DEV Community

Cover image for Join the New Year, New You Portfolio Challenge: $3,000 in Prizes + Feedback from Google AI Team (For Winners and Runner Ups!)

Join the New Year, New You Portfolio Challenge: $3,000 in Prizes + Feedback from Google AI Team (For Winners and Runner Ups!)

Jess Lee on January 01, 2026

We're thrilled to kick off 2026 with our newest challenge presented by Google AI! Running through February 1, the "New Year, New You" Portfolio C...
Collapse
 
pascal_cescato_692b7a8a20 profile image
Pascal CESCATO

Awesome! This is the challenge I was waiting for 🙂
I jumped straight into architecture design and coding as soon as I read the post, and things are moving fast.
Now comes the hard part: writing the accompanying article… and that’s a whole different challenge 😄

Collapse
 
masonwright757 profile image
Mason Wright

This challenge sounds exciting and very helpful for developers. It is a great way to start the new year by building or updating a portfolio using Google AI tools. I like that it is open to both beginners and experienced developers. The prizes, feedback from the Google AI team, and badges are a big bonus. Thank you for sharing this opportunity. I am looking forward to seeing the portfolios everyone creates and may join the challenge myself.

Collapse
 
naveen_gaur profile image
naveen gaur

This challenge came at the perfect time 🚀 I’ve been planning to refresh my portfolio, and this is a great opportunity to rebuild with new ideas and tech. Excited to participate and share progress along the way. Looking forward to seeing how others approach their portfolio redesigns too 💻✨

Collapse
 
thecodingpantsula profile image
Simangaliso Vilakazi • Edited

Immediately jumped into build mode when I saw this. Thanks for putting it together! I have been meaning to refresh my portfolio for a while now.

I haven’t worked with Cloud Run before, so this should be a great excuse to learn it. Planning to submit tomorrow.

Collapse
 
selvin_sahn_51dcf3e51d45f profile image
Selvin Sahn • Edited

This is awesome! I just started working on my portfolio until I came across this, this morning.

Collapse
 
nftthat profile image
Nansel

LFG, see you all at submission and announcement.

Collapse
 
jankapunkt profile image
Jan Küster 🔥

Do you consider a public university a government institution?

Collapse
 
jess profile image
Jess Lee The DEV Team

Nope!

Collapse
 
jramone3 profile image
Jramone3

A reflection on Global Talent and Local Constraints

"Hi Jess and the DEV Team,

As a long-time member of this community and a developer deeply committed to building with AI (currently architecting the REMI-IA ecosystem), I am thrilled to see Google AI pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with Gemini 3 Flash and Cloud Run.

However, I feel compelled to share a respectful reflection regarding the eligibility restrictions. It is disheartening to see a list of countries, including my own (Venezuela), excluded from participating in the rewards of a challenge that celebrates innovation.

In the world of code, we are taught that logic and talent have no borders. When a 'Global Challenge' is launched, the exclusion of thousands of brilliant developers based on their geographic location feels like a setback for the spirit of open collaboration that defines DEV.

I understand these are often legal/OFAC constraints beyond the team's control, but it highlights a critical reality: the urgent need for Digital Sovereignty. At REMI-IA, we will continue to build, innovate, and contribute to the AI ecosystem, not for the prizes, but because we believe technology should be a bridge, not a wall.

I will follow the challenge closely and continue to prove that excellence knows no geography. Best of luck to all participants who can apply."

Una reflexión sobre el Talento Global y las Restricciones Locales

"Hola Jess y el equipo de DEV,

Como miembro veterano de esta comunidad y desarrollador profundamente comprometido con la construcción de IA (actualmente arquitectando el ecosistema REMI-IA), me emociona ver a Google AI ampliando los límites de lo posible con Gemini 3 Flash y Cloud Run.

Sin embargo, me siento obligado a compartir una reflexión respetuosa sobre las restricciones de elegibilidad. Es desalentador ver una lista de países, incluido el mío (Venezuela), excluidos de participar en las recompensas de un desafío que celebra la innovación.

En el mundo del código, se nos enseña que la lógica y el talento no tienen fronteras. Cuando se lanza un 'Desafío Global', la exclusión de miles de desarrolladores brillantes basada en su ubicación geográfica se siente como un retroceso para el espíritu de colaboración abierta que define a DEV.

Entiendo que a menudo se trata de restricciones legales/OFAC fuera del control del equipo, pero esto resalta una realidad crítica: la necesidad urgente de la Soberanía Digital. En REMI-IA, continuaremos construyendo, innovando y contribuyendo al ecosistema de IA, no por los premios, sino porque creemos que la tecnología debe ser un puente, no un muro.

Seguiré de cerca el desafío y continuaré demostrando que la excelencia no conoce de geografía. Mucha suerte a todos los participantes que puedan aplicar."

Collapse
 
halakabir234hub profile image
Hala Kabir

good to go love to participate.....

Collapse
 
kolkov profile image
Andrey Kolkov

Why is there such discrimination by regions?

Collapse
 
serhii_serdiuk_dev profile image
Serhii Serdiuk

Since you are asking this question, you will never understand it.

Collapse
 
itsuchur profile image
Dmitrii Efimov

Good luck to all participants!

Collapse
 
mjuice profile image
mjuice

Nice

Collapse
 
abdul_muspik_054eeb16aa7d profile image
Abdul Muspik

Am a student from a private university from india, am i eligible ?

Collapse
 
jess profile image
Jess Lee The DEV Team

Yes