‘Is this a scam?’: Major controversy erupts at Dallas Build Marathon, organizers accuse ‘vandalism’, promise full refunds
A major tech event in Dallas billed as a groundbreaking hackathon became the center of a major controversy after participants claimed on social media that there was no Wi-Fi during what was supposed to be a 32-hour artificial intelligence execution event. They said the event was mismanaged and had to be stopped midway, with organizers saying it would continue at home. But ultimately, the event was canceled and after a major dispute over attendees paying for administrative tickets, organizers said they would give full refunds and that it was not a scam.AI Buildathom promises to be an event that brings together more than 1,000 developers, engineers, founders, recruiters, and AI companies to build protection-ready applications. Unlike traditional hackathons, it said it will eliminate resume collection, pitch materials, demos and more.Ravi Raj ReddyOne of the organizers, one of the co-founders of Buildathon, said some participants were constantly plugging in and out of Wi-Fi, bringing the event to a standstill. Organizers also said they had received little support from the community. “Don’t call it a scam. You will be fully funded. This event is being organized with good intentions,” Reddy said in the video.One person recounted the experience of attending the Buildathon, which involved a 4-hour drive, hotel costs, and more. The person wrote on social media: “Hundreds of students and professionals took time off, traveled long distances, booked hotels, and paid huge fees to attend. I personally drove 4 hours, slept only 2 hours, and paid $300 for VIP tickets based on opportunities advertised before the event and recruiter connections.” The event was suddenly canceled after participants had already begun processing the problem statement. Despite issues with promo codes, cloud credits, and platform access, many players are actively building projects. Then he suddenly asked to go downstairs to inform him that the event was over. ” the post added.
