Four Pathways. Zero Dilution. Real Engineering.
IBA Foundation offers four flagship program pathways—rapid 48-to-72 hour Sprints, unconstrained Tinkering maker labs, high-stakes multidisciplinary Hackathons, and 12-week funded Fellowships with $15,000–$25,000 grants. Designed for emerging technical builders, each program delivers hands-on execution, rigorous institutional mentorship, and tangible pathways into research, startups, and engineering careers.
Engineered for Every Stage of Building
Whether you have 48 hours to validate a prototype or 12 weeks to build a foundational architecture, each pathway offers structured runway and non-dilutive backing.
Rapid Product-Building Sprints
Turning napkin sketches into functional, testable prototypes with intense peer momentum and rapid user feedback loops.
Program Philosophy & Operational Model
Sprints eliminate endless brainstorming and force immediate execution. Over 48 to 72 hours, multidisciplinary builders lock in, build in public, deploy live software, and gather initial telemetry. There are no slides—only running code and real user interactions.
Who This Is For
Full-stack developers, frontend engineers, product designers, and AI tinkerers who want to stop theorizing and start shipping.
What You Build
Deployed web applications, autonomous agent workflows, developer tools, or interactive micro-products ready for real traffic.
What Builders Gain
The Builder Progression Matrix
We design our pathways not as isolated events, but as an institutional continuum that accompanies emerging builders from spark of curiosity to institutional backing.
Question assumptions, explore unfamiliar disciplines, and dismantle hardware without commercial stakes.
Master rapid 48-to-72 hour shipping loops, peer collaboration, and immediate user interaction cycles.
Prove technical depth under real-world constraints against industry-sponsored engineering problem statements.
Receive $15k–$25k non-dilutive living grant, dedicated 1:1 mentorship, and long-term pathway to startup or research.
| Pathway | Duration | Time Commitment | Non-Dilutive Funding | Mentorship Level | Primary Deliverable | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tinkering Programs | Ongoing | 6–10 hrs / week | $500/mo Stipend | Lab Stewards & Bench Support | Working Hardware Breadboard | |
| Rapid Sprints | 48–72 Hours | Intensive Weekend | $1k–$5k Credits | Peer Review & Rapid Feedback | Deployed Web Application / MVP | |
| Multidisciplinary Hackathons | 36–48 Hours | Full Weekend Sprint | $50,000+ Pools | Consortium Technical Leads | Audited Code & Public Defense | Benchmark Portal → |
| Builder Fellowships | 12 Weeks | Full-Time / Intensive | $15,000–$25,000 | Dedicated 1:1 CTO Mentorship | Deep-Tech System / Spinout |
"We create opportunities for the next generation of builders to discover what they can do."
IBA Foundation is an institution—not an event company. Hackathons and sprints are not disposable weekends; they are the experimental proving grounds where raw intellectual initiative transforms into tangible civilizational progress. We believe potential should have the opportunity to prove itself through unencumbered execution.
The Five Pillars of IBA Foundation
The unifying idea: IBA creates the conditions in which potential becomes visible.
Spark Curiosity
Create opportunities for young people to question assumptions, explore unfamiliar disciplines, and experiment boldly.
Make Building Happen
Give people a compelling reason to stop consuming information and start creating real systems under structured deadlines.
Discover Potential
Identify technical ability, original thinking, and resourcefulness through open, meritocratic proof-of-work.
Connect Ambitious People
Bring together complementary skills across software, hardware, and science to form enduring builder squads.
Create Pathways Forward
Turn participation into enduring outcomes: builder grants, fellowships, venture incubation, or research labs.
Ready to Put Your Potential into Practice?
Whether you are an aspiring maker, a seasoned competitive hacker, or a deep-tech founder, an IBA Foundation pathway is open for your proof-of-work.