Pitch Day · August 6See the day-of schedule ↓
[ SYSTEM ONLINE ]// YOUTH AI & ROBOTICS PITCH COMPETITION

Oregon AIR™Challenge

Oregon students grade 4 through college undergrad turn AI & robotics ideas into projects they can pitch with confidence.

AIR = Artificial Intelligence + Robotics

PITCH DAYAugust 6, 2026·Upstart·Check-in 9am · Awards 3pm
Register Your Team →Submit Project ↗View the Challenge
45.52°N  122.67°W · PDX
[ 0x0 ] // PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS

Backed by the community

Prize Sponsors
Ayumetrix
DiagNova
Upstart Collective
Community Outreach Partners
Cascadia Builders Club
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
Portland AI Engineers
AI Portland
STEAM Hub
Portland Community College
Event Experience Sponsor
DJ Bee
Want to support Oregon's young builders? Email us atair@coredefender.ai
[ 0x1 ] // THE CHALLENGE

Build it. Pitch it. Own the room.

Teams collaborate on their own time to build a real project, then pitch it live on event day. Every project must integrate AI — and optionally Robotics. It's hands-on, high-energy, and built to give young creators the confidence to ship and present their ideas.

Team size: 1–6 students + 1–2 adult mentors.
Limited spots per age group — register now! Final team selection approved by CoreDefender (CD).
Keynote: Industry-expert keynote — speaker TBA.
Incentives: cool swag, snacks & drinks, prizes, participation certificates.
[ 0x2 ] // TOPICS & TRACKS

Pick your mission

Choose one track. Every solution must integrate AI — and optionally Robotics.

01
AI TRACK
Community AI
City-services chatbotSchool resource assistantCommunity safety toolLanguage translation assistant
02
AI TRACK
Future of Learning
AI tutoringStudent productivitySTEM education toolsAI literacy games
03
AI + ROBOTICS
Robotics for Good
Warehouse automationElderly assistanceAccessibility solutionsEnvironmental monitoring
04
AI TRACK
Climate & Sustainability
Smart recyclingEnergy monitoringUrban farmingWater conservation
[ 0x3 ] // AGE GROUPS

Three divisions. One mission.

GRADES 4–8
AIR Builders

Big imaginations, first builds. A hands-on intro to AI with plenty of guidance and room to play.

GRADES 9–12
AIR Innovators

Prototype-ready thinkers turning bold ideas into working demos they can show off.

COLLEGE UNDERGRAD
AIR Leaders

Ambitious builders shipping real, impactful AI and robotics projects with confidence.

[ 0x4 ] // EVENT DAY

Pitch Day schedule

August 6, 2026 · Upstart · Tentative — subject to change

9:00 – 9:30 AM
Registration

Teams check in, get set up, and grab a spot.

9:30 AM
Event Start

Kickoff, then teams pitch live to the judges.

3:00 PM
Awards Ceremony

Winners announced across all three age groups.

Networking, robot exploration, and lunch provided.
[ 0x4.1 ] // KEY DATES

The road to Pitch Day

01July 31, 2026
Registration & Submissions Close

Final day to register your team and submit your project.

02August 1, 2026
Top 10 Teams Selected

The top 10 teams are chosen to advance to Pitch Day.

03August 6, 2026
Pitch Day

Selected teams present their pitch live to the judges.

[ 0x5 ] // JUDGING RUBRIC

How teams score

Problem Significance25%
Research & Understanding15%
Creativity & Innovation20%
Potential Impact20%
Feasibility10%
Presentation Quality10%
[ 0x6 ] // PRIZES & PERKS

Everybody wins something

Cool Swag

Branded gear for every single participant.

Snacks & Drinks

Fuel provided throughout the whole day.

Prizes

Plus participation certificates for all.

9 Team Prizes

Awarded across all three age groups.

[ 0x7 ] // REGISTRATION

Lock in your spot

100% FREE TO ENTER — NO REGISTRATION FEE
1Register your team on Luma.
2Choose your track and build your project.
3Submit your project by July 31.
4Top 10 teams are selected to pitch live on August 6.
[ 0x8 ] // CODE OF CONDUCT

Code of conduct

The Oregon AIR Challenge is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring environment for all participants, volunteers, judges, mentors, and guests.

By participating, you agree to:

Be respectful. Treat everyone with kindness, courtesy, and professionalism.
Be inclusive. Welcome diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives.
Be honest. Present your own work and give appropriate credit to others and to any AI tools or resources used.
Be supportive. Encourage fellow participants and celebrate learning, creativity, and collaboration.
Be safe. Follow all event rules and instructions, and use equipment responsibly.
Be professional. Harassment, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
Respect the venue. Help keep the event space clean and treat facilities and equipment with care.

Core Defender AI reserves the right to remove any participant or attendee whose behavior negatively impacts the safety, experience, or well-being of others.

Our goal is simple: create an event where students can learn, innovate, build confidence, and have fun while exploring the future of AI and robotics together.