🚀 AINative Startup Camp — Santa Cruz • Spring 2026

​Build an AI-Native startup in a weekend.

​AINative Startup Camp is an immersive multi-day accelerator experience where founders, developers, designers, operators, and AI builders come together to rapidly validate, prototype, and launch AI-native companies.

​Using modern AI workflows, agentic development tools, and AI pair programming, participants transform ideas into working products faster than traditional startup methods ever allowed.

​Throughout the weekend, you’ll collaborate with ambitious builders while learning how to leverage AI-native development stacks, multi-agent workflows, rapid validation frameworks, and modern startup execution strategies.

​You’ll gain access to experienced founders, AI engineers, startup mentors, and operator-led workshops designed to help you move from idea → validation → MVP → pitch in just days.

​Friday: Pitch + Form Teams

​Participants pitch startup ideas focused on AI-native products, agentic workflows, automation, infrastructure, consumer apps, developer tools, and emerging technologies.

​The strongest ideas are selected through community voting, and teams form around the most compelling concepts. Builders, designers, engineers, marketers, and operators join forces to kick off the sprint.

​This is where ideas become companies.

​Saturday: Validate + Build

​Teams spend the day rapidly validating customer demand, refining positioning, designing workflows, and building MVPs using AI-native development tools and modern startup methodologies.

​Mentors and coaches circulate throughout the day helping teams improve product strategy, GTM positioning, UX, technical architecture, fundraising readiness, and AI implementation.

​Participants will learn how to:

• ​Build with AI pair programming

• ​Use agents to accelerate development

• ​Rapidly generate prototypes and workflows

• ​Validate customer demand faster

• ​Ship MVPs in hours instead of months

​Sunday: Demo + Launch

​Teams present their startups to a panel of founders, operators, investors, and AI industry leaders.

​Founders demo their products, explain their business models, showcase traction, and share what they built over the weekend.

​The event concludes with startup showcases, networking, awards, and celebration.

​Some teams may continue building beyond the weekend through the AINative community and ecosystem.

​Community Impact

​1000+

​Founders, developers, and AI operators

​50+

​AI mentors, engineers, and startup advisors

​Multiple

​AI startup camps, hackathons, and builder events

​Hundreds

​Of prototypes, MVPs, and startup concepts launched

​What Makes AINative Different?

​AINative Startup Camp focuses on AI-native execution — teaching builders how to create companies in the new era of AI-assisted software development.

​Participants gain hands-on exposure to:

• ​AI Pair Programming

• ​Multi-Agent Development Workflows

• ​Claude Code & AI IDEs

• ​Agentic Infrastructure

• ​AI-native Product Design

• ​Rapid Validation Frameworks

• ​ZeroDB + AI-native Backends

• ​Modern AI Startup Operations

​This is not a traditional hackathon.

​It’s a launchpad for the next generation of AI-native founders.

​Who Should Attend?

• ​Startup founders

• ​Developers & engineers

• ​Product designers

• ​Technical operators

• ​AI enthusiasts

• ​Students & researchers

• ​Non-technical founders using AI tools

• ​Anyone who wants to build faster with AI

​🌲 Camp Under the Santa Cruz Stars

​This isn’t just a startup camp — it’s a full AI-Native builder experience.

​Attendees are invited to camp out on the lawn of the historic Victorian estate where the event is being hosted. Bring a tent, sleeping bag, hoodie, and your laptop for a weekend of building, collaboration, and late-night conversations under the Santa Cruz sky.

​As the sun goes down, we’ll light bonfires, roast marshmallows, share ideas, and keep coding deep into the night alongside other founders, hackers, designers, and AI builders.

​Expect spontaneous demos by the fire, startup debates at midnight, AI pair programming sessions under the stars, and the kind of creative energy that only happens when ambitious people build together in real life.

​Wake up steps from the ocean, grab coffee with your team, and continue building your startup all weekend long.

​Recommended Camping Essentials:

• ​Tent or compact camping setup

• ​Sleeping bag + pillow

• ​Warm hoodie or jacket (Santa Cruz nights get cold)

• ​Laptop + charger

• ​Portable battery pack

• ​Headlamp or flashlight

• ​Blanket or camping chair for bonfire sessions

• ​Reusable water bottle

• ​Snacks & late-night coding fuel

• ​Toiletries & towel

• ​Earbuds or headphones

• ​Notebook or sketchpad for ideas

• ​Extension cord or power strip (limited outlets available)

​Limited camping spots available. Early registration recommended.

​Become a Mentor

​Support the next generation of AI-native founders by mentoring teams throughout the weekend.

​Email: [email protected]

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​Become a Sponsor

​Partner with one of the fastest-growing communities of AI-native builders, founders, and developers.

​Email: [email protected]