Overview
We’re excited to invite you to the first-ever BUIDL AI Hackathon in Europe — a 48-hour hybrid sprint to design, prototype, and launch intelligent systems that push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI.
Join developers, researchers, and founders from around the world in Lisbon (and online) to explore the frontier of AI agents, automation tools, and creative infrastructure. Whether you’re building solo, teaming up with friends, or representing your startup or university, this is your chance to BUIDL with purpose and turn your ideas into impact.
Why Join
The BUIDL AI Hackathon isn’t just about competition — it’s about co-creation. You’ll leave with new skills, new connections, and a prototype that could evolve into something bigger.
This is where ideas sparked at the BUIDL Europe Conference become reality — built by a community that loves to experiment, share, and push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI.
Come curious. Leave inspired. And BUIDL something that moves the needle.
- Win Big: Compete for prizes, credits, and post-hackathon opportunities — including mentorship and exposure from leading AI sponsors.
- Build with Cutting-Edge Tech: Experiment with the latest open-source frameworks, APIs, and AI agent stacks like LangChain, LlamaIndex, CrewAI, and more.
- Solve Real-World Problems: Create agents and automation tools that make a measurable impact — from productivity and research to creative collaboration and beyond.
- Showcase Your Skills: Demonstrate your expertise in AI design, reasoning, and technical execution to global peers, mentors, and judges.
Who Should Join
- Builders, engineers, and researchers passionate about AI, agents, and automation
- Students from technical universities and coding schools eager to learn and ship fast
- Startup teams exploring AI-powered products or prototypes
- Anyone who loves experimenting with intelligent systems and bringing ideas to life
Themes & Tracks
Tracks and bounty challenges will be announced soon — expect:
- AI Agents & Automation Systems
- Infrastructure & Tooling for AI Builders
- Applied AI for Real-World Use Cases
- Open Innovation & Experimental Projects
Each bounty will include access to specialized toolkits, mentorship from sponsor engineers, and the opportunity to win cash prizes, credits, and post-hackathon support.
Requirements
To qualify for judging, all submissions must meet the following criteria:
1. Built During the Hackathon
Projects must be created — or substantially modified — during the BUIDL AI Hackathon (Jan 9–11, 2026). Pre-existing work is allowed only if clearly disclosed and if the majority of the work is new.
2. Open Source Code
All submissions must be open source.
Please include a public GitHub/GitLab repository with clear instructions on how to run your project.
If you have questions about licensing, ask a mentor during the hackathon.
3. Working Prototype
Your submission must include:
- A functional prototype (does not need to be production-ready)
- A short demo video showing your project working
- A README explaining the concept, technical architecture, and how to test it
4. Team Presence
Hybrid participation is allowed, but at least one team member must be present in person at Nest throughout the event to receive mentorship, attend evaluations and pitch during the final presentations.
5. Final Presentation
Teams must deliver a brief live pitch (3–5 minutes) during the finale, followed by Q&A from the judges.
Prizes
NEAR Bounty Pool
Story Bounty Pool
OpenGradient Bounty Pool
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
To be added
Judging Criteria
-
Technical Excellence
Quality, difficulty, innovation, performance, architecture -
Innovation & Creativity
Originality of idea, boldness, novelty of approach -
Real-World Potential
Relevance, usability, clarity of problem-solution fit -
Execution & Team Dynamics
Progress during hackathon, learning, adaptability -
Presentation Quality
Clarity of demo, narrative, communication
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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