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A two-week builder sprint designed by and hosted at the Builders Club. May 11–23, 2026. Ends the day before Toronto Tech Week.
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Apply here: https://forms.gle/8b47XYw9nRgTtq578
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The Akatos Arena is a two-week builder sprint for people who want to move faster and make something real. Six evening sessions, open weekends for co-working, and a Demo Day on Saturday May 23.
50 builders come together with an idea, a half-built prototype, or a product that's stalled. They leave with something tangible, actionable feedback, and a network of people who are building alongside them.
Most talented people don't lack ideas or ability — they lack urgency. The Arena creates the conditions that fix this: a room full of peers, public accountability, mentors who ask uncomfortable questions, and a two-week clock that forces decisions.
| Dates | May 11–23, 2026 |
| Sessions | Monday, Wednesday, Friday evenings — 6 sessions total |
| Session length | ~2.5 hours per evening |
| Venue | Builders Club, Waterloo |
| Weekends | Open co-working — no programming, self-directed |
| Demo Day | Saturday May 23 — morning prep, afternoon demos + awards + reception |
| Participants | 50–100 builders |
| Cost | $100 refundable deposit — fully refunded if you ship and demo |
| # | Date | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon May 11 | Finding problems worth solving |
| 2 | Wed May 13 | Shipping fast |
| 3 | Fri May 15 | Cold outreach that gets replies |
| 4 | Mon May 18 | Pricing |
| 5 | Wed May 20 | Getting unstuck |
| 6 | Sat May 23 | Demo Day |
Each session: standup → 20–30 min talk → open build time.
Two kinds of builders show up. Both are welcome.
First-time shippers. You have an idea, a half-built project, or nothing at all. The sprint is about crossing the basic milestones for the first time: pick a problem, build something, put it in front of a user, ask someone to pay for it.
Builders getting unstuck. You already have something in progress — a product with some users, or a project that hasn't broken through. The sprint is about finding revenue, growing an audience, and building momentum.