Get Started in 3 Steps
This guide will take you from zero to your first project on Buildstory in under 10 minutes.Create Your Account
Sign Up
Head to buildstory.com/sign-up to create your account.You’ll start by choosing a unique username—this is how you’ll appear on Buildstory:- 3-30 characters: letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores
- Your profile URL will be
buildstory.com/@username - Real-time validation checks availability as you type
Authentication Options
Once you’ve claimed your username, you can sign up using:- Email and password (minimum 8 characters)
- Google OAuth (one-click sign-up)
- GitHub OAuth (one-click sign-up)
Complete Your Profile
Hackathon Registration
After signing up, you’ll be guided through a multi-step onboarding flow for Hackathon 00:1. Identity
- Confirm or update your username
- Set your display name
2. Experience Level
Choose from:- Beginner — First few projects
- Intermediate — Comfortable with code
- Advanced — Experienced builder
- Expert — Professional or extensive portfolio
3. Team Preference
Let others know:- Solo — Building independently
- Team — Open to collaborating
- Either — Flexible approach
4. Commitment Level
- Part-time (~5-10 hours/week)
- Full-time (20+ hours/week)
- Just exploring (casual participation)
This information helps match you with potential collaborators and sets community expectations.
Create Your First Project
Project Setup
The onboarding flow continues into project creation:Basic Information
- Project name — What you’re building
- Custom slug (optional) — Creates a clean URL like
buildstory.com/projects/my-ai-app - Description — What your project does (supports markdown)
Starting Point
Choose your approach:- From scratch — Starting fresh
- Existing project — Bringing something you’ve already started
- Template/Boilerplate — Building on an existing foundation
- Tutorial/Course — Following guided learning
Project Goal
A short statement about what you’re trying to achieve.GitHub Integration (Optional)
Link your GitHub repository to enable:- Automatic build logs via webhooks
- Commit activity tracking
- Verified development proof
Launch Your Project
Once you complete the flow, you’ll see a celebration screen. Your project is now live on Buildstory!You can:- Edit your project anytime from your dashboard
- Add team members by sending invites
- Share your project URL with the community
- Update your live URL when you deploy
What’s Next?
Explore Your Dashboard
Your dashboard at/dashboard shows:
- Hackathon countdown and event status
- Your project card with quick edit access
- Community stats (signups, teams, countries, projects)
- Live activity feed showing recent community activity
- Discord integration to connect with other builders
Join the Discord
The Buildstory Discord is where the community lives:- Find teammates for your project
- Get help when you’re stuck
- Share progress and celebrate wins
- Connect with mentors and other builders
Invite Team Members
Building with others? You can invite team members to your project:- Go to your project page
- Click “Invite Team Member”
- Search by username or generate a shareable invite link
- Team members can accept and join your project
Update Your Profile
Visit/settings to customize:
- Display name and username
- Bio and social links (GitHub, Twitter, website)
- Country and region (shows on the community map)
- Experience level
- Privacy settings (team invite preferences)
Tips for Success
Build in Public
Share your progress regularly. The community loves seeing the journey, not just the final result.
Connect Early
Don’t wait to join Discord and introduce yourself. The best collaborations happen early.
Ship Something
It’s better to ship something small than to build the perfect thing that never launches.
Ask for Help
The community is here to help. Stuck on something? Ask in Discord—someone has probably been there.
Need Help?
If you run into issues:- Check the Authentication Guide for sign-in/sign-up help
- Visit Discord for community support
- Browse other builders’ profiles for inspiration
Remember: Buildstory is about the journey, not perfection. Start building, share your process, and join the community.