Application deadline
1 November 2026
Regular round for the Winter 2027 cohort.
Online Program
AI Builders
by Hinksey Labs
AI Builders combines applied AI project work with academic and industry mentoring to develop solutions to challenges faced by real organizations.
Last verified: 10 Oct 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
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AI Builders at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Applications open
Eligibility
High school students; international applicants
Age range / Year group
Ages 14+
Location / Region
Online
Cost
$1,400 by the priority deadline; $1,600 regular
Duration
9 weeks
Format
Online
Artificial Intelligence
Sessions / cadence: 2 live hours/week over 9 weeks
Mentor model: Small teams of 4-7 students
Assessment style: Project and expert-panel presentation
Main deliverable / output: Independent applied AI project
Certificate: Certificate of achievement
AI Builders summary
AI Builders is Hinksey Labs' applied AI project track, connecting original student work with challenges faced by real organizations.
Mentorship is collaborative, but each student produces an independent project and presents it to an expert panel.
It suits students who want to use AI to solve a practical problem and can contribute actively to a small mentoring group.
What is AI Builders?
AI Builders is Hinksey Labs' applied artificial intelligence project program. Students develop an independent AI solution to a challenge faced by a real organization, connecting their interests with a practical problem.
Mentorship takes place in small teams, with support from academic and industry experts. Each student produces original work and presents it to an expert panel, giving the project a clear audience beyond the mentoring group.
Why Succeed highlights AI Builders
A real organization's challenge gives the AI project a practical purpose.
Independent outputs make each student's contribution clearer within collaborative mentorship.
Academic and industry mentors bring complementary perspectives to applied project work.
An expert-panel presentation gives students practice explaining their decisions and results.
Who is AI Builders for?
Best for
Students interested in applying AI to an organization's problem while developing their own project within a small mentoring group.
Not ideal if
You want exclusively one-to-one mentoring or a guaranteed recommendation letter.
Is AI Builders worth it?
AI Builders is worth considering if your goal is to move from interest in AI to an independent project with a practical audience. Its combination of collaborative mentorship and an expert-panel presentation gives students opportunities to develop and explain original work.
The value depends on how well group mentoring fits your needs and how actively you engage with the project. Treat the project and learning as the main benefit: recommendation letters and showcase opportunities are discretionary, and university admission is not guaranteed.
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Founder, Succeed
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Cost and what is included
$1,400 by the priority deadline; $1,600 regular; includes Two live hours per week over nine weeks., Mentorship in teams of four to seven students., Support from academic and industry experts., Independent applied AI project., Final presentation to an expert panel., Certificate of achievement..
Dates and time commitment
9 weeks; 2 live hours/week over 9 weeks.
Provider details
Review the Hinksey Labs provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
What the student gains
Potential output: The main output is an independent AI project addressing a real organization's challenge.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.
Online support and safeguarding
Each student builds an independent AI project addressing a challenge faced by a real organization. Mentorship takes place in small teams.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does AI Builders need?
Effort level
Sustained project commitment.
Best started
Begin application preparation three to four weeks before the priority deadline.
Main challenge
Turning an organizational problem into a focused, explainable AI project.
Typical preparation
Gather your resume and grade transcript before drafting the application.
Use the 300-word motivation statement to explain your interests and commitment.
Discuss parent or guardian consent and financial aid documentation where relevant.
Ask how project work outside live sessions will fit your school commitments.
Useful if
You want practice developing and presenting an original solution.
What do students do on AI Builders?
You develop an independent applied AI project around a challenge faced by a real organization. Collaborative mentorship supports the work, which culminates in a presentation to an expert panel.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Focus your project on an organizational challenge and your own interests.
- 2
Develop your solution with academic and industry mentorship in a small team.
- 3
Complete an independent applied AI project.
- 4
Present your work to an expert panel.
AI Builders dates and deadlines
Upcoming
Programme dates
January 2027
Winter cohort starts; the program lasts nine weeks.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 1 November 2026 | Local | Upcoming | Save deadline |
Programme dates | January 2027 | Local | Upcoming |
Eligibility and requirements
High school students aged 14 and above.
