Future Caribbean has entered the build phase of its inaugural Agentic AI Buildathon, with more than 450 builders from 39 countries developing artificial intelligence solutions aimed at real-world deployment across the Caribbean and other distributed markets.

The initiative launched on May 26 during IDB Invest Sustainability Week in Barbados, with the goal of positioning the Caribbean as a proving ground for Agentic AI — technology designed to perform tasks and make decisions with a degree of autonomy.

Future Caribbean said the programme attracted 264 applications from builders across 39 countries, with strong participation from the Caribbean and its diaspora.

Jamaica recorded the highest number of applications with 41, followed by Barbados with 33 and Trinidad and Tobago with 25.

Applications also came from the Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Curaçao and the Cayman Islands.

There was also significant participation from Caribbean nationals in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, alongside applications from countries including India, France, Nigeria, Kenya, Singapore, Ukraine and the Philippines.

The builders are developing solutions across sectors including disaster management, healthcare, financial services, tourism, logistics, food systems, climate resilience, energy, the blue economy, real estate and the creative industries.

“This is the largest platform of technologists the Caribbean has ever assembled — a digital fabric that spans the world but is Caribbean at its core,” said Lily Dash, founder of Future Caribbean.

Dash said more than 800 people, including builders, advisers and volunteers, are involved across the region, the diaspora and beyond.

Participating builders have access to more than US$50,000 in cash prizes, alongside AI infrastructure, computing resources, software, accelerator programmes, strategic consulting and technical support.

Support includes OWC AI deployment workstations valued at US$20,000, Enterprise Cayman accelerator support, the DMZ Soft Landing Program and travel sponsorship from Bookit for selected founders attending a New York Investor Showcase.

Future Caribbean said selected teams will also have the opportunity to present their solutions at the New York Stock Exchange during an investor showcase in the third quarter of 2026.

The programme has attracted technology and ecosystem partners including IDB Invest, ACTAI Global, the OECS Commission, EY Caribbean, Enterprise Cayman, Export Barbados and the New York Stock Exchange, alongside technology companies providing AI models, computing and development infrastructure.

EY Caribbean will provide 50 hours of strategic consulting to selected teams, focusing on areas such as commercialization, scaling, operations and go-to-market strategy.

Future Caribbean has also assembled a network of more than 172 advisers and judges, including founders, investors, technologists, researchers, corporate leaders and public sector experts.

Throughout the Buildathon, participating teams will have access to technical workshops, strategy sessions and office hours covering product development, technical architecture, commercialization, fundraising, go-to-market strategy and deployment.

Future Caribbean said the programme is ultimately focused on moving beyond prototypes and helping teams develop technologies capable of securing customers, investment and long-term deployment.