Every business or brand leader is being asked the same question now: what's your AI story?
AI is being woven into how organisations operate, and how visibly a brand acts on that is quickly becoming the difference between being seen as forward-thinking and merely keeping up. That perception matters more than ever, especially to a younger generation who looks for brands that innovate.
The AI Forward Festival 2027 is a unique opportunity for brands to claim that ground. It is a first-of-its-kind festival uniting industry, creators, and communities to explore how AI is transforming the way people work, create, and live. More importantly, it gives brands a real stage to demonstrate AI thought leadership through action.
Taking place over two days in April 2027, the AI Forward Festival is an experiential gathering with an agenda that caters to people from all walks of life, each with a different relationship to how AI shows up in their daily lives. From entrepreneurs and professionals to students, tech enthusiasts, and the wider public, over 5,000 attendees are expected across the two days.
Sounds interesting? Here’s how your brand can get involved.
AI Forward Festival 2027: Where AI Comes to Life
1. Bring Your Business Challenge to the Innovation Challenge
As a challenge track partner, you define the problem statement, engage directly with shortlisted teams from kickoff through to the live pitching showdown, and put your name behind one of six innovation tracks spanning Banking & FinTech, Health & Sciences, Energy, Digital & Tech, Education, and Transport & Travel.
This is a direct demonstration of your brand's commitment to driving AI adoption forward and empowering talent to build their skills. With a seat on the judging panel, you get genuine, earned brand prominence on stage, backed by an attractive cash prize pool that keeps teams pushing for their best work. With only one sponsor per track, six slots are available in total.
TL;DR: Come to us with your real business challenges and let the region's emerging AI innovators build a solution around it, then judge the results yourself. This opportunity is exclusive to just six brands.
2. Sponsor an Episode of the Genesis.exe Film Challenge
In partnership with Bubio and Viu, Genesis.exe is a bi-weekly AI filmmaking competition where emerging creators harness AI storytelling tools to bring sponsor-defined themes to life.
As a Brand Partner, you own one full episode, briefing the creator community with your theme, campaign intent, and brand assets for authentic, story-first product placement. What this means is that the narrative itself belongs to the creator, which promises a result that's interesting and unique for every brand.
Winning creators receive a cash prize and the opportunity to develop their concept into a 3 to 5-minute AI short film, giving your brief real creative stakes and drawing out the region's best talent to compete for it. Films then premiere live at AI Forward Festival, before streaming on Viu across Southeast Asia and appearing across SPH's platforms, extending your brand's story to audiences across the region. Only eight of these episode slots exist in total.
TL;DR: Partner with the creator community to bring your brand story to life through an AI filmmaking competition. Winning entries will be streamed on Viu across Southeast Asia and shared across SPH’s platforms. This opportunity is exclusive to just eight brands.
3. Power the Festival as a Networking or Technology Partner
For brands looking for something more conventional, the Official Networking Partner and Technology/Infrastructure Partner roles put your brand at the centre of how the entire festival runs, from the physical infrastructure powering every activation, to the space and tools participants, judges, and mentors use to connect throughout the two days.
The tools and systems you provide can also power the very immersive installations running inside the AI Experience & Showcase Zone, a curated space open only to organisations invited for the relevance, innovation, and experiential value of their AI work. That association signals your brand is operating at the same calibre as the AI innovators the zone is built to spotlight.
TL;DR: Own the infrastructure that runs the entire festival, or how people connect and network throughout it. Plus, be associated with the same calibre of AI innovation on show in the curated AI Experience & Showcase Zone. Only one Networking Partner slot is available.
All in all, the AI Forward Festival offers brands the opportunity to be recognised as a driving force behind today and tomorrow's ideas and communities. As champions of innovation and AI adoption, brands also gain meaningful engagement with emerging talent while benefiting from extensive amplification across SPH platforms.
Every partnership here is backed by a multi-platform publicity plan, worth over $3.5 million, spanning editorial coverage in The Straits Times, The Business Times, and Lianhe Zaobao, over 30 print placements, SPH Media's full digital and social network, radio trailers across Kiss92, Money FM 89.3, ONE FM 91.3, and UFM100.3, and SPH's outdoor advertising network.
Showcase Capabilities and Beyond at AI Forward Festival 2027
As AI continues to reshape the way we live, work, and learn, the brands that show up now as genuine enablers of that change will build real brand equity with their customers and the wider public. If you’re looking to build real thought leadership and be recognised as a genuine driving force in AI innovation, make AI Forward Festival part of your strategy today.
Reach out to your account manager or hit the "Contact Us" button below to learn more and secure your track, episode, or partnership.
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