Cape Girardeau to host AI-powered agtech startup competition

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Vibeathon Cape will bring an AI-powered startup competition focused on agriculture technology to Cape Girardeau later this month.

The five-day event, organized by Codefi and the ShowMe Network, is scheduled for May 18-22 and will challenge participants to build technology solutions for real-world agricultural problems using artificial intelligence tools.

Organizers said participants will be given three agriculture industry challenges with proven market demand and asked to create working software prototypes during the competition. The event is based on the concept of “vibe coding,” which allows users to build applications using natural language and AI-assisted development tools.

The competition includes mentorship sessions, office hours and final project demonstrations, with winners announced May 22. Organizers said a total of $19,500 in prize money will be awarded, including $5,000 prizes for top teams in each challenge category.

According to organizers, the event is open to both solo participants and teams, and no prior coding experience is required. Participants may compete in person in Cape Girardeau or virtually.

Registration for the event closes May 11. More information is available through the event website.