Virginia, USA-based software developer Intellibus will launch an island-wide competition for young Jamaican tech enthusiasts on Tuesday, July 29, at the AC Hotel, Kingston, beginning at 10 am.

Dubbed Crack the Code: Road to Hackathon, the company said the initiative is more than a coding competition. Rather, it is a structured pipeline for youth mentorship, skills training, and direct job opportunities in the digital economy.

According to the organisers, “As Jamaica accelerates its push toward becoming a truly digital-first society, Intellibus is launching an ambitious national initiative aimed at unlocking more of the island’s tech talent.”

The initiative comes on the heels of the largest hackathon ever staged in the English-speaking Caribbean, hosted by Intellibus earlier this year at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston. Over 300 young tech enthusiasts participated in the event, vying for millions in cash, prizes, and job opportunities.

Building on that momentum, Crack the Code expands the opportunity island-wide, ensuring young people from all 14 parishes have a chance to take part in Jamaica’s growing digital revolution.

Speaking on the initiative, Founder and CEO of Intellibus Ed Watal noted, “Jamaica’s digital future depends on homegrown talent. Crack the Code is about finding those young Jamaicans with raw potential—young people who might otherwise be overlooked—and giving them not just exposure, but real pathways to employment and entrepreneurship in the digital economy.”

For intellibus, Crack the Code represents a deliberate investment in the future of Jamaica’s digital economy.

Over the next few months, the programme will enlist and engage hundreds of young people by offering localised, community-driven competitions that feed into a national showdown. Along the way, participants will gain hands-on experience solving real-world challenges while receiving mentorship and training from both local and international tech experts.

The Intellibus team is optimistic that the competition will inspire widespread engagement across the island, with hundreds of young participants actively involved in the pre-event series. Every participant will be onboarded through the Intellibus Screen app and complete the GǪ (Genius Ǫuotient) tests —a standardised mechanism designed to assess skills, job potential and core digital capabilities of the individual.

From each parish, 60 to 70 of the most promising minds will be selected to compete nationally, ultimately bringing together over 840 bright young Jamaicans on National Hackathon Day, October 19-20th at AC Hotel, Kingston.

More than a competition

Beyond competitions, Crack the Code will directly link participants to jobs and internship opportunities within Jamaica’s growing tech industry. By integrating skills development with real-world career pathways, the initiative aligns squarely with national priorities for workforce development and digital transformation under Vision 2030, Jamaica’s national development plan.

At the official media launch event, Intellibus will reveal the full campaign calendar, highlight strategic partners, and feature insights from key industry leaders. The invitation to attend is open to those who want to learn how Crack the Code is creating both immediate impact and long-term opportunity for Jamaica’s digital economy.