HACK_002: 24h AI Hackathon

HACK_002 is a 24-hour, in-person AI hackathon bringing together builders, researchers, designers, founders, students, hardware makers, and domain experts in Vienna. Over one focused weekend, small teams turn ambitious ideas into working prototypes. This is not just about writing code: research, product thinking, system design, hardware, storytelling, and deep domain knowledge matter just as much. Come to experiment with bleeding-edge technology, meet people outside your usual bubble, exchange skills, and build the first version of something meaningful. 🏆 Expect insane prizes. Award categories and the prize pool will be announced soon. 🎯 Who Should Join? You belong here if you are a: Developer or AI builder exploring agentic workflows and modern stacks Researcher or scientist with complex data or domain problems Designer or product thinker crafting real-world user interfaces Founder, student, or operator looking to execute on ideas Hardware, robotics, medical, or biotech specialist Curious builder with an idea and the drive to make it real No developer background required. Teams of 1–4 people. Team-finding happens on-site and in the participant Discord after acceptance. ⚡ Two Blocks · Six Tracks 🔷 Block A: Useful AI Systems A1 · Applied AI for Consumers: a usable AI product for real users (apps, assistants, tutors, new interfaces) A2 · Applied AI for You: tools and workflows that improve how you or your organisation works A3 · Dev Tools: infrastructure for building AI systems (agent runtimes, evals, local models, security) 🔶 Block B: AI Advances Science B1 · Longevity & Aging: biomarkers, aging clocks, biological data, literature mining B2 · Neural Systems: neural simulation, connectomics, brain-inspired computation B3 · Scientific Discovery: scientific agents, experiment design, lab automation, automated analysis Plus optional sponsor challenges (A4+ / B4+) with concrete partner briefs. Detailed briefs, examples, and starter resources for every track are on the website. Output: teams submit a 3-minute video and, ideally, a working prototype (via Devpost). 🛠️ Day 0: AI Crash Course & Briefing (Friday, 25 Sep) Accepted participants are invited to the in-person Day 0 session at HOIV: 16:00–21:00 · Modern AI workflows, agentic coding, hackathon ideation, hacker culture Hosted by Peter Wimberger (Machine Literacy) Public materials and slides: machine-literacy.com 🕒 Schedule The detailed timetable for the weekend will be announced soon. ⚖️ Jury Birgitta Olofsson, PhD · University of Cambridge Constantin Convalexius, MD · Medical University of Vienna, Harvard University Lucas Mair · Technical University of Munich, ProviGen Stefan Huber, MSc · Maastricht University Alexander Spreckelsen · University of St.Gallen, Helsing, Stanford University Tanmay Gupta, PhD · Oxbridge Frontier Intelligence Andreas Petersson · Capacity, OwnYourAI 🤝 Sponsors & Partners AMASS · Maritime · ElevenLabs · Lovable · Project Europe · OFI (Oxbridge Frontier Intelligence) · Proximata · AIM (Association for Informatics and Medicine) · The Residency Vienna Venue partner: HOIV — Home of Innovation Want to host a sponsor challenge? Write to [email protected]. 📍 Location HOIV — Home of Innovation, Arsenalstraße 11, 1030 Vienna, Austria A 4,500 m² innovation hub with coworking floors, studios, and creative space. The venue stays open throughout the full 24-hour build window (overnight building supported). 📋 Key Facts Dates: 26–27 September 2026 (Day 0 on 25 September) Format: In-person only Language: English (official) Team size: 1–4 people Tracks: 2 blocks, 6 tracks + sponsor challenges Schedule: To be announced Overnight access: Yes (24h open venue) Prizes: Insane. Details announced soon About Telos Circle Telos Circle is a Vienna-based nonprofit bringing builders, researchers, and founders together around ideas worth pursuing. Our events create the spark; a committed network helps turn those ideas into projects, companies, and lasting collaborations. 🌐 Full details & briefing on the HACK_002 website📦 Press kit & media assets✉️ Questions? Contact us at [email protected].