The Sandbox and Animoca Brands Corporation Ltd (Unlisted (AU):AB1) have launched Creative Minds Jam #1, Hong Kong, a four-week competition offering US$10,000 in prizes for students, developers and creators building new experiences with agentic artificial intelligence.
Opening on July 28, 2026, the competition will challenge participants to develop creator-focused products using Minds by Animoca Brands, a persistent, always-on AI agent platform.
Winners will also be considered for the Minds Investment Programme, which has an aggregate allocation of up to US$10 million, subject to investment committee approval.
Targeting creator economy challenges
Creative Minds Jam #1 will operate under the theme “Build What Creators Need Next”, encouraging participants to explore how AI agents can improve content discoverability, audience engagement and workflow efficiency.
The competition is open to students, builders, developers and creators, with no previous AI experience required.
Participants may use any development tools, provided Minds agents form an integral part of their submissions.
The four-week program will conclude with an early September showcase, with entries assessed on creativity, technical execution, user experience and the innovative application of agentic AI.
Workshops and university support
Open Campus, a community-led decentralised autonomous organisation developing blockchain-based education infrastructure, will serve as the competition’s official community partner.
Participants will receive access to weekly workshops, mentoring sessions, open office hours and a dedicated community hub throughout the program.
The competition is also supported by the Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology, Hong Kong Design Institute, Index Academy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design and the Hong Kong Designers Association, alongside several industry partners.
An in-person launch workshop will be held at Animoca Brands’ Hong Kong headquarters on July 30, giving participants the opportunity to meet judges, mentors and other competitors.
Building the agentic web
Minds is designed to allow users to deploy and manage sovereign, always-on AI agents without operating their own servers or managing complex hardware and software infrastructure.
The Sandbox co-founder and ambassador Sébastien Borget said the competition would give creators the opportunity to solve practical industry challenges while exploring new AI tools.
“Creative Minds Jam #1 gives students and creators, regardless of their technical background, the chance to explore how agentic AI can transform digital experiences,” Borget said.
Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu said AI agents represented a shift from technically demanding tools towards adaptable digital collaborators.
“In the creator economy, that means helping more people turn ideas into content, experiences, and businesses with greater speed and flexibility,” Siu said.
Key dates and applications
Registration opens on July 28, followed by the Hong Kong kick-off event on July 30.
Submissions close on August 28, with winners to be announced at the showcase event in September.
Participants can pre-register through the Creative Minds page at https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/creativeminds/details.
About The Sandbox and Animoca Brands
The Sandbox is a blockchain-based virtual world platform that enables users and creators to develop, own and monetise digital experiences.
Animoca Brands is a Web3 and digital entertainment company developing blockchain-based games, platforms and intellectual property, with a focus on digital property rights and the emerging open metaverse.