AI startup Perplexity has rolled out an ambitious new competition aimed at founders who believe they can build the next unicorn using artificial intelligence.
The initiative, titled “Billion Dollar Build,” offers up to $1 million in seed funding to participants who use Perplexity Computer to create a startup with a clear path to a $1 billion valuation.
At the centre of the challenge is Perplexity Computer, a multi-agent AI system designed to execute tasks across different models, including those from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google. The platform is positioned as more than a productivity tool, it is meant to function as a core operating system for building a company from scratch.
Participants will have eight weeks to turn an idea into a working business. The expectation goes beyond ideation. Teams are required to build, launch and demonstrate early traction within this limited timeframe, including onboarding users or showing measurable growth.
The reward structure reflects that urgency. Perplexity will select up to three winners, each eligible for $1 million in funding along with up to $1 million in platform credits to help scale their ventures.
The competition follows a tightly defined timeline. Registrations open on April 14, 2026, with submissions due by June 2, 2026. Applicants must present a complete product package that includes a demo video, application details and traction metrics such as user growth or revenue signals. The top 10 finalists will pitch their startups live on June 9, with final winners announced a day later on June 10.
However, participation is restricted. The competition is open only to US residents aged 18 and above, with entries allowed either individually or in teams of two.
The move highlights how AI companies are increasingly positioning their tools at the centre of entrepreneurship. Instead of being used only for support tasks, AI platforms are now being framed as the backbone of building and scaling startups.
By structuring the challenge around speed, execution and measurable outcomes, Perplexity is effectively testing whether AI can compress the early stages of company creation, from idea to initial traction, into a matter of weeks.
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