OpenAI Build Week Challenge 

GPT-5.6 is here, and Codex—the same powerful coding agent—is now available in ChatGPT.OpenAI Build Week is a chance to explore what's possible with GPT-5.6 and Codex. Experiment with new ideas, connect with other builders, and submit a project for a chance to win prizes and recognition.

Submissions are due Tuesday, July 21 at 5:00 PM PT.

 

How to participate 

  1. Read the Official Rules. Review the challenge requirements, eligibility, and submission guidelines. 

  2. Install the Devpost Hackathons Plugin. Access the challenge details, rules, and submission flow directly from the ChatGPT desktop or mobile app. 

  3. Get set up with OpenAI. Sign up for an OpenAI account then request your free Codex credits on the Resources tab by Friday, July 17th at 12:00 PM PT.

  4. Explore the docs. Learn about GPT-5.6 and Codex with the available quickstart before you begin.

  5. Pick your track and build. Find the track that best fits your idea, then submit your project by  Tuesday, July 21 at 5:00 PM PT.

 

Meet the Devpost plugin 

The Devpost Hackathons plugin runs inside ChatGPT and includes everything you need to participate—from challenge requirements and rules to the submission flow. It can help you brainstorm ideas, plan your project, and prepare your submission without leaving Codex.

Requirements

What to build

Create a project using Codex with GPT 5.6. Whether it's an app, agent, website, game, workflow, or something entirely new, your project should fit into one of the following tracks: 

  • Apps for your life
    • Consumer apps for everyday life — from productivity and creativity to home, family, travel, health, and personal finance.
  • Work and productivity
    • Tools that make teams faster or more effective, from workflow automation and customer support to analytics, sales, and back-office operations.
  • Developer tools 
    • Tools for developers, including testing, DevOps, agentic workflows, and security.
  • Education
    • Projects that specifically push forward AI for education - either helping students, teachers, or educational organizations.

 

What to submit

  • A working project. Build something with Codex using GPT-5.6 that meets the challenge requirements. 

  • A category. Pick the category that fits best.

  • A project description. Tell us what you created and how it works. 

  • A demo video.  Upload a <3-minute public YouTube video showing your project working, audio covering how you used Codex AND GPT-5.6 

  • Provide a URL to your code repository for judging and testing. The repository must be either public (with relevant licensing) or private and shared with testing@devpost.com and build-week-event@openai.com.

    • Include a README with setup instructions, sample data (if needed), and clear guidance for running your project

    • Make sure to highlight where Codex accelerated your workflow, where key decisions were made and how GPT-5.6 and Codex were used. This is an important part of how judges evaluate technical implementation and quality of the idea.

  • /feedback Codex Session ID where the majority of the core functionality where you built your Project, get the /feedback session ID and input it into your submission form

  • If you're submitting a plugin or developer tool, also include installation instructions, supported platforms, and a way for judges to test your project without rebuilding it from scratch (such as a demo instance, sandbox, or test account)

 

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$100,000 in prizes
1st Place | Apps for Your Life
$15,000 in cash
1 winner

• $15,000 USD in cash
• Dev Day/Exchange passes up to 2 passes per team in coming year (Value: $650 each)*
• Promotion by OpenAI Developers
• Meet with the Codex Team
• Pro Account for 1 year

2nd Place | Apps for Your Life
$10,000 in cash
1 winner

• $10,000 USD in cash
• Promotion by OpenAI Developers
• Pro Account for 1 year

1st Place | Work & Productivity
$15,000 in cash
1 winner

• $15,000 USD in cash
• Dev Day/Exchange passes up to 2 passes per team in coming year (Value: $650 each)*
• Promotion by OpenAI Developers
• Meet with the Codex Team
• Pro Account for 1 year

2nd Place | Work & Productivity
$10,000 in cash
1 winner

• $10,000 USD in cash
• Promotion by OpenAI Developers
• Pro Account for 1 year

1st Place | Developer Tools
$15,000 in cash
1 winner

• $15,000 USD in cash
• Dev Day/Exchange passes up to 2 passes per team in coming year (Value: $650 each)*
• Promotion by OpenAI Developers
• Meet with the Codex Team
• Pro Account for 1 year

2nd Place | Developer Tools
$10,000 in cash
1 winner

• $10,000 USD in cash
• Promotion by OpenAI Developers
• Pro Account for 1 year

1st Place | Education
$15,000 in cash
1 winner

• $15,000 USD in cash
• Dev Day/Exchange passes up to 2 passes per team in coming year (Value: $650 each)*
• Promotion by OpenAI Developers
• Meet with the Codex Team
• Pro Account for 1 year

2nd Place | Education
$10,000 in cash
1 winner

• $10,000 USD in cash
• Promotion by OpenAI Developers
• Pro Account for 1 year

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Thibault Sottiaux

Thibault Sottiaux
Head of Product & Platform

Kath Korevec

Kath Korevec
Member of Product Staff

Tara Seshan

Tara Seshan
Member of Product Staff

Leah Belsky

Leah Belsky
VP of Education

Peter Steinberger

Peter Steinberger
Member of Technical Staff, Clawfather

Judging Criteria

  • Technological Implementation
    How thoroughly and skillfully does the project use Codex? Does the code reflect genuine effort and a working, non-trivial implementation?
  • Design
    Does the project deliver a working or runnable project that has a complete, coherent product experience — not just a technical proof of concept?
  • Potential Impact
    Does the project make a credible, specific case for solving a real problem for a real audience — and does the solution actually address that problem based on what's demonstrated?
  • Quality of the Idea
    How creative and novel is the concept and does the project differ from existing concepts?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Invite others to compete

Hackathon sponsors

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