demo Night ticketsLearn more about Demo Night →

Builders pick the goal

Choose what you want to achieve in 30 days. Your tier sets the goal and helps us match coaching and resources to you, and you can move up or down during the sprint if your project changes.

Make Something

Create a working demo. Success is getting it running and letting someone try it. When you hit a wall, you'll have help getting past it.

Ship Something

Develop a working product that solves a real problem. Your coaches help you scope what to build, test it with the people who have that problem, and make it reliable enough to use.

Launch Something

Get real users and feedback, then try charging for it. It counts whether or not anyone buys yet. Coaching focuses on finding users, setting a price, and making a sale.

What T-Minus30 isn't

A hackathon. Thirty days is enough time to talk to the people who live with the problem you're solving, and to design for them.

‍A competition. There's no first, second, or third place. Everyone who submits can demo at Demo Night, and a few builders will be invited to demo on stage.

This sprint gives you 30 days to see how far you can take a project of your own. You set the pace, and nobody's tracking your hours. The result doesn't have to be polished. It has to be real enough for someone to try.

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How the 30 days run

October 19: The launch

Two sessions at the techNL Summit, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. A workshop on the latest AI tools from Get Building's Jan Mertlik, then the official launch: how the sprint works, and your first chance to meet the coaches and the other builders. You can register ahead of time or on the spot. If you can't make it, you'll still get your AI credits and Slack invite.

October 21: Registration closes

Sign up to build by 11:59 p.m. Newfoundland time.

October 19 to November 18: The sprint

Build on your own time. Open Builds run Mondays at the Student Design Hub with make @ mun and Thursdays with CTS-NL, starting the week of October 20. Coaches are a message away in Slack, and coaching is matched to your tier.

November 18: Submit your build

We'll send the form link in Slack and by email the week before. Add a link or upload a file, even if it's still in progress. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Newfoundland time. Submit by the deadline, and your build gets a table at Demo Night and earns you three months of Genesis membership. You'll confirm your Demo Night spot on the same form.

November 20: Stage invites sent

If you're invited to demo on stage, you'll hear by email, and we'll help you get ready. The stage is optional; you can demo at your table instead.

November 25: Demo Night

We take over the St. John's Farmers' Market for a night. Demo your build and let people try it.

Oct19
Event Launch at techNL Summit
Oct21
Registration deadline
Nov18
Submission deadline
Nov25
Demo Night at the SJFM

Builders get:

3 months
of Genesis membership, including coworking access, when you submit by November 18.
2× a week
Open Build sessions, with coaching matched to your tier.
1 table
at Demo Night, in front of other builders, startup leaders, investors, and local companies.
Plus:
  • AI credits to get started.
  • A builder community to share ideas with and ask for help.
  • Free entry to the launch and Demo Night.

And what you build stays yours.

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Shaped by the builder community

Genesis designed T-Minus30 with people already bringing builders together: Get Building, the Student Design Hub, make @ mun, CTS-NL, and Unpossible NL. They shaped the sprint, and they're partners in the launch and Demo Night.

FAQ

Do I need an idea or coding experience?

No to both. You can find your idea in the first week, and the Open Builds and Slack are there to help you talk it through. You can use AI and no-code tools, you get AI credits when you join, and the launch opens with a workshop on the latest AI tools from Get Building.

Can I work on something I've already started?

Yes. Use the 30 days to take it further, and pick the tier that matches where you want it to be by November 18.

How much time do I need to put in?

Your call. You can go all in or build a few evenings a week. Pick the tier that fits the time you have.

Can I join after the launch?

Yes. Registration stays open until 11:59 p.m. Newfoundland time on Wednesday, October 21. You'll get the same AI credits and Slack access as every other builder.

Can I do this with a team?

Yes. Each team picks one tier and submits one build. Every team member gets free entry to the launch and Demo Night, and the team receives one three-month Genesis membership.

Do I have to be in St. John's?

Not to build. Slack and coaching are remote, and you can build from anywhere in Newfoundland and Labrador. Open Builds, the launch, and Demo Night are in St. John's.

Do I have to come to the launch or Demo Night?

No, neither is mandatory. Registering to build covers both, so there's nothing else to sign up for or buy. Demo Night is where your build gets tried, though, so if you submit, plan on being there.

Can I come to the launch or Demo Night without building?

Yes. Register for the launch or get a $20 Demo Night ticket. techNL has opened the launch to everyone, so you don't need a Summit pass. For the full Summit lineup and tickets, see the techNL Summit site.

What do I need to submit?

A short form about your build, plus a link or an uploaded file. The form comes to you by email and in Slack the week before, and it's due by 11:59 p.m. Newfoundland time on November 18. It can be a proof of concept, a prototype, or a product, and it doesn't need to be finished. Nobody's measuring you against the plan you made when you signed up.

Is this a competition?

No. There's no ranking. Everyone who submits can demo at Demo Night, and a handful of builders will be invited to demo on stage. Participating in a stage demo is optional. If you're invited, you can choose to demo at a table instead.

How are stage demos chosen?

Community partners who followed the sprint pick the stage lineup. They judge progress within your tier, not polish or presentation skills. They look at:
‍
• How much you built in 30 days
• How clearly you explain the problem you're solving
• Who you asked for feedback, and what changed
• How you shared progress, like posts, build logs, and demos

Higher tiers also get credit for revenue attempts and changes in direction. A paying customer counts. So does a priced waitlist, or a sales conversation that didn't end in a sale.

Who owns my work?

You do. Genesis makes no claim on it.

Is there a code of conduct?

Yes. When you register, you agree to treat participants, coaches, and staff with respect. Discriminatory behaviour or harassment are grounds for removal.

Still have a question? Email programs@genesiscentre.ca and we'll get back to you.

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