makeathon.
april 25, 2026 · university of southern california
TIME REMAINING
Sandbox is USC's
first AI-native
builder community.
We run on a cohort model. Each semester, a selected group of students joins the program — any major, any skill level — and spends the semester building. You apply, get accepted, and become a member for that cohort. Then you build. AI tools have made it possible for anyone to go from idea to something real, and we lean into that fully.
member toolkit
every member gets real tools.
Thousands of dollars in API credits, pro licenses, and premium access — distributed to every member of the cohort on day one.
mentorship
learn from people who've done it.
Every cohort gets direct access to founders, operators, and engineers building real companies right now.
1-on-1 Office Hours
Weekly sessions with mentors from top startups and tech companies. Bring your build, get real feedback.
Founder Fireside Chats
Intimate, off-the-record conversations with founders who've raised, shipped, and scaled.
Technical Deep Dives
Engineers from companies like Anthropic, Vercel, and Supabase walk through how they build — live.
this is where things get built.
Build Nights
The whole crew, huddled up, laptops out, shipping together until it's done. Music on, snacks out, energy unmatched. This is where the best stuff gets made.
every week
Weekly Standups
Quick, high-energy check-ins. What you shipped, what's blocking you, what's next. No fluff, just momentum.
weeklyMini Sprints
Two weeks. One idea. Ship an MVP or kill it. The fastest way to learn what works and what doesn't.
bi-weeklyAI Workshops
Hands-on sessions with the tools that actually matter. Cursor, Claude, v0. Walk in curious, walk out dangerous.
monthlyGuest Speakers
Founders and operators who've been in the trenches. No rehearsed talks. Raw stories, real advice, direct access.
monthlyDemo Days
The main event. Stand up, show what you built, own the room. If it works, it ships. If it ships, it counts.
end of semesterNetworking Events
Mixers with founders, VCs, and other builders in LA. The people you meet here become your co-founders, first hires, and biggest supporters.
monthlyinvest in what's next.
Your product in the hands of USC's best builders. Limited availability — subject to approval.
- API credits or licenses distributed to all members
- logo on website, materials, and event slides
- product introduced at member onboarding
- mentioned at workshops and events
- member usage data shared back with you each semester
Your logo across every surface we own — website, event programs, flyers, and all printed materials we put out.
- everything in tool partner
- logo on website
- logo on event programs and printed materials
Fund the cohort. Co-host events, send speakers, and access builders who ship real products.
- everything in brand
- co-host one event per semester (you pick the format)
- send a speaker or recruiter to the cohort
- featured sponsor slot at demo day
- access to member talent pool and resumes
- early access to demo day project submissions
- featured in member weekly digest
- branded callout posts after each co-hosted event
The full partnership. A custom event each semester, naming rights, exclusive recruiting, and a seat at the table.
- everything in community
- we host one fully custom event per semester (hackathon, workshop, etc.)
- naming rights on a sandbox program
- exclusive recruiting sessions with top members
- logo on all merch and printed materials
- priority demo day placement and intro slot
- advisory input on programming and cohort direction
- direct access to member contact directory
- end-of-semester engagement report
- first right of refusal for next semester
- quarterly strategy call with sandbox leadership
First cohort.
Fall 2026.
Sandbox's founding cohort starts this fall. If you've been waiting for the right moment to build something — this is it. We're selecting a small group of USC students who are serious about shipping real products.
join the waitlist
Applications open summer 2026. We'll reach out when it's time.