Comparison · 6 min read
AI Secrets Challenge vs Side Hustle Summit: Which Free Event Fits You?
AI Secrets Challenge vs Side Hustle Summit, in one paragraph
Both are free, virtual, live events from Russell Brunson. The AI Secrets Challenge (with Todd Dickerson) ran five 90-minute sessions for operators who already have an offer and want AI agents running it; its last cohort was August 10–14, 2026 and no new dates exist. The Side Hustle Summit (with Iman Gadzhi) runs September 6–13, 2026 for beginners building a $373/day AI side hustle from zero. If you have an offer, the challenge fit you better; if you are starting from nothing, or you simply want a live event this month, the summit is the one to attend.
We attended the AI Secrets Challenge in April. We have not attended the Side Hustle Summit yet; its first session is September 6. Everything on the summit side comes from the official event page and partner documentation, and we will update this page after the first session.
Side by side
| Factor | AI Secrets Challenge | Side Hustle Summit |
|---|---|---|
| Hosts | Russell Brunson and Todd Dickerson (ClickFunnels co-founders) | Russell Brunson and Iman Gadzhi (Consulting.com founder, Whop co-owner). Guest speakers: Myron Golden, Eileen Wilder, Eric Thomas |
| Dates | Last cohort August 10–14, 2026. None announced. | September 6–13, 2026. Live sessions Sept 6, 7, 8, 9 and 13. |
| Format | 5 consecutive days, ~90 min, 11:00 AM PT | 5 sessions across 8 days, 1:00 PM ET |
| Cost to attend | $0, no card | $0, no card |
| Replays | Free seats lose each replay at midnight; VIP keeps encore replays | Official page says replays within 24 hours |
| Software | Built around MarketingSecrets.AI (14-day trial, then $97/mo) | No software trial announced |
| Who it is for | Operators with an existing offer, $5k/mo and up | Beginners: no audience, no experience, no capital |
| Goal | AI agents running marketing, content and a simple app | An AI-powered side hustle at $373/day |
| What gets pitched | $2,997 Platinum, first on Day 2, re-offered through Day 5 | $1,995 core program plus $995 companion offer, per partner documentation, near the end |
| Registration | Closed | Open (since August 17, 2026) |
What they have in common
Same funnel shape. You register free, attend live training for a week, build alongside the hosts, and near the end the hosts present a paid program. Russell Brunson has run this format for years (One Funnel Away, Selling Online, this challenge). The training is real and the pitch is real. Knowing the pitch is coming is the best defense against buying on a countdown.
Where they differ
Audience
The challenge assumed you have something to automate. Our worth-it guide tells beginners without an offer to skip it. The summit is aimed squarely at that beginner: the official framing is "no experience, no audience, no startup capital."
Co-host
Todd Dickerson runs live software builds; the challenge's Day 4 was a no-code app built on screen. Iman Gadzhi's track record is free events for beginners; the official page cites $55.6M in tracked attendee results across his three previous events, with a 19-year-old's $111K in 45 days as the flagship proof. Both numbers are outliers at the top of the curve.
The paid program
The challenge's Platinum is a software-plus-coaching bundle at $2,997. The summit's program is priced at $1,995 core plus a $995 companion offer in the partner documentation we have seen. We will confirm on the live checkout page.
Which one to attend
- You have an offer and want AI agents: the challenge was the better fit, but it is not running. Read the review and the day recaps for the framework, take the MarketingSecrets.AI trial on your own, and attend the summit for the live sessions.
- You are starting from zero: the summit. Free seat, five sessions, and do not buy anything on the first countdown.
- You want either event live this month: the summit is the only option.
Side Hustle Summit, September 6–13, 2026
Free seat, no card. Registers on the official site.
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