The Program
Eight weeks. Real work.
Real results.
Modeled after YC's core principles: intensity, accountability, peer learning, and a public demo day. Adapted for youth builders and local small businesses.
How YC maps to Build Hawaiʻi
The Structure
The Pod Model
Every cohort of 10 pairs is split into pods of 3\u20134 pairs. Each pod has one dedicated Pod Mentor \u2014 a local founder, operator, or experienced builder.
Pod mentor attends every weekly session and hosts office hours
Pairs within a pod give each other feedback and accountability
Pods collaborate, never compete
Pod mentor is the first call when a pair is stuck
Every Week
Weekly rhythm
The Curriculum
Week by week
Discovery
Every pair deeply understands the business’s real problem before touching any AI tools.
Meet Your Business
Builder conducts a 60-minute structured interview with their business owner. Document the typical day, pain points, and customer complaints.
Define the Problem
Builder spends time at the business. Observe, don’t just ask. Narrow from all the problems to one specific, solvable problem.
AI Basics + First Prototype
Every pair has a rough working prototype by end of Week 4. Business owner has touched it.
Learn the Tools
Both builder and business owner complete tool onboarding. Explore Claude Max, prompting, no-code tools. Identify which tool fits their problem.
Build the First Version
Builder builds the first rough version. Business owner tests it in real conditions. Document every piece of feedback. Don’t polish — just make it work.
Build Sprint
Go from rough prototype to a real, working solution the business owner can use independently.
Iterate Fast
Address top 3 feedback items. Minimum 2 real test sessions this week. Ask: can the owner use this without me?
Solve for Independence
The owner must use the tool without the builder. Create a simple guide. Run a handoff test: owner goes solo, builder just watches.
Refinement + Story
The product is solid. The story is clear. The pair knows exactly what they built and why it matters.
Polish and Prepare
Final product polish. Builder and owner write their Showcase Story together. Rehearse the 5-minute presentation. Collect one real result.
Showcase
Every pair presents publicly. Every business owner walks away proud. Every builder has a real portfolio piece.
Showcase Day
Public event. Families, press, community, sponsors. Each pair gets 5 minutes. Business owner introduces, builder demonstrates. One real result shared. No judges. No scores.
Deliverables by week
Tools