Aayush Bhan
Agentic AI Engineer
Get to a permit without a land-use lawyer.
Tech partner
Homes that could exist don't — because small builders can't survive the approval maze.
When zoning codes and permit rules are scattered across municipal PDFs and change block by block, big developers absorb the cost with land-use lawyers while homeowners and small builders give up one abandoned project at a time — so homes that could exist don't, and the rules keep churning as hundreds of state preemption bills rewrite what's buildable every year.
Sep 1 26’
Challenge start
Build (23 days left)
Oct 1 26’
Deadline & Winners
What to build
Your Mission
Build an AI-powered solution that tells a homeowner or small builder what they can build — and how to reach a permit — without a land-use lawyer.
Cities already buy AI plan review from Symbium, CivCheck, and Archistar — so build for the other side of the counter, the owner deciding feasibility before drawings exist. The gap is the precedent question no incumbent answers: what's buildable on this parcel, how similar nearby projects actually fared — approved, stuck, and why — and staying current as the rules churn.
How to build
Master the Challenge in 2 days.
Day 1
Find your personal angle on the problem.
Pick the smallest experience that helps someone know what they can build on a parcel — and how to reach a permit. The goal is to make one of those experiences work well, not to solve every part of the problem at once.
- Decodes what's buildable on a specific parcel
- Shows how similar projects nearby actually fared
- Tracks code amendments as they land
Pick your angle
Day 2
Prototype a minimal possible solution.
Choose the simplest format that fits the experience and audience. Build only what you need to test whether the idea works, people can use it, or the system can deliver.
- A no-code prototype in Lovable, Bolt, or v0
- A working app in Cursor
- A custom-coded solution — Exa can sit underneath as a retrieval layer crawling zoning codes, permit requirements, and fee schedules into a picture of what is buildable on a specific parcel
Pick your tools
Meet your mentors
Get a guidance from industry professionals.
Gio Masawi
Global Solutions Manager Gemini Enterprise, Agentic AI
Karina Assini Andreatta
Senior Data Scientist, AI Engineer
Casius Sibanda Lee
AI Developer Advocate
Geoffrey Rolin Jacquemyns
Claude Ambassador
Anubhav Pandey
AI Product Manager, Forward Deployed Engineer
Gain invaluable insights and support from seasoned experts who are passionate about driving positive change. Our mentors bring years of experience in tackling complex challenges, ready to share their knowledge and help you make a meaningful impact.
Sep 1 26’
Challenge start
Build (23 days left)
Oct 1 26’
Deadline & Winners
Jury Panel
Put your solution in front of hiring managers.
Receive valuable feedback and insights from hiring managers and industry experts.
Community recognition
Winner
TBD
The winning project will be featured on Drawerrr’s Winners page and receive support, and exposure to take the idea further.
Community recognition
Finalists
TBD
TBD
The two finalist projects will be featured on Drawerrr’s Finalists page and receive support to continue developing their ideas.
If you choose Exa as part of your tech stack, the winner and two finalists will receive Exa.ai credits, exposure through Exa’s developer community, and technical support to help develop their projects further.
Sep 1 26’
Challenge start
Build (23 days left)
Oct 1 26’
Deadline & Winners
FAQ
Everything you need to know about participating.
Who can participate?
The challenge welcomes participants from all countries and skill levels, making it ideal for students and career switchers. Whether you're an entry-level individual with no experience or a seasoned professional seeking to broaden your expertise, this challenge suits your needs. We encourage diverse backgrounds, including scientists, designers, engineers, analysts, policy makers, community leaders, PR experts, economists, marketers, educators, and other professionals.
Is there a participation fee?
No. It's free for all participants.
How to get started?
- Create an account.
- Choose a challenge you would like to work on.
- Follow guides to solve the problem (solo or in a team).
- Submit your solution.
- Get the feedback from sustainability experts and results at the beginning of the each month.
Is there any deadlines?
You can submit your case at any point. The challenge results will be announced in the first few days of each month on the winners' page.
Can I participate as part of a team?
Yes, participants can submit the case as a team. There is no maximum number of team members, but we recommend up to five members.
How to obtain assistance from mentors?
You can find available mentors under the Connect page in your account. Mentor help is optional and not required to participate in the challenge.
Who will be evaluating submissions?
Submissions will be evaluated by the Jury panel, which will assess cases based on Innovation, quality of work and potential Impact.
Are there any awards for the winners?
The best cases will be published on the winners' page, and the team will receive prizes from our sponsors.
Can participants apply multiple times?
Yes, participants can submit multiple cases, either solo or as part of a team.
What happens after the challenge?
All participants maintain access to community chats, mentors, and network.
After challenge
Take it to the next level.
The Challenge graduates get the opportunity to connect with grant providers and organizations looking to pilot projects and take them to the next level.