Hackathon AI.WOMEN

Description

Hackathon AI.WOMEN — 12–13 September 2026, HamburgTwo full days to explore, experiment and build with AI — together, in a space created for women.AI.WOMEN is an initiative by Petra Vorsteher and AI.GROUP that gathers women working with AI, exploring AI use cases, or taking their first steps in this field. The community is rapidly growing, and the appetite for more practical ways to engage is also increasing. The hackathon is our response to this demand: we are developing what we offer so that women have the space, time, and support to build with AI tools — side by side, learning from and supporting each other.This is an open, friendly space to build something real — a first prototype or an ambitious project for which you finally have the time and space. Whatever you bring, whether code or ideas, matters. Up to 300 women will participate, supported by AI mentors, with a completely female jury and prizes for outstanding teams.Who is this for?All participants share a desire to build with AI and an openness to learn alongside other women. Besides that, the space is intentionally diverse: engineers, data scientists, and programmers looking for two days to make the most of AI tools; designers who care about look and feel; product thinkers focused on problems and users; as well as people from completely non-technical fields curious about what AI can do in their work. Whatever you bring, you are welcome here.The same goes for what stage you are at in your career. Whether you are still studying, have just graduated, are in your first position, or have two decades of experience, whether junior or senior, you are invited. In fact, we hope for exactly this diversity: the more varied backgrounds and experiences in the room, the more everyone will learn, and the better the things we build together will be.What these two days would look likeDay 1 — Saturday is time to kick-off. After arrival and a warm welcome, you will find your team (more on this in the FAQ section), get to know the AI tools, and start building. Throughout the day there will be food and coffee, a moment to rest, and time to continue working in the evening for those who wish.Day 2 — Sunday is time to wrap-up. You will have the morning and early afternoon to finish your project and prepare a short presentation. In the afternoon the best teams will get to present their projects in front of all other participants, the jury will evaluate the works, and outstanding teams will be honored. We will then close the weekend together with food and conversations.Saturday: 09:00 to around 22:00–23:00. Sunday: 09:00 to around 21:00.A full schedule will be shared with participants before the event.What to expectAI MentorsYou won’t be building alone. Throughout the weekend, a team of experienced AI mentors will be there for you and your team — as partners for idea exchange. These are people you can discuss your idea with, rethink your approach, discover an AI tool, model, or technique you might not be aware of, and share what you’ve learned building with AI. The project remains entirely yours: mentors will not take it over or build it for you. What they offer is candid feedback, a fresh perspective, and someone to think out loud with when you want to push the idea forward.How can you participate?Places are approved based on applications. After you apply and your application is approved, your spot is confirmed — and when the event fills up, a waitlist opens with a chance to join if a spot becomes available.The event is open to women aged 18 and over, and the working language throughout the weekend is English. Participation is free for all attendees.FAQDo I need to know how to code? No. Teams bring together diverse skills, and there is as much room for contributions through ideas, product thinking, design, storytelling, or coordination as there is through code. If you have never used an AI tool before, the mentors and team members are there to help you find the right path. And if you code, you will have two uninterrupted days and mentors to build something as deep and technical as you want.Do I need a technical/creative background — will there be enough depth for me? Definitely! Many participants are engineers, data scientists, and programmers, and the format is designed with both depth and first steps in mind. You will have two uninterrupted days, mentors who build with AI themselves, and full freedom in how far you push your project — from advanced tools and models to a fully working product. What you do with that time is entirely up to you.Do I need to have a team before applying? Not at all. You can apply on your own or with team members already selected. Before the event, approved participants can connect, share ideas, and form a team — and if you arrive without a team, there is dedicated time at the start of Day 1 to meet others and create one. Whether you already have people or find them on the day of the event, you won’t be building alone.Do I need to attend both days? Yes. This is a two-day event, and by registering, you commit to participating both days. Because the hackathon focuses on teams, this matters not only to you: teams that lose a member during the event may be left without a key person, making the experience less fruitful and satisfying for everyone in the group. Committing to both days is how we ensure every team can do its best work together.How big are the teams and how many people will be present? Teams consist of up to five people. We expect up to 300 women to participate over the two days.Are meals provided? Yes — meals, snacks, and drinks will be available throughout both days. After approval, you will be able to share your dietary needs with us.I’m traveling from another city — can you help with accommodation? Let us know in your application. We will do our best to assist participants traveling from outside Hamburg in finding accommodation.Is child care available? We are currently checking if we can offer child care during the event. If you are interested, please let us know in your application — including which days and how many children — and we will consider it in our planning.About AI.WOMENAI.WOMEN is an initiative by Petra Vorsteher and AI.GROUP that gathers women working with AI, exploring AI use cases, or starting their journey in this field. Through formats such as AI.WOMEN Circle, the community creates a space for meaningful exchange, practical insights, and supportive networking across various roles, industries, and experience levels — making women in AI more visible, connected, and engaged in shaping the future of work, business, and society. It is based on a simple belief: that AI should be shaped by diverse voices, and we go far when we learn from and support each other.About AI.GROUPAI.GROUP is an evolving AI ecosystem that has been promoting innovation in AI from Germany and Europe and its application in business for years. Born from AI.HAMBURG, founded in 2019, it now brings together AI.HUB, an innovation platform supporting companies and startups from training and developing use cases to implementation and scaling; AI.FUND, an early-stage venture fund; and AI.IMPACT, which provides consulting and project execution in AI — alongside its flagship annual event, AI.SUMMIT.Do you have questions?Contact us anytime at [email protected] AI.WOMEN — an AI.WOMEN event, supported by AI.GROUP.