AI FOR ARCHITECTURE
Pitch Off
Pitch Your AI Idea.
Complete. Win. Transform Architecture.
MEET THE WINNER
Ruben Quesada
Sabana
Ruben Quesada is a former project architect at ZGF Architects and the recipient of the AIA’s John Wiebenson Award by AIA DC. He is currently pursuing his MBA at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, where he focuses on artificial intelligence and innovation strategy. Ruben is the co-founder and CEO of Sabana, an AI-powered platform that helps architects and engineers streamline product selection and specification workflows. Sabana was founded in 2024 with Saket Kulkarni and recently completed the Techstars AI Accelerator.
Watch Ruben Quesada's Pitch
Ruben Quesada
Sabana
The Al for Architecture Pitch Off is a global stage for Al-driven innovation in architecture. Five finalists will pitch their ideas to top industry leaders for a chance to win $5,000 USD at the live event on April 17, 2025.
Submissions Ended. See You April 17th!
submit by
APRIL 8th
What’s at Stake?
$5000 USD
grand prize
Present your idea to top investors
Get featured in cove's industry spotlight
Meet the Judges
Bradford J. Prestbo, FAIA
Principal, Director of Boston Office | Studio NYL
Sam Zolfagharian, Ph.D.
President | YegaTech
Shaun Abrahamson
Managing Partner | Third Sphere
Casey Rehm
Coordinator, MS Architectural Technology | SCI-Arc
Casey Rehm is a designer and algorithmic consultant based in Los Angeles, with over a decade of architectural experience across New York, Berlin, London, and LA. He holds an MSAAD from Columbia University and a B.Arch from Carnegie Mellon. Currently, he teaches graduate design studios and seminars on programming and robotics at SCI-Arc.
Patrick Chopson, AIA
CPO and Co-founder | cove
Patrick Chopson is the CPO and Co-Founder of cove, an AI-powered architectural services firm, where he leads product development and research. A licensed architect with a Master’s in High Performance Buildings from Georgia Tech, he has 20+ years of experience in architecture, research, and mechanical engineering. He co-founded Pattern r+d, has been featured in major publications, and co-authored Build Like It’s the End of the World (2024).
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PITCH
Submit a pitch deck demonstrating how Al can tackle architectural challenges or enhance workflows. Your idea can be:
- A concept for Al-driven design, sustainability, or construction processes.
- A prototype or proof-of-concept showcasing Al in action.
- An Al-powered workflow enhancement that improves efficiency or decision-making.
Your pitch should be clear, engaging, and forward- thinking-showing Al’s potential to reshape the industry.
Competition Rules
ORIGINAL WORK ONLY
– All submissions must be 100% original and created by the entrant/team. No plagiarism allowed.
NO CONFIDENTIAL DATA
– Submissions must not contain proprietary or sensitive information unless publicly shareable.
FINALISTS MUST PARTICIPATE
– Selected finalists must be available for both:
Virtual Pitch Recording
APRIL 11,14,15
Live Judging Event
APRIL 17
Submission Guidelines
PITCH DECK (Max 5 slides):
A structured visual summary of the idea.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1 page):
Outlines the problem, solution, AI application, and impact.
SUBMISSION FORMAT:
PDF only (deck & summary).
DEADLINE:
April 8, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET (no late submissions).
All files must be uploaded via our dedicated submission portal.
Who Can Enter?
Open to individuals or teams (max 5 members per team).
Must be at least 18 years old.
Open to participants worldwide, except where prohibited by U.S. regulations
The pitch must be original work and not previously commercialized.
Judging Criteria (100 Points Max)
INNOVATION & CREATIVITY
30 PTS
How novel and forward-
thinking is your Al solution?
FEASIBILITY & IMPLEMENTATION
25 PTS
Can this idea be realistically executed and scaled?
IMPACT ON ARCHITECTURE
25 PTS
Does it address a real challenge
and create meaningful value for architects?
PRESENTATION QUALITY
20 PTS
Is the pitch clear, compelling, and well-structured?
FAQs
Who is eligible to participate?
Anyone over the age of 18, working individually or in teams (max of 5 members). Participants can come from anywhere in the world, except those in countries restricted by U.S. sanctions.
Do I need a fully developed AI solution to participate?
No, submissions can range from conceptual ideas to prototypes and proof-of-concept solutions.
Can I participate if I already have a startup in the AI space?
Yes! However, the idea must not be fully commercialized.
Will I retain ownership of my idea?
Yes, all intellectual property rights remain with the participants.
How can I make my pitch stand out?
Be clear, concise, and demonstrate how your AI solution is innovative, feasible, and impactful for the architecture industry.
What happens if my team is selected as a finalist?
Finalists will record their pitch and Q&A with cove’s team between April 11-15, 2025, and must be available for the live event on April 17, 2025 at 1pm ET.
What if I have additional questions?
See the Full Terms and Conditions here and for any further inquiries, email competitions@cove.inc.
APRIL 17th
2025
1:00 PM
ET
VIRTUAL
registration required
Watch the Future of AI in Architecture Unfold
Register to Attend
Be part of the excitement! Watch five finalists pitch their AI-driven ideas in a live virtual event, judged by a panel of AI experts, venture capitalists, and architecture leaders.
Winner announced live!