// mlh 2027 season member event
Since AI Hackathon 2026.
48 hours. 1,000+ builders. €50,000 in cash prizes.
November 6–8, 2026 / Turku, Finland / 15 company challenges / Free to enter / Open to builders worldwide
Registration is open — apply now
// prize pool
€50,000
In cash, awarded across tracks
// builders
1,000+
Expected from across the world
// entry
Free
No fee for any participant
// format
48h
AI hackathon format — 15 company challenges
MLH 2027 Season Member Event · EduCity · BioCity · Joki, Turku, Finland · Open to builders worldwide
Powered by world-class infrastructure.
Compute partner · CSC / LUMI AI Factory
LUMI
CSC / LUMI AI Factory gives eligible, pre-registered participants access to the LUMI supercomputer and the Aitta inference service, with LUMI AI Factory experts on site. Using it is optional; eligibility and the other tools are in the Field Guide.
// featured speakers
Learn from the best in AI.
Jason Mayes
Web AI Lead
Google's Web AI lead for client side AI with 15+ years at the company. Creator of the world's first Web AI Summit and author of Google's Web AI course enabling 100K+ developers. Represents teams including LiteRT.js, DeepMind (Gemma web models), Chrome, and TensorFlow.js.
// Keynote
Client side Web AI Agents for the agentic internet of the future
See how to use the latest generative AI models from Google that run entirely client side (no cloud) to perform agentic behaviors on any website — bringing privacy, low latency, offline capability, and zero inference costs.
// Tech Talk
Vibing with Antigravity as a Senior Engineer for custom solutions
Learn how seasoned engineers can use Antigravity and Gemini 3 to reach 100x productivity. Jason demonstrates Web AI solutions using LiteRT.js to create RAG systems with minimal effort while maintaining control.
// judging panel
Meet the judges.
The judging panel selects the overall winner of Since AI Hackathon 2026 at the finals in Turku on Sunday 8 November. Company challenges are evaluated separately, by each challenge company.
Sarita Runeberg
Chief Executive Officer
Maria 01 (opens in a new tab)CEO of Maria 01, one of the Nordics' leading startup campuses, bringing expertise in entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems and scaling innovation.
Photo: Voima Ventures Niko Elers
Investment Director
Voima Ventures (opens in a new tab)Investment Director at Voima Ventures, focused on early-stage deep tech, science-driven innovation and venture investing.
Photo: University of Turku Tuomas Mäkilä
Associate Professor, Software Engineering
University of Turku (opens in a new tab)Head of the Software Engineering major at the University of Turku, researching software development processes and, most recently, AI agents and LLM-generated code.
Rasmus Harmaala
Deep Tech Investor & Founder
Inovexus (opens in a new tab)Deep tech investor and founder at Inovexus, bringing early-stage investing, founder potential and commercial viability expertise to the final jury.
Chandra Challagonda
Chief Executive Officer
FIWARE Foundation (opens in a new tab)CEO of FIWARE Foundation, advancing open, sovereign data ecosystems for trustworthy AI and bringing real-world innovation expertise across cities, industry, energy and agriculture.
// challenge partners
Real problems from real companies.
Since AI Hackathon 2026 is built for 15 company challenges, each set by a company that actually needs it solved. Build something they can use — and get in front of the people who do the hiring.
Challenge partners · 15 company challenges
Each company challenge awards its top three teams €2,000, €750 and €250 in cash — except FORCIT Group's Drill and Blast Cycle Intelligence: €3,000, €1,500 and €500, a €5,000 prize pot. One more challenge partner to be announced.
Visibility & technology partners
Tech partners
Funding partners
Venue & ecosystem
Free to enter. €50,000 on the table.
Apply now →// what is it
48 hours. Real challenges. Shipped products.
Since AI Hackathon is the flagship annual event of Since AI — a global execution-focused AI innovation ecosystem based in Turku, Finland, backed by 100+ strategic, capital, and research partners.
Teams form on Friday afternoon, select one of 15 company challenges in sinceai.app between 15:00 and 17:30, and ship by Sunday's 10:00 deadline. 1,000+ builders are expected in 2026, with challenges set by Valmet, Bayer, Turku Energia, Apetit, Takomo Golf, FORCIT Group, Elisa, Meyer Turku, Traficom, Lindström, Business Turku, DNA, Fonecta and Europress — and one more partner still to be announced. Open to developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs worldwide.
No mockups. Working demos first — a slide deck is optional, never a substitute.
// why participate
Built for builders who ship.
Real industry challenges
Solve actual problems set by Valmet, Bayer, Elisa, Meyer Turku, DNA, Traficom and more — 15 company challenges. The best solutions get noticed — and hired.
MLH Member Event
Since AI Hackathon 2026 is a Major League Hacking (MLH) 2027 Season Member Event — part of the world's largest hackathon league and its global builder community.
Global builder network
Join 10,000+ Since AI community members globally. Past participants have been hired, founded startups, and built lasting professional connections.
Working demos only
No mockups. Since AI Hackathon rewards teams that build and demo working AI products — and the five finalist teams present theirs live on stage.
// venue
EduCity, BioCity and Joki, Turku.
Since AI Hackathon 2026 takes place on the Turku science park campus. Friday's opening and Sunday's closing are at EduCity — the campus of Turku University of Applied Sciences (Turku AMK), Joukahaisenkatu 7, 20520 Turku. Teams build around the clock next door at BioCity and Joki. The Hackathon 2026 guide has every room, map and walking route.
// previous editions
Since AI Hackathon 2025.
The inaugural Since AI Hackathon brought together 260 builders from across Finland and Europe. Teams tackled real industry challenges from Kongsberg, Sandvik, Valmet, and other partner companies, shipping 30+ AI prototypes in 72 hours.
// key facts
At a glance.
- Date
- November 6 15:00 – November 8 15:30, 2026
- Venues
- EduCity (opening and closing), BioCity and Joki (building) — Turku, Finland
- Prize pool
- €50,000 cash
- Format
- 48-hour AI hackathon, Friday to Sunday
- Schedule
- Fri 15:00 check-in · Fri 17:00 opening · Sun 10:00 submissions close · Sun 13:15 closing ceremony · Sun 14:00 finals · ends around 15:30
- Challenges
- 15 company challenges — 14 partners confirmed, 1 to be announced
- Keynote
- Jason Mayes, Web AI Lead at Google
- Expected
- 1,000+ builders
- Participation
- Free
- Open to
- Builders worldwide — students and professionals
- MLH
- MLH 2027 Season Member Event
- Organised by
- Since AI (sinceai.ai)
// registrations
Registration is open.
Registration for Since AI Hackathon 2026 (November 6–8, Turku) is now open. €50,000 cash prize pool. Free to enter for all builders worldwide. Apply at sinceai.app/sign-up and join our community channels to connect with other participants before the event.
Setting a challenge or sponsoring? Partner with Since AI →
Want to help run the weekend in Turku? Become a volunteer ↗ (application