Advanced AI Foundations Bootcamp: GAIC × Tether
Tether × GAIC: Advanced AI Foundations Bootcamp Cohort 1.
Build. Experiment. Ship.
Are you a developer ready to build practical AI applications and take your technical skills to the next level?
Join GAIC for the Advanced AI Foundations Bootcamp, sponsored by Tether — an intensive, hands-on programme designed for developers who want to move beyond experimenting with AI and start building real applications.
The bootcamp will bring together technically capable builders to learn, experiment, collaborate, and develop AI-powered solutions through an intensive two-week programme.
This is a practical building experience for developers ready to put their skills to work.
Dates: Bootcamp sessions run 2 to 13 November 2026. Online Demo Day is 14 November 2026.
Programme focus: Local AI with QVAC and agentic finance with WDK
This track is for developers who already use AI and want to run models on their own devices. Week 1 covers QVAC setup, local text generation, speech or translation, private document search, and a working offline app. Week 2 introduces the Wallet Development Kit (WDK), human approval for wallet actions, capstone development, and Demo Day. Local AI inference runs on device; wallet balance queries and transactions still need network access.
Each capstone should include working code, a public GitHub repository with setup instructions, and a short demo video.
What to Expect
💻 Hands-on AI Development — Explore how to build applications powered by AI.
🛠️ Practical Building Sessions — Work with developer tools and modern AI technologies to turn ideas into working solutions.
🤝 Collaboration & Problem-Solving — Learn alongside other developers and builders.
🚀 Project Development — Apply your skills to building and refining an AI-powered project.
🎤 Demo Day — Showcase your work and share what you've built.
Who Should Apply?
This bootcamp is intended for developers with existing programming experience. It is not an introductory programming course.
Ideal applicants should have:
Working knowledge of JavaScript or TypeScript
Familiarity with Git and command-line tools
An interest in building AI-powered applications
A laptop suitable for software development
The ability to commit to the full two-week intensive programme, including scheduled sessions and Demo Day
Technical Requirements
Please be prepared to provide details about your development setup during registration.
Laptop: At least 8 GB RAM; 16 GB recommended
Operating system: Windows, macOS, or Linux
Development environment: Node.js 22.21.x (matching the registration setup requirement)
Developer readiness: Ability to work with Git and the terminal
If you don't have Node.js installed yet, you can indicate this during registration and prepare your environment before the programme begins.
About Our Sponsor: Tether
The bootcamp is sponsored by Tether, a technology company known for USD₮ (USDT), its widely used stablecoin. Tether develops blockchain-based financial technology and also works across areas including AI infrastructure, peer-to-peer technology, and education.
Learn more about Tether: https://tether.io/
About GAIC
The Gauteng AI Community (GAIC) is building Africa's AI talent-to-startup pipeline through community, education, enterprise AI skills development, and venture creation. GAIC connects developers, founders, businesses, and AI enthusiasts to support practical learning and the growth of Africa's AI ecosystem.
Website: https://www.gaic.co.za/
Registration & Selection
Registration is intended to help us understand your technical experience, availability, and laptop specifications. Applications close 1 November 2026.
Please answer the application questions accurately. Applicants should be ready to demonstrate their commitment to the full programme and arrive prepared to build.
Important: This is an intensive, hands-on programme. Please register only if you can commit to the full two weeks.
Build. Experiment. Ship.
We look forward to bringing together the next generation of local AI builders.
Join the Bootcamp Community here on Discord: Join Discord Server
Joining the bootcamp: Each live session has its own Google Meet link. Use the link and time in that session’s GAIC calendar invitation. Discord hosts assignments, questions, resources, and cohort discussions. The opening session is on 2 November, 18:00 to 19:00 South Africa time (17:00 to 18:00 WAT/CET). Session times vary.