Join us for an immersive, hands-on experience where we bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and local community needs. This isn't just a hackathon; it’s a mission to build the next generation of AI-native engineering.
Build with AI 2026 x MLH Hackathon: Ahlen 🚀 The Human Compass: Navigating AI for Local Impact 📍 Location:Initiative Bürgerzentrum Schuhfabrik e.V., 7 Königstraße, Ahlen, 59227 (NRW)
📅 Date:Saturday, May 23, 2026 (Updated from May 30 to May 23 per your request)
⏰ Time:11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (GMT+2)
💻 What to Expect at Build with AI 2026 x MLH Hackathon:- Get ready for an immersive, hands-on experience focused on empowering you to architect the future with AI and Cloud!
- This year we are fostering a new generation of engineers who see AI as an integral part of their creative toolbox. 🚀
It’s time to prototype, build, and deploy applications using the latest Google AI technologies and models, including Gemini, Vertex AI, AI Studio, and Antigravity. 🛠️
🎁 Google Cloud Credits- We’re planning to offer Google Cloud credits to attendees so you can explore and experiment on GCP after the event.
- Activation details and instructions will be shared on-site.
#BuildwithAI2026 #MLH
Requirements
What to Build
Create an AI Agent or a Multi-Agent System that acts as a Human Compass for the local community.
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Target: Solve a specific problem for a person, business, or organization in Ahlen.
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Tech: Use Gemini API and Agentic Workflows.
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Goal: Demonstrate Local Impact by automating a real task or navigating a complex local process.
Technical Focus:
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Agentic Local Impact: Build an AI Agent (not just a chatbot) that can perform tasks, reason, and provide real utility to a local user.
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Core Technology: Your project must be powered by Gemini (via Google AI Studio or Vertex AI).
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Tool Use: We encourage the use of Gemini CLI, Antigravity and the Agent Development Kit (ADK) to build sophisticated, multi-step logic.
What to Submit
To qualify for the "Best Use of Gemini" and other awards, you must submit:
1. The Story of Local Impact (Devpost Description)-
The "Compass" Mission: Describe the specific local problem you are solving. Who is the human at the other end of your app? (e.g., a local baker in Ahlen, a student at the local school, or a volunteer at Schuhfabrik).
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Local Impact Statement: A short text (200 words) explaining exactly who in the local community benefits from this "Compass" and which pattern you broke to make it happen.
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Show the Action: No marketing slides. Show a screen recording of your AI Agent in action. We want to see how it "navigates" a task from start to finish.
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Live Functionality: Prove that your agent can handle real-world local data or scenarios.
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Transparency: Include your source code and a README.md.
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Architecture: Include a specs.md that outlines the logic and the "brain" of your agent.
List all Google Cloud tools and models used (e.g., Gemini 3 Flash, Vertex AI, Antigravity).
Prizes
1 Place
Google Swag.
2 Place
Google Swag.
3 Place
Google Swag.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Praveenkumar Kondikoppa
Workspace AI Platform Engineer at Google
Silu Panda
Senior Software Engineer, ML infrastructure at Linkedin
Naga Deepak
Senior Engineering Manager at TikTok
Prakshal Doshi
Software Development Engineer at Apple
Luiz Carneiro
Solution Engineer / Google Developer Expert
Mohammad Alamin
Cloud and Solution Architect | GDE I Aiiotsys
Patty O'Callaghan
Charles River Laboratories / Head of AI Architecture and Engineering Group
Ines Zenkri
Amazonian| CS student & Tutor @TU Braunschweig
Naomi Latini Wolfe
Ed.D. (c) | Inclusive AI Innovation Leader | GDG Regional Mentor & WTM Ambassador
Madhankumar Ponmudi Subramanian
Principal Engineer at Workday
Vivek Kumkar
Engineering Manager at AWS
Fenil Shah
Senior Software Engineer at Amazon
Judging Criteria
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1. Local Impact & The "Compass" Factor (40%)
This is the heart of the hackathon. Does the project solve a tangible problem for a local business, organization, or citizen in Ahlen? -
2. Technical Execution & Agentic Logic (30%)
We are looking for sophisticated use of AI, not just simple prompts. Gemini Integration: Effective and creative use of Gemini models (Pro/Flash) via API or Vertex AI. -
3. The "Hard Demo" & Deployment (30%)
We value code that runs. No Slides Policy: Did the team demonstrate their project through live execution (CLI, Web UI, or Agent logs) instead of a slide deck?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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