The First Spark

June 27, 2026 - Singapore

THE
FIRST
SPARK

Full-day symposium for Asia's student founders

Singapore's next generation of AI builders, founders, and operators starts here. Join a full-day symposium for students and young builders exploring how to build, work, and start up in the AI age.

WHY ATTEND

Spend a day learning how student founders are building in the AI age.

The First Spark brings together students, founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem partners for a full day of demos, debates, panels, office hours, and networking. It is designed to help students understand what is possible, what to build next, and who can help them move faster.

See What Student Builders Are Shipping

Watch demos from student teams and understand what is possible when young builders move quickly with AI tools.

Understand Asia's AI Opportunity

Hear how founders, operators, and investors are thinking about AI company-building across Singapore and the region.

Learn How To Start And Grow In AI

Get practical paths for moving from idea to prototype, users, pitch, and early founder resources.

Navigate Your Career In The AI Age

Explore how students can join fast-moving teams, build technical depth, and spot meaningful opportunities.

Find The Right People And Resources

Meet collaborators, mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners who can help students move faster after the event.

WHY ATTEND

Meet Our Speakers

Anna Garcia

Business Analyst

AI company-building, early users, and what it takes to move from prototype to product.

Read Bio

Anna Garcia is a business analyst with a knack for identifying market trends. She shares her expertise in strategic planning and business development.

Kevin Thompson

Cybersecurity Expert

Protecting digital assets and data privacy.

Read Bio

Kevin Thompson is a cybersecurity expert dedicated to safeguarding digital information. He provides insights into best practices for data protection.

Laura Martinez

Content Creator

Engaging audiences through storytelling.

Read Bio

Laura Martinez is a content creator who excels in storytelling. Her sessions focus on crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences.

Robert Wilson

Entrepreneur

Startup funding and investment strategies.

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Robert Wilson is an entrepreneur with extensive experience in securing funding for startups. He discusses investment strategies and how to attract investors.

Emily Davis

UX Designer

Creating intuitive user interfaces.

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Emily Davis is a UX designer passionate about creating user-friendly interfaces. She shares her design process and techniques for enhancing user interaction.

David Brown

Software Engineer

Developing scalable software solutions.

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David Brown is a software engineer with expertise in building scalable applications. His sessions cover best practices in software development and architecture.

Sarah Johnson

Marketing Strategist

Building brand awareness through digital marketing.

Read Bio

Sarah Johnson has a rich background in digital marketing, focusing on brand strategy and online engagement. She provides practical tips for effective marketing campaigns.

Michael Smith

Data Scientist

Leveraging data analytics for business growth.

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Michael Smith is a seasoned data scientist who helps organizations harness data for strategic decision-making. His talks focus on actionable insights derived from data analysis.

Jessica Lee

Product Manager

Navigating product lifecycle and user experience design.

Read Bio

With over a decade in product management, Jessica Lee specializes in user-centered design. She shares strategies for enhancing user experience and optimizing product features.

Nirmal Vora

Founder / Operator

AI company-building, early users, and what it takes to move from prototype to product.

Read Bio

Nirmal Vora is an expert in AI-driven startups, focusing on transforming innovative ideas into market-ready products. His sessions provide practical insights into user acquisition and product development.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

Meet our Sponsors and Partners

More partners to be released closer to the date.

FASYMPOSIUM DETAILSQs

AGENDA

TIME

SESSION

TOPIC

09:00 - 09:30

Pull Up

Registration + coffee
Grab your badge, coffee, and first few hellos before the day kicks off.

09:30 - 09:45

Set the Vibe

Welcome remarks by Thomas Jeng, OpenAI. Framing the day by Hongfei, January Capital.

09:45 - 10:15

AI Builder Main Quest

Where student builders fit into the next wave of AI company-building and what they can do next.

10:15 - 11:15

Ship Sprint Showcase

Rapid Fire Demos
Twenty student teams get three minutes each to show what they built during the 7-day public build campaign. Fast, scrappy, and all about shipping.

