FAQ

C4C Campus is a global AI innovation hub focused on building technology that drives meaningful impact. We teach developers to build AI tools for animal advocacy, climate action, and AI safety with ethics built in from day one. We offer a free self-paced bootcamp, global hackathons, and a full-time accelerator program.

C4C Campus is a joint venture between Open Paws and Electric Sheep, two organizations focused on using AI for positive impact in animal welfare, climate action, and AI safety.

Engineering compassion means building compassion INTO AI tools and technology from the start, not adding ethics as an afterthought. This applies at every layer of the stack - from model training to application design to deployment choices. We teach developers to build AI tools that recognize animal sentience, respect ecological boundaries, actively protect under pressure, and maintain ethical behavior even in adversarial situations.

Our physical base is in Bengaluru, India, inside The Yard coworking space in Indiranagar. Address: 3rd Floor, A wing No 1, Carlton Towers, HAL Old Airport Rd, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008. The bootcamp is fully remote and self-paced. The accelerator combines remote work with in-person sessions in Bengaluru. Hackathons run globally in cities like London, Berlin, Washington DC, Silicon Valley, and Mumbai.

Yes! We coordinate heavily on Discord. You must join our Discord server at least 1 week before any program starts. This is where we place you in teams for hackathons, share resources, and build community. Discord handle is required on all application forms.

No! The bootcamp is designed for people with no technical skills. We teach no-code/low-code AI tools and Google Colab. If you're curious about building compassionate AI and committed to one of our three domains (animal advocacy, climate action, or AI safety), you're qualified.

It's a self-paced 10-week course. New content is released weekly and you complete it in your own time. You'll need to commit to keeping up with the weekly content for the full 10 weeks.

The bootcamp is completely free.

You'll build 2-3 real tools using no-code/low-code AI. Examples: supply chain transparency platforms for animal products, greenwashing detection tools, legislative monitoring systems, or harm prevention monitoring for AI systems.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. After applying, you'll hear back within 2 weeks with cohort start dates and next steps.

All skill levels are welcome! Some hackathons (like DC's legal+tech event) pair non-technical domain experts with developers. Others welcome anyone curious about building AI tools. Check the specific event description for details.

Each hackathon has its own registration process. Join our Discord server to get notified about upcoming events worldwide, then apply through the event-specific form (usually Google Form or Luma page). You MUST join Discord at least 1 week before the event to be placed in teams.

We run hackathons globally in cities like London, Berlin, Washington DC, Silicon Valley, and Mumbai. Some events offer remote participation - check the specific event details.

Yes! All C4C hackathons are free to attend. Some provide meals and some offer prizes or potential accelerator invitations for top teams.

No. You can join solo and we'll match you with a team, or bring your own team. Teams are formed on Discord before the event, which is why joining at least 1 week early is required.

Developers who already have a working prototype or MVP and want support taking it to production. You should have technical experience, a clear vision for your tool, and commitment to one of our three domains (animal advocacy, climate action, AI safety, or hybrid).

The main accelerator is 12 weeks in-person at C4C Campus in Bengaluru. You'll work on taking your prototype to production with mentorship, deployment support, pitch preparation, and connections to organizations who need your tool.

Animal Rights Coding Camp (ARCC): There's also an optional 4-week pre-accelerator specifically for animal protection projects. Teams arrive with prototypes, pitch to investors in week 1, and successful teams graduate to the main accelerator.

We provide accommodation, meals, dedicated compute and development infrastructure at the Campus, technical mentorship from Open Paws & Electric Sheep, deployment support, pitch coaching, connections to organizations in your domain, and per-team stipends (INR 200,000 - 1,000,000).

Pre-Accelerator (ARCC - 4 weeks): For animal advocacy projects only. Teams must arrive with an existing prototype. Focused on pitch refinement, investor meetings, user testing with movement orgs, and assessment for graduation to the full accelerator.

Full Accelerator (12 weeks): Open to all tracks (animal advocacy, climate, AI safety, hybrid). More intensive technical development, complete lean startup curriculum, and culminates in pitch days with investors, NGOs, and government stakeholders.

Yes! Select "Not sure yet" on the application form. We'll help you figure out the best structure for your specific tool and impact goals during the program.

If you're traveling to Bengaluru from another country, you'll need to arrange your own visa/travel documents for India. We recommend applying for an e-Visa through the official Indian government portal. Please note that we cannot provide invitation letters or visa support documentation - you'll need to sort this yourself before the programme starts.

No! We welcome international applicants. The bootcamp is fully remote and self-paced. The accelerator includes in-person sessions in Bengaluru, so you'll need to be able to travel there for those portions. Hackathons run globally, so check specific event locations.

No specific age requirement, but you should be able to commit to the program schedule and work independently or in teams. Most participants are 18+.

No - you can focus on just one (animal advocacy, climate action, or AI safety) or work on hybrid projects that address multiple domains. What matters is genuine commitment to your chosen focus area.

For bootcamp: Response within 2 weeks. For accelerator: We review applications on a rolling basis and will schedule interviews with promising candidates. The full process typically takes 2-4 weeks. For hackathons: Usually faster, depends on the specific event.

You can reapply for future cohorts! We also encourage you to join our Discord community, attend hackathons, and build your skills. Many successful accelerator applicants started with the bootcamp or hackathons first.