In December 2024, the Avalanche Foundation launched the infraBUIDL(AI) Program, an initiative designed to accelerate innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralized infrastructure. With up to $15 million in direct funding and retroactive grants, the program supports builders pushing the boundaries of AI on Avalanche.

Through a strategic partnership with Aethir and the Avalanche Foundation, successful grantees also gain fast-tracked access to Aethir’s $100 million Ecosystem Fund, ensuring they have the computing power needed to bring their AI projects to life. Early recipients of the infraBUIDL(AI) program include Cookie.fun, Lightening Forge Games, and Bitte, each contributing to AI-driven advancements on Avalanche.

Applications for infraBUIDL(AI) are evaluated by a dedicated committee of experts from leading AI and blockchain organizations. These industry leaders provide critical insights, helping select projects that align with the program’s vision. The committee features representatives from key AI companies partnering with the Avalanche Foundation, including Aethir, Kite AI, and Ava Labs.

Meet the Committee Members

Inline image from: The Avalanche Foundation Announces the infraBUIDL(AI) Program Committee

Chi Zhang (Co-Founder & CEO, Kite AI)

Chi Zhang (@ChiZhangData) is the co-founder and CEO of Kite AI, a purpose-built decentralized infrastructure for AI that fosters fair and transparent collaboration across data, models, and agents through Proof of AI. With an extensive background in AI, big data, and product management, she has led data engineering product development at Databricks and was a founding AI leader at dotData. She holds a Ph.D. in ML/AI (Statistics) and an M.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley.

Arpit Sharma (Head of Ecosystem, Aethir)

Arpit Sharma (@Arp_it1) is a technology leader with expertise in Web3 ecosystem growth and strategic partnerships. As Head of Ecosystem at Aethir, he focuses on expanding global partnerships and driving decentralized compute adoption. Previously, he served as Managing Director at NEAR Foundation and VP of Global Enterprises at Polygon, contributing to the adoption of blockchain solutions across various industries.

Sarp Tomruk (Senior Engineer, Ava Labs) 

Sarp Tomruk (@satatocom) is a key contributor to decentralized infrastructure development at Ava Labs. He has played a pivotal role in building AiFRED, the AI-powered agent supporting the infraBUIDL(AI) program. In addition to serving on the program’s review committee, Sarp is also the founder of Markr.io, one of the earliest Avalanche-native tools, showcasing his deep commitment to the ecosystem. His expertise continues to shape the AI and blockchain intersection on Avalanche.

Justin Fiddes (Senior Ecosystem Growth, Ava Labs)

Justin Fiddes (@justinfiddes) specializes in Ecosystem Growth at Ava Labs, focusing on AI, DePIN, and infrastructure. With three years at Ava Labs, he has played a key role in onboarding enterprises, institutions, and governments onto Avalanche. In his role, Justin works closely with both early-stage and established builders, helping them navigate the process of deploying on Avalanche. His experience supporting builders will be invaluable in guiding infraBUIDL(AI) projects, ensuring they have the resources and insights needed to succeed.

Daniel Ortiz (Program Manager, Avalanche Foundation) 

Daniel Ortiz (@Dorlanz0x) leads the infraBUIDL(AI) and infraBUIDL() programs, focusing on driving innovation and growth within the Avalanche ecosystem. With a deep understanding of Avalanche’s infrastructure and a keen interest in AI, Daniel plays a key role in supporting emerging technologies. Prior to his current position, he worked at Hubble Exchange, gaining hands-on experience in DeFi, trading infrastructure, and the technical architecture of Avalanche L1.

AiFRED (AI Powered Committee Member, Avalanche Foundation) 

AiFRED (@aifred_agent)is an AI-powered agent that aids in evaluating project proposals. He reviews pitch materials, generates insightful questions, and provides detailed analysis to support a comprehensive review process. Engage with AiFRED on X (formerly Twitter) to ask questions about the program and learn more about his role.

Apply 

For further information on the infraBUIDL(AI) Program, including eligibility criteria and application requirements, visit the Forum. 

All applications must be submitted through the following FORM.

About Avalanche Blockchain Network

Avalanche is a high-performance blockchain platform designed for builders who need to scale. Engineered with a revolutionary three-part Layer 1 (L1) architecture, Avalanche is anchored by its Avalanche Consensus Mechanism, ensuring near-instant finality for transactions. The platform also features an open-source Layer 0 (L0) framework, enabling the seamless creation of interoperable Layer 1 blockchains with high throughput on both public and private networks.

Supported by a global community of developers and validators, Avalanche offers a fast, low-cost environment for building the next generation of decentralized applications (dApps). With its unique blend of speed, flexibility, and scalability, Avalanche is the preferred choice for innovators pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology.

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About the Avalanche Foundation

The Avalanche Foundation is a non-profit entity that fosters the advancement and growth of the Avalanche platform for the world. The Foundation offers development programs for developers, entrepreneurs, and users to help turbocharge the advancement of the Avalanche ecosystem.

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