A major tech event called “Buildathon” in Dallas failed, drawing criticism for event organizer Ravi Raj Reddy, who said someone had cut off his Wi-Fi connection.
A major tech event in Dallas, billed as a groundbreaking hackathon, became the subject of major controversy as participants took to social media claiming there was no Wi-Fi at what was supposed to be a 32-hour AI implementation event.
They said the event was so mismanaged that it had to be stopped midway and organizers said the event would continue from home. But eventually, the event was canceled and following a major controversy as participants paid for executive tickets, organizers said there would be a full refund and it was not a scam.AI Buildathom is promised as an event that will bring together 1000+ developers, engineers, founders, recruiters and AI companies to build security-ready applications. Unlike a traditional hackathon, he said he will do away with collecting resumes, presentations, demos and so on.
Ravi Raj Reddy
One of the organizers and co-founder of Buildathon said that some people among the participants kept disconnecting and connecting the Wi-Fi network, paralyzing the event. Organizers also said they did not have community support. “Don’t call it a scam. You will get the full money. The event was organized in good faith,” Reddy said in a video.One person narrated the ordeal which included driving 4 hours, hotel fare etc. to attend the Buildathon. “Hundreds of students and professionals took time off work, traveled long distances, booked hotels, and paid large sums to attend. “I personally drove 4 hours, slept only 2 hours, and paid $300 for a VIP ticket based on opportunities and recruiter connections promoted prior to the event,” the post added. “We were asked to come downstairs to announce and were informed that the event was over,” the post added.