Why enter
More than a hackathon. A shortcut into a career.
Open a door
The real prize is visibility. Great submissions can open the door to AI Product Engineer roles at Nerdy — hiring now in the US, Latin America and India.
Skip the resume pile
No cover letter, no take-home, no six-round loop. You’re judged on what you actually shipped.
Build something real
Challenges mirror actual problems we're solving for millions of learners. Your work ships as a portfolio piece — and might ship to production.
Demo to leadership
Finalists present live at Demo Day to Nerdy’s executive and engineering leaders. Real eyes, real feedback, real momentum.
You'd be building here
An AI-native company, at real scale.
Nerdy (NYSE: NRDY) is the Live + AI learning platform behind Varsity Tutors. We pair live expert instruction with a purpose-built AI layer — matching, tutoring copilots, adaptive practice, and session intelligence — across 3,000+ subjects.
AI isn't a feature bolted on the side here. It's the product. The people who win this challenge help build the next 40 superpowers.
3,000+
Subjects taught on the platform
40k+
Experts matched by AI on 100+ attributes
4.9/5
Average session rating across millions of sessions
40+
Live AI "superpowers" shipped to learners
The prompts
Pick one. Build it your way.
Choose a single prompt at registration. Each mirrors a real product problem we're solving for learners — how you interpret it is up to you.
Prompt 01Math
K–5 Math Game
Develop an interactive, gamified math experience tailored for elementary students that makes foundational arithmetic concepts both intuitive and engaging.
We're looking for: innovative mechanics that encourage steady progression and reward mastery of core numeracy skills.
Prompt 02Language
Language Learning App
Create a structured, user-friendly mobile experience that simplifies the acquisition of a new language through spaced repetition or immersive daily practice.
We're looking for: a strong grasp of pedagogical design, with a seamless and intuitive user journey.
Prompt 03Literacy
English Reading Game
Build a literacy-focused application that helps young learners improve reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary through interactive storytelling or challenge-based gameplay.
We're looking for: educational rigor blended with fun, narrative-driven design.
How it works
Three weeks to build. One shot to stand out.
01
Mon, Aug 17
Challenge opens
Registration goes live. Pick your prompt and start building.
02
Aug 17 – Sep 7
Build your project
Three weeks to ship. Kickoff livestream on day one, office hours along the way.
03
Mon, Sep 7
Submissions close
Entries due end of day — a project link plus a 2–3 minute demo video. Early submissions are reviewed as they arrive.
04
Sep 8 – 10
Review & finalist selection
AI-assisted scoring plus a Nerdy engineering panel selects the finalists and notifies them directly.
05
Fri, Sep 11
Demo Day
Finalists present live to Nerdy leadership. Prizes awarded on the spot, and promising builders may be invited to talk about roles.
RegistrationOpens Aug 17 · Closes Sep 7, 2026Dates subject to final confirmation.
The real prize
Get on Nerdy’s radar.
We’re always looking for exceptional AI Product Engineers — in the US, Latin America and India. Strong submissions get seen by the people who do the hiring, and standout builders may be invited to explore those roles. Cash prizes are a bonus, not the point.
Winner
$10K
+ a conversation with our team
Runner-up
$5K
+ a conversation with our team
Every finalist gets their work in front of Nerdy engineering leadership. Job opportunities are possible, not guaranteed.
Who we're hiring
We're growing our AI Product Engineering team in three markets.
Nerdy hires AI Product Engineers in the United States, Latin America and India. If your submission stands out, we may reach out about open roles on the team — the same people reviewing your build are the ones hiring for it.
United States
$200K+
Total compensation for senior AI Product Engineer roles, depending on experience and level.
Latin America
$100K
Total compensation for senior AI Product Engineer roles, depending on experience and level.
India
₹1 Cr
Total compensation for senior AI Product Engineer roles, depending on experience and level.
Build first, talk later.
You don't apply to a role to enter. Ship something great, and the conversation starts from there.
Compensation ranges reflect senior-level roles and vary by market, level, and experience. Entering the challenge is not an application for employment, and participation does not guarantee an interview or offer.
Be first in line
Get notified when registration opens.
Drop your details and we’ll email you the moment registration goes live on Aug 17.
✓ Free to enter — no cost, ever
✓ Your submission puts you on our radar
✓ Solo or team — you choose how you build
