Announcing the APJ Databricks Smart Business Insights Challenge: Empowering Data-Driven Decision Making with AI and BI

At Databricks, we believe the future of business intelligence is powered by AI. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the Databricks Smart Business Insights Challenge. A new virtual challenge for the Asia-Pacific region that brings together data professionals and business leaders to tackle real-world problems using the AI/BI on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform.

What is the Smart Business Insights Challenge?

This is not your average event. It’s a collaborative competition where data analysts, BI professionals, data engineers, data scientists, and business leaders unlock powerful insights from real-world datasets using AI-powered business intelligence tools on Databricks.

With the latest AI and BI capabilities, it’s now easier than ever to go from data to insights, even for non-technical users. Whether you’re writing code or asking questions in natural language, this challenge is your chance to turn ideas into intelligent action.

Why Join

• Apply analytics to real-world business problems and discover how the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform can support you
• Whether you're a data expert or a business leader, this is your chance to explore cutting-edge BI tools, solve impactful challenges, and compete for exciting prizes.
• With expert-led onboarding, weekly office hours, and free training, you will gain hands-on experience with AI/BI capabilities.

What You’ll Gain

This is a great opportunity for data and business professionals to gain real-world expertise with AI-powered BI and data intelligence. Join a growing community of data practitioners and business innovators, collaborate cross-functionally, and showcase your work to an Asia Pacific audience.

Participants will get to leverage Databricks’ new AI/BI products (combining low-code dashboards and conversational analytics) to generate insights, build intuitive reports, and enable true self-service analytics for all users. They will also solve business challenges that reflect real-world scenarios, showcasing how AI and BI can tangibly improve operations, strategy, and customer outcomes.

The winners will earn up to USD19,000 in total prizes, including cash awards, Databricks training coupons, tickets to Data + AI Summit 2026 in San Francisco and more! Winners will have the chance to be featured in Databricks channels, win exciting prizes, and be celebrated as pioneers in the future of data intelligence.

How to Get Involved

Find out more about the challenge here on how to register, form your team, access datasets, and get started. Whether you’re technical or not, the Smart Business Insights Challenge is your chance to unleash the power of AI and BI to shape the future of business.

Save the Dates

• Challenge Launch: 7 April, 2025, 11AM SGT
• Enablement/Office Hours: 12 - 30 May 2025, 5PM SGT
• Submissions Due: 30 May 2025, 5PM SGT
• Judging period: 2 - 13 June 2025
• Winners announcement: Week of 23 June 2025

Let’s turn insight into impact together!