Grades 9-12 are the target school stages.
International applicants are welcome.
Parent or guardian consent is required under 18.
Academic achievement, curiosity, motivation, and commitment inform holistic review.
Suggested benchmarks: GPA 3.7+, A-Level AAA, IB 36+, or equivalent.
How much does AI Builders cost?
Application fee
Free
Funding or discounts
- Merit scholarships: All candidates receive automatic consideration.
- Need-based scholarships: Eligible applicants provide supporting financial documentation.
What's included
Two live hours per week over nine weeks., Mentorship in teams of four to seven students., Support from academic and industry experts., Independent applied AI project., Final presentation to an expert panel., Certificate of achievement.
How to apply to AI Builders
- 1
Prepare your resume, grade transcript, and motivation statement of up to 300 words.
- 2
Complete the official application form and select AI Builders.
- 3
Provide your personal, parent, school, and location details.
- 4
Add an optional recommendation letter and financial aid documentation where relevant.
- 5
Submit the application for review through the application, interview, and decision process.
Next step with Succeed
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Learning format
AI Builders combines two live hours per week over nine weeks with independent project development. Mentorship is collaborative in teams of four to seven, while each student produces their own original AI project.
Mentorship and feedback
Mentorship takes place in teams of four to seven students.
Mentors include Ivy League and Oxbridge PhDs, MScs, and MBAs.
Leading industry experts contribute practical perspectives.
Each student develops independent work within collaborative mentorship.
Students present their completed work to an expert panel.
Time-zone considerations
- Allow for two live hours per week.
- Live participation continues over nine weeks.
- Applicants from around the world are welcome.
Assessment style
The program centers on an independent applied AI project and a final presentation to an expert panel.
- Develop an independent AI project.
- Address a challenge faced by a real organization.
- Present completed work to an expert panel.
Portfolio / outputs
Main deliverable / output
The main output is an independent AI project addressing a real organization's challenge.
Final presentation to an expert panel.
Certificate of achievement.
Discretionary showcase opportunities for outstanding students.
Discretionary recommendation letters for outstanding students.
AI Builders FAQs
Each student builds an independent AI project addressing a challenge faced by a real organization. Mentorship takes place in small teams.
AI Builders lists two live hours per week over nine weeks, with teams of four to seven students.
The program lists Ivy League and Oxbridge PhDs, MScs, MBAs, and leading industry experts as mentors.
AI Builders includes a certificate of achievement. Showcase opportunities and recommendation letters are available to outstanding students at mentors' discretion.
Applicants prepare a resume, grade transcript, and motivation statement of up to 300 words. A recommendation letter is optional, as is proof of household income for financial aid applicants.
All candidates are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. Eligible students can seek need-based scholarships with supporting documentation; full scholarships are not offered.
Students under 18 need parent or guardian consent to enroll. The application form also requests a parent's name and email.
Withdrawal before the program or before the second session qualifies for a full program-fee refund minus the included USD 100 enrollment fee. Withdrawal before the third session qualifies for a 75% refund minus that fee, subject to the refund policy.
Alternatives to AI Builders
Compare these options if you prefer an AI course, individual research mentorship, or broader software development.
Alternatives to AI Builders
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Best for
Students comparing a subject course with an applied project program.
One-to-one online research mentorship
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Deadline: Not announced
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Best for
Students who prefer individual mentoring over a small team.
Software development and gaming in London
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From £5995
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Best for
Students comparing AI projects with broader software and gaming interests.
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Sean Stevens
Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)
Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Comparing High School Research Programmes | Hinksey Labs
- Privacy Policy | Hinksey Labs
- Refund Policy | Hinksey Labs
- Terms of Service | Hinksey Labs
- Contact Us | Hinksey Labs
- Apply to a Programme | Hinksey Labs
- Hinksey Labs - Business Research for High School Students
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 10 Oct 2026)
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Application deadlines checked
Eligibility reviewed
Live workload checked
Scholarship policy reviewed
Refund terms reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
AI Builders
by Hinksey Labs
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