FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For Young Builders
Do I need to know how to code?
No. You need to know how to think, ask good questions, and use AI tools. Many of the best builders have never written a line of code. If you can use Claude, ChatGPT, or any AI tool, you have enough to start.
What does 5 hours per week actually look like?
Typically: one 2-hour session with your business partner per week, plus 3 hours of building on your own. Some weeks are lighter, some heavier (especially the build sprint in weeks 5–6).
What if my builder partner and I don’t get along?
That’s what the discovery phase is for. The first two weeks are about understanding the problem and the person. If something isn’t working, you tell us and we figure it out together.
Will this help me get into college?
A shipped product that a real business uses is a stronger portfolio piece than any club or certificate. We’ll help you document what you built and how to talk about it.
Do I have to stay in Hawaiʻi after the program?
No. But we hope some of you will want to. The whole point is to show that you can build a real company here.
What’s the Claude Max subscription for?
Anthropic’s Claude Max gives you access to Claude’s most powerful models without usage limits. It’s the primary AI tool for the program. You keep it for the full 8 weeks.
For Local Businesses
Is there any cost?
No. The program is fully funded by sponsors. Your only investment is time: around 3 hours per week for 8 weeks.
What if the tool doesn’t work or isn’t useful?
Every team ships something. Whether it’s immediately useful depends on how well we define the problem in weeks 1–2. That’s why discovery comes first. We’d rather spend two weeks getting the problem right than six weeks building the wrong thing.
Do I own the tool that gets built?
Yes. The tool built for your business is yours to use. If the product enters the national distribution phase after demo day, we’ll work out a simple agreement that reflects your role as the design partner and anchor customer.
I’m not tech-savvy. Does that matter?
No. That’s the point of the pairing. You’re the domain expert. Your builder is the technical expert. Neither can do this without the other.
Will the student be reliable?
We screen for commitment, not credentials. Every builder who makes it through the application process has demonstrated they can follow through. We also stay close throughout the cohort — if something’s not working, we know early.
What kinds of tools get built?
Anything that saves time, reduces errors, or surfaces information faster. Common examples: scheduling and dispatch automation, customer follow-up sequences, inventory summaries, job cost tracking, quote generation, weekly business reports. The best tools are simple and solve one problem completely.
For Sponsors
How do I know the products are real?
Every cohort ends with a public demo day. You’re invited. You see what was built, watch it run, and talk to the business owner who used it for 8 weeks.
Can I hire builders after the program?
Yes. Program sponsors get early access to builder profiles for internships and entry-level roles. Several builders from each cohort will be actively looking for opportunities.
What’s the timeline for Cohort 1?
Applications open: April 2026. Cohort starts: June 2026. Demo day: August 2026.
Is Build Hawaiʻi a nonprofit?
Not currently. We’re structured to allow equity participation in portfolio companies — which a nonprofit structure would complicate. Sponsorships are not tax-deductible at this time.
How do I get involved beyond sponsoring?
Mentors are always welcome. If you have relevant skills (B2B sales, product, engineering, local business operations), email us: hello@buildhawaii.org