Since AI 2026

Overview

Since AI 2026 is an intensive three-day hackathon that gathers over 1,000 ambitious AI builders, engineers, researchers, founders, designers, and technical operators in Turku, Finland. This event is not a conference but a hands-on building experience focused on execution and creating functional AI prototypes. Participants will form multidisciplinary teams and choose from 15 carefully scoped real-world challenges provided by companies. The goal is to develop working code, functional demonstrations, and conduct technical experimentation to address real industry problems with concrete paths toward pilots and continued development. The hackathon emphasizes creating tangible solutions that utilize artificial intelligence or machine learning meaningfully. It offers participants access to leading AI technologies, infrastructure, and the expertise of technical mentors and researchers. The event also provides valuable networking opportunities with companies, investors, researchers, and potential employers, along with prospects for recruitment, commercialization, and further project development. This is an opportunity for individuals with technical ambition and execution capabilities, regardless of having a pre-formed team or a finished startup, to collaborate and innovate in the AI space.

What to build

Participants must build a functional AI prototype that addresses one of the official Since AI 2026 challenge tracks. The project should solve a clearly defined real-world problem, integrate artificial intelligence or machine learning as a core component, and include a working prototype or a credible technical demonstration. The solution must be substantially developed during the competition period, be technically feasible for future development, and consider responsible AI, privacy, security, and safety.

Prizes

Key dates

• Event DatesNovember 6–8, 2026

Eligibility

Participants must be above the legal age of majority in their country of residence. All countries and territories are eligible, with standard exceptions. The event is in-person in Turku, Finland, and participation is free but capacity is limited. An official application through the Since AI platform is required and reviewed on a rolling basis, with early applications receiving priority. Joining the Devpost page does not guarantee admission.

How to enter

1. Apply through the official Since AI application platform: https://sinceai.app/events/since-ai-hackathon-2026
2. Be accepted into the hackathon after application review.
3. Attend the in-person event in Turku, Finland from November 6-8, 2026.
4. Form multidisciplinary teams and select one of 15 real-world challenges.
5. Develop a functional AI prototype addressing the chosen challenge.
6. Submit the complete project before the deadline on Devpost.

Submission requirements

• Project name
• Challenge track
• Short project description
• Problem statement (what problem is solved, and for whom)
• Solution description (what was built and how it works)
• Technical architecture (models, frameworks, APIs, infrastructure, datasets, technologies used)
• Working prototype (live demo link, executable build, API, repository, or clear testing instructions)
• Code repository (public or judge-accessible containing work completed during the event)
• Demo video (public video, no more than two minutes, showing prototype in action)
• Explanation of work completed during the official competition period
• Disclosure of any pre-existing assets (code, models, datasets, designs, or other materials created before the event)
• Explanation of how the project addresses relevant privacy, security, safety, fairness, or responsible AI considerations
• Description of next steps (how the prototype could progress toward a pilot, product, research project, or continued development)

Judging criteria

• Technical Execution (30%): Quality of implementation, functionality, technical architecture, reliability, and technical difficulty of work completed during the official competition period.
• Challenge Fit and Impact (25%): How effectively the solution addresses the selected challenge, solves a meaningful real-world problem, and creates measurable value for its intended users or stakeholders.
• Innovation (20%): Originality of the concept and the meaningful, technically justified use of artificial intelligence, data, or other relevant technologies.
• Prototype and Demonstration (15%): Quality of the working prototype, usability, clarity of the demonstration, and evidence that the proposed solution works in practice.
• Responsible Implementation and Feasibility (10%): Consideration of responsible AI, privacy, security, safety, maintainability, scalability, and the realistic potential for continued development or a pilot.

Sponsors & partners

Resources

• Official Application Platform
• Full Rules
• Learn More
• Hackathon Manager Email