HUNDREDS of students, professionals, and self-taught engineers are set to converge at the AC Marriot Hotel in St Andrew on Saturday and Sunday (March 15/16) for the inaugural staging of the Intellibus Hackathon in Jamaica.

The event, for which registration is free, will be held under the theme ‘Build. Innovate. Win’.

The hackathon, which is being hosted by international platform engineering and information technology (IT) consulting firm Intellibus, seeks to recruit 20 talented local IT professionals, including Java engineers.

The top performers from the hackathon are set to benefit from potential employment opportunities with Intellibus which is looking to establish a local artificial intelligence (AI) academy.

Participants in the two-day event will have a chance to secure fast-track admissions at the academy. They will also be vying for a share of US$15,000 or more than $2.3 million in prizes.

First place will receive US$5,000; second place US$3,000; while the third-placed winner will get US$2,500. The best faculty coach and best faculty mentor will each walk away with US$2,5000.

Overall, the Intellibus hackathon and subsequent AI Academy aim to boost Jamaica’s tech sector by providing training, job opportunities, and fostering innovation.

In a release on Wednesday founder and principal of Intellibus, Ed Watal, said, “we are incredibly excited to bring the Intellibus Hackathon to Jamaica. Jamaica has a vibrant and growing tech community, and we believe this event will serve as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth”.

In the meantime chairman of Jamaica’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force Christopher Reckord is quoted in the release as describing the Intellibus Hackathon as a welcome initiative that aligns perfectly with the national strategy to advance Jamaica’s capabilities in artificial intelligence.

“By providing a platform for talent development and innovation, this hackathon will contribute to building a robust AI ecosystem, while creating opportunities for our citizens in this rapidly evolving field,” said Reckord.

The two-day Intellibus Hackathon 2025 will see teams of three to five participants collaborate to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.

The event is open to interested participants of any age, with a passion for AI, cloud computing, and problem-solving. Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Participants will have access to training videos, live workshops, industry coaching, and fast-starter templates.

Projects will be evaluated based on technical execution, innovation, creativity, user experience, design, impact, business viability, along with presentation and communication.

People looking to register for the Intellibus Hackathon should visit https://www.intellibushackathon.com.