World Builder Residency
Overview
The World Builder Residency at Edge Esmeralda brings together developers, creators, and entrepreneurs for a four-week program to build with World technology and Edge City’s community of pioneers. With World's expansion into the US market, this is a prime opportunity to develop applications that reach both World's 26 million+ digital users and hundreds of in-person participants at Edge Esmeralda.
Selected builders receive full ride or subsidized attendance to spend several weeks co-living and creating alongside established founders, builders and thinkers in Northern California. Your project benefits from exposure to the World ecosystem, plus real-time feedback from tech professionals who'll test your application in authentic settings - turning Edge Esmeralda into your live testing ground and launch platform.
Apply here!
Key Benefits
- Full ride or subsidized participation to Edge Esmeralda (May 24 - June 21, 2025)
- Co-living and building alongside hundreds of leading technologists
- Instant access to 26 million World App users
- $15,000 total prize pool for best projects
- In-person validation and feedback from tech leaders
- Special recognition for projects incorporating EdgeOS
- Access to World's integrated wallet and free transaction ecosystem
- Capitalise on the first mover advantage of World launching in the US
Who Should Apply
This residency is perfect for builders who:
- Want to create mini apps that reach millions of users instantly
- Can build with MiniKit and integrate MiniKit SDK commands
- Want to integrate World ID and/or deploy on World Chain
- Have existing projects ready to integrate with the World ecosystem
- Launched a mini app, looking for growth in a real-world setting
- Are high-agency and resourceful
- Are solving meaningful problems for local and global communities
- Have projects that could evolve into real startups
Buildathon Tracks and Prizes
Best Mini App Track ($12,000)
Projects that build and deploy a Mini App using MiniKit are eligible for:
- 1st Place: $5,000
- 2nd Place: $4,000
- 3rd Place: $3,000
Qualification Requirements:
- Build a Mini App with MiniKit
- Integrate MiniKit SDK Commands found in the Developer Docs
- Deploy contracts to World Chain (for on-chain activity)
- Non-gambling applications only
- Proof validation via web backend or smart contract (web backend or smart contract)
Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ0htHP6lb0
Pool Prize ($3,000)
This prize is for all projects that build within the World ecosystem:
- Make a good-faith effort to integrate World ID, build a Mini App, and/or build on World Chain
Judging Criteria
- Use Case: Meaningful problem-solving with WLD or World ID, particularly around in-person, local communities
- Feasibility/Monetization: Potential to evolve into a sustainable startup
- Integration Quality: End-to-end implementation on frontend and backend
- Creativity: Innovative solutions and novel use of World ID technology
Bonus Integration: EdgeOS
Projects incorporating EdgeOS - the Open Source Stack for Network Societies - will receive special recognition. EdgeOS provides critical infrastructure that can supercharge your World application distribution by being easily deployable in any Network Society running on EdgeOS.
About World
World (formerly Worldcoin) is building one of the largest identity and financial networks globally, with over 26 million active users who have integrated wallets. The World App enables users to securely and anonymously prove they are unique humans online with World ID, use digital assets, access Mini Apps, and claim Worldcoin tokens (where available).
The World ecosystem features World ID (a human verification system), an integrated wallet with free transactions on World Chain, and a growing marketplace of Mini Apps that developers can build for. With World's recent expansion into the US market, now is the perfect time to build applications that can reach millions of users worldwide.
World also recently launched in the US! See the announcement here.
About Edge City
Edge City convenes people working at the frontiers of tech, science, and society in popup villages across the globe. We are building a "society incubator" — an IRL lab of experimentation for new ideas, technology, culture, and institutions, all aimed at accelerating human flourishing.
Our popup villages last 1–2 months and gather leaders from fields like AI, biotech, crypto, hard tech, governance, philosophy, and beyond. They’re designed for deep connection and collaboration, creating the ideal environment for ambitious builders to focus, experiment, and prototype new ways of living and working.
We’ve had over 10,000 people participate across five gatherings. Over time, we will build a global network city that shares incubations and learning across the world.
About Edge Esmeralda
Edge Esmeralda is a month-long popup village designed to be the healthiest, most productive, and most inspiring month of your year. It takes place each summer in Northern California and brings together innovators from across tech, science, culture, and society.
Edge Esmeralda 2025 will be the second edition of the village and serves as a prototype for Esmeralda, a permanent new town being built just 15 minutes away. It’s a place to live, build, and experiment alongside thoughtful peers—where new projects, startups, organizations, and ideas take root.
Each week features focused tracks like decentralized AI, hard tech, biotech, governance, and more, alongside deep work infrastructure, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and opportunities for adventure and connection in the beautiful Sonoma countryside.
Important Links
- Apply Now: Application Form
- Edge Esmeralda: Website
- World Ecosystem: Developer Docs
- Learn about World MiniKit SDK: YouTube Tutorial
- EdgeOS Information: Info Page
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