Season 01 · Applications Open

Build SeasonBuild. Ship. Survive.

A paid build-in-public competition designed to discover the next generation of Neo builders. Monthly funding. Monthly eliminations. One winner.

X
Builders selected
X
Months of building
$X
Grand prize
Live Bracket
Season 01 progression
Month X
M1 · X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
M2 · X
X
X
X
X
X
X
M3 · X
X
X
X
Winner
Champion
X
$X
Advancing Eliminated
The problem

Why traditional builder programs fail

Hackathons

People build for prizes and disappear the moment the event ends.

Grants

Funding projects doesn't guarantee committed builders.

VC Model

Requires momentum that early ecosystems don't yet have.

"We don't invest in projects.
We invest in people."

The program

How Build Season works

Six steps from application to champion. No shortcuts. No theater.

  1. Step 01

    Apply and get selected

    Submit your idea, community, and track record. We pick X.

    1
  2. Step 02

    Receive monthly funding

    Get paid every month you remain in the competition.

    2
  3. Step 03

    Build in public

    Document your work weekly. Real progress, no theater.

    3
  4. Step 04

    Show progress every month

    Demo days with judges, partners, and the community.

    4
  5. Step 05

    Compete for survival

    Underperformers are eliminated each round.

    5
  6. Step 06

    Win the season

    The final builder takes the grand prize.

    6
Season structure

Survive longer. Earn more.

Monthly payouts compound as the field narrows. The winner takes home a grand prize on top of every monthly check.

Month 1
X builders
$X
each builder
Month 2
X builders
$X
each builder
Month 3
X builders
$X
each builder
Winner
$X
Grand prize
Foundation spotlight
Grant fast-track
Partner intros
Elimination bracket
X → X → X → X
Eliminations after each monthly demo day
Month 1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Month 2
X
X
X
X
X
X
Month 3
X
X
X
Winner
🏆
Selection

What we look for

Builders

People who can execute, ship, and iterate.

Communities

People already active in passionate communities.

Real Problems

Products solving existing pain points.

Long-Term Commitment

Builders who want to stay.

Example communities

Bring an audience, build for them

Build Season favors builders who already understand a community deeply.

Trading Card Games

TCG players and collectors.

Fantasy Sports

Daily and season leagues.

Collectors

Rare items, badges, memorabilia.

Gaming Communities

Guilds, clans, esports.

Group Buying

Co-ops and bulk purchasing.

Creator Communities

Audiences with creators they love.

Judging criteria

How builders are scored

Each month, judges score across four dimensions. Lowest scores go home.

X

Delivery

Shipped product, working features, real users.

X

Community Contribution

Helping others, sharing learnings.

X

Traction

Usage, retention, on-chain activity.

X

Build in Public

Weekly updates, transparent progress.

Benefits

What you get as a builder

Monthly Funding

Get paid to build, every month you stay in.

Exposure

Featured to investors, partners, and press.

Technical Support

Direct access to Neo engineers.

Mentorship

Operators, founders, and ecosystem leads.

Community

A cohort of serious builders, with you for life.

Future Neo Grants

Fast-track access after the season ends.

Outcomes for Neo

What a successful season produces

Real builders, real products, real on-chain activity. Compounding ecosystem growth.

X+
More Builders
X+
More dApps
X+
More Users
X+
More On-Chain Activity
Xx
More Community Growth
X%
More Ecosystem Visibility
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Ready to build?

Join the competition and prove you can ship.