The challenge

Bring your product idea to life and win up to $2,500

Just upload a STEP file, iterate with the new multi-part assembly engine, and you're eligible for a prize at competition close on 28 May. Must use launch.manufact.au

I don't have an account yet Visit the new Manufact app →

Prize categories

Four prizes. Four steps to enter.

Iterate, don't perfect. The point is to take a part through real revisions, not to ship something polished on day one.

Showcase prize

Best manufacturable design

A$1,000 cash

plus your design manufactured

Eligibility

1. Create a Project
2. Upload a .STEP file
3. Review DFM insights; and
4. Iterate at least once

Judging

We read every submission ourselves. What we care about most is how thoughtfully you iterated, and how clearly you tell the story of getting from your first design to your final one.

A$300 cash

Most-iterated design

Most revisions on a single part across the window, with measurable DFM-score improvement from first to final upload.

Auto-judged from product analytics. No separate submission.

A$300 cash

Best assembly

A submitted assembly with at least three parts, mixing custom and off-shelf components.

Judged manually on plausibility and complexity.

A$200 voucher

Random draw

Anyone who uses Manufact on a part from their own work during the challenge, coursework, a side-project, or a prototype, all count.

Engineering team confirms real-part criterion at close before drawing.

Enter the challenge

Name and email. That's it.

Why we're running this challenge

We've launched a new version with multi-part assembly support, plus a new engine for complex products.

You may already use Manufact (by AI-NC) for coursework. This month we're launching a new version with the same DFM core, but with some major additions:

Multi-part assembly support. Analyse complete assemblies, not just individual parts.
New enterprise-grade engine. Built for larger, more complex products.

We want one cohort outside our enterprise customers to test the platform and use it on some real parts, so, we're inviting you!

The new platform lives at launch.manufact.au. It is a separate site from the older app.manufact.au you may have used during coursework. The challenge runs on launch only. Same email, fresh password on first sign-in.

The point is to get a part from a first draft to something that could plausibly be manufactured. Document the iteration as you go - this could make a perfect entry to your professional portfolio of work.

Timeline

The challenge is now open. Winners chosen on 29 May 2026.

Fri 8 MayChallenge opens. Sign up, sign in to launch.manufact.au, and start designing.
Fri 15 MayMid-point check-in. We email examples of strong early submissions.
Thu 28 MaySubmissions close 23:59 AEST. Last chance to upload your final designs.
Fri 29 MayWinners chosen by the AI-NC team.
By Fri 5 JunWinners notified by email and announced on this page.

FAQ

Common questions.

Can I use a project or design I have already started?: Yes, as long as some iteration (analyses, DFM feedback, revisions) is captured in Manufact during the challenge window.
What if I just want to try Manufact, not enter the challenge?: Sign up anyway. Completing one analysis on a real part enters you into the random draw automatically.
How is the most-iterated prize judged?: Auto-judged from analytics: most revisions on a single part, with measurable DFM-score improvement first to final. We sanity-check the top result manually before announcing.
Who judges the Showcase prize?: The AI-NC team (Keaton and Max). Rubric: 40% iteration quality, 30% design complexity, 20% 'is it manufacturable?'. 100% 'reason to remember the name'.
What happens to my CAD files?: Files you upload to Manufact stay yours. We use anonymised excerpts for analytics and, with your consent may seek to highlight your work for marketing. We do not share, sell, or train on your work. No cheeky AI shenanigans.
I already have a Manufact account at app.manufact.au. Can I use that?: No. The challenge runs on our new platform at launch.manufact.au, which is a separate site. Sign in at launch.manufact.au with the same email and set a new password (if prompted). Your old app.manufact.au login will not enroll you in the challenge.
What do I have to do to be enrolled?: Two things. (1) Register if you don't have a previous account: submit the form at the top of this page OR email keaton@ai-nc.com. (2) Sign in at launch.manufact.au (not app.manufact.au) and run at least one analysis. Without step 1 you are not entered, even if you use the product.
When does the invitation email arrive for new users?: Within minutes. Check spam if not. Email keaton@ai-nc.com if it does not appear within 15 minutes.
Who manufactures the Showcase winner's design?: A third-party manufacturer (we'll try and get it manufactured with a local partner, otherwise we may engage a third party contract partner like PCBWay, JLCPCB), capped at an A$1,500 budget - so don't go designing a 15 meter long aircraft wing for us to make it.. See terms clause 4.

I'm Ready

Three weeks. A$1,000 cash plus your design manufactured.

launch.manufact.au (not app.manufact.au).

Prefer email? Send your name to keaton@ai-nc.com to register.

Questions: contact keaton@ai-nc.com. See the competition terms for full rules.