Zencoder AI Developer Program

A three-week program to master AI-assisted coding and ship something real.

Most developers are barely scratching the surface of what AI coding tools can do. Spend one week learning how to use AI properly, then two weeks building with it. Walk away with new skills, a shipped project, and a shot at prizes.

3 Weeks

One week of workshops, two weeks of building

$500 in Prizes

Plans and discounts for top finishers

Rolling Admissions

Applications close April 10, 2026

Apply Now — Closes April 10

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Who Should Apply?

Curious Developers

You’ve heard about AI coding tools but aren’t sure where to start. No prior AI coding experience required — that’s what Week 1 is for.

Indie Hackers

Building dev tools or productivity apps and want AI-native workflows baked in from the start.

Professional Developers

Looking to adopt AI-native workflows and bring new practices back to your team.

Open Source Contributors

Wanting to bring AI into your existing projects and communities.

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Program Structure

Week 1 — Learn

Four workshops grounded in what’s actually changing in software development right now. No theory for theory’s sake — every session is directly applicable to the build sprint ahead.

1. Think Like a Director, Not a Typist

   In 2026, the best developers define problems precisely and orchestrate AI output rather than writing every line. Learn how to spec, prompt, use multi-repo search, and steer Zencoder to produce code you’d actually ship.

2. Going Agentic: Parallel Agents, Blast Mode & MCPs

   Stop working sequentially. Learn how to run parallel agents on independent tasks simultaneously using Zencoder’s Blast Mode, connect external tools and services via MCPs, and review multi-agent output with ZenFlow’s AI review agent so nothing ships without a second set of eyes.

3. Custom Workflows & Scheduled Automation

   Manual triggers are a bottleneck. Learn how to build custom workflows in ZenFlow that codify your team’s best practices, and set up scheduled automation so routine tasks (refactoring, test generation, dependency checks) run without you ever having to ask.

4. AI-Assisted Debugging at Scale

   AI tools now understand entire codebases, not just single files. Learn how to use Zencoder to trace bugs across complex multi-repo projects, interpret agent suggestions, and know when to trust (or override) them — because speed without judgment is dangerous.

Weeks 2–3 — Build

Apply what you’ve learned and ship a real project. Solo or small teams (up to 3 people).

Build Something Real

A tool, extension, workflow, or open source contribution powered by Zencoder. The goal is to ship — not to prototype.

Daily Office Hours

Async office hours via Discord every day of the sprint. Get unblocked fast.

Mid-Sprint Check-In

Individual check-in with the Zencoder team at the halfway point to course-correct before the deadline.

Peer Community

A dedicated channel for ad-hoc help, collaboration, and feedback from other participants.

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Prizes

🥇 First Place

Top prize from the pool

🥈 Second Place

Runner-up prize from the pool

🥉 Third Place

Third place prize from the pool

Total prize pool: $500 in Zencoder plans and discounts — awarded after Finalist Demo Day on May 4, 2026.

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Judging Criteria

Impact

Does it solve a real developer pain point?

AI Integration

How effectively is Zencoder used in the project?

Polish

Is it usable, documented, and shareable?

Originality

Does it bring a fresh idea to AI-assisted development?

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Timeline

Milestone	Date
Participant Selection (Rolling)	Through April 10, 2026
Program Kickoff	April 13, 2026
Workshop Week	April 13–17, 2026
Build Sprint Begins	April 18, 2026
Midpoint Check-In	April 22, 2026
Project Submission Deadline	May 1, 2026
Community Voting Window	May 1–3, 2026
Finalist Demo Day & Winner Announcement	May 4, 2026

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Apply Now

Participants are selected on a rolling basis. Admissions close April 10, 2026. Apply early to secure your spot.

Apply to the Program

Join Our Discord Community

Questions? Reach us on Discord or at [e-mail].