11:15 - 12:00

Join First or Found First?

Debate: "You should join an AI company before starting one"
An Intelligence Squared-style debate on whether young builders should join an AI company before starting one. Expect strong takes, sharp tradeoffs, and useful career tension.

12:00 - 1:00

Lunch.exe + Office Hours IRL

Office Hours + Structured Networking
A working lunch with office hours and structured networking so students can meet founders, investors, operators, and potential collaborators.

1:00 - 1:45

Real Talk

A featured conversation on AI, education, tech futures, and what young people can do next.

1:45 - 2:30

YFS Pitch Drop

Young Founders Summit Culmination
Ten selected teams get three minutes each to pitch their projects and show where their ideas could go next.

2:30 - 3:15

Careers in the AI Era

"Starting Your Career in the AI Age"
A practical conversation on starting your career in the AI age, from joining fast-growing teams to building technical depth and spotting real opportunities.

3:15 - 3:30

System Reboot

Break

3:30 - 4:00

Founder Starter Pack

"Resources for Student Founders"
A practical rundown of resources available to student founders, from programmes and grants to communities, mentors, and ecosystem support.

4:00 - 4:45

AI Product Playbook

"Building AI-First Products"
A panel on building AI-native products: what changes when AI is core to the user experience, the workflow, and the business model.

4:45 - 5:00

Build, Join, or Bet Big

"Your Move" - January Capital & Wavesparks

5:00 - 6:00

Builders' Happy Hour

Casual networking + drinks

7:00 - 10:00

The Shippers' Table

Invite-only: top demo teams + speakers + partners
An invite-only dinner for top demo teams, speakers, and partners to go deeper on ideas, feedback, and next steps.

BUILD SPRINT

Want to pitch your AI idea to the crowd?

Join the 7-Day Build Sprint before AI Youth Symposium and turn your idea into something real. From 19-26 June, students can build from home, solo or in teams, and submit an AI project for a chance to pitch live on symposium day.

Why Join?

Build something real before symposium day.

Use the week to ship, sharpen, and submit an AI project for live feedback, pitch opportunities, and partner resources.

Get AI builder credits

Participants can access AI builder resources and credits as partner allocations are confirmed.

Get feedback from experienced mentors

Use the sprint to get sharper on users, demos, product direction, and what to improve next.

Pitch on symposium day

Shortlisted teams may present live in front of students, founders, speakers, investors, and partners.

Win exciting prizes

Top teams will be eligible for prizes and further opportunities after the symposium.

How It Works

Receive your Build Sprint info pack

Once your registration is confirmed, we'll send you the full brief, timeline, submission details, and builder resources.

Build from home

Use the week from 19-26 June to build, test, and polish your project, solo or as a team.

Submit by 25 June, 23:59

Submit your project through Devpost with: deck; GitHub repo, if available; 1-minute YouTube demo showing how your product works.

Get selected to pitch

Shortlisted teams will be invited to pitch live on symposium day.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can attend The First Spark?

The First Spark is open to students and young builders across Singapore, including JC, polytechnic, IHL, university students, and NSmen.

Do I need to be building something to attend?

No. You can attend the symposium even if you are not joining the Build Sprint or demoing a project. Come to learn, meet people, and explore what you might want to build next.

What is the 7-Day Build Sprint?

The 7-Day Build Sprint is an optional pre-event sprint from 19-26 June for students who want to create, test, or sharpen an AI project before symposium day. You can build from home, solo or in a team.

Can I join the Build Sprint and still attend the symposium?

Yes. The Build Sprint leads into the 27 June symposium, where selected teams may get the chance to demo their work live.

Where is the event?

The venue will be announced closer to the event date.

Is the event free?

Yes. Both the Build Sprint and symposium day are free to join.

Need more info or have questions about The First Spark?

Email us at letsbuild@wavesparks.co and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!

Email letsbuild@wavesparks.co