AI is revolutionizing various tasks, including assignments, homework, coding, and even the process of launching a startup. Perplexity, an AI startup, is showcasing its confidence in its AI agent, Perplexity Computer, by offering a million-dollar investment (equivalent to over Rs 9 crore) to individuals who successfully create a company using their platform.
Perplexity recently introduced the “Billion Dollar Build” competition, challenging participants to leverage Perplexity Computer to establish a company with the potential to reach a valuation of $1 billion. This competition is exclusively available to Perplexity users.
The core concept of the Billion Dollar Build competition involves utilizing Perplexity Computer as the primary tool to design, validate, and construct a company with a viable path to achieving a $1 billion valuation. Perplexity Computer functions as a multi-agent AI platform capable of executing various tasks autonomously by utilizing AI models from Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google, as required.
Participants have a limited timeframe of 8 weeks to complete the entire process, from product development to user acquisition, as outlined on the official Perplexity website. The website suggests potential startup ideas such as personal relocation services or a localization platform for applications catering to different regions.
At the conclusion of the 8-week period, Perplexity will select up to 3 winners who will receive $1 million in seed funding from the Perplexity Fund, along with up to $1 million in Perplexity Computer credits to support the growth and expansion of their businesses.
Notably, there have been instances where individuals have utilized AI tools to create billion-dollar companies in the past. For instance, entrepreneur Matthew Gallagher successfully established Medvi, a telehealth company with over $2 billion in revenue, using AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT.
To participate in the Perplexity contest, interested individuals must register from April 14, 2026, onwards, with an active Perplexity Max or Pro subscription as of April 13. Submission requirements include a product package comprising a video, application, and traction data (e.g., user metrics, revenue details) by June 2, 2026.
The top ten finalists will present their products live on June 9, delivering a five-minute pitch followed by a question-and-answer session with the judging panel. Winners will be announced on June 10, after which investment discussions will commence. Participation is open to US residents aged 18 and above, either individually or in teams of two.