The Heist: Actian VectorAI DB Hackathon

Every heist needs a crew, a target, and a plan that still works when things go dark. Your target: build an AI application, a RAG pipeline, an autonomous agent, or a search or monitoring tool, that keeps running in the places a typical cloud-dependent vector database can't follow. On-prem, at the edge, on constrained hardware, or fully disconnected. Actian VectorAI DB is your inside connection, the vector layer your build runs on. No safe cracks itself. You bring the plan. $10,000. One grand prize, one winner, no runner-ups. The Jobs Pick one, or run your own play: A full breakdown of each job, with constraints, examples, and what "good" looks like, is pinned in our Discord. What is Actian VectorAI DB A portable, multimodal vector database built to run anywhere an AI application needs to live: at the edge, in disconnected environments, or in the cloud, without losing performance, consistency, or trust along the way. Lightweight and embeddable, built for edge and OEM environments, supporting RAG, agentic AI, and autonomous systems without forcing a separate database or a re-architect as things scale. Dates How to join Who should come Developers building with AI who want to work on something that runs beyond the cloud. Solo builders and teams of up to 4, all skill levels welcome. You don't need prior VectorAI DB experience, the quickstart kit and pattern docs get you moving on day one. Judging Four judges, one from Actian, three from partner companies with overlapping developer audiences. Scored on technical execution, fit to theme, innovation, demo quality, and real-world potential. Names confirmed closer to launch. Beyond the grand prize We're planning multiple build-along sessions and office hours over the duration of the hackathon. Tune in if you'd like to learn more about VectorAI DB, receive feedback on your project idea, get help unsticking a bug in real time, or just see how other teams are approaching their build. No obligation to attend, but it's the fastest way to get unstuck and meet the rest of the crew. Starter kit: find here | Discord: join here Submission form: will be added when build window opens on September 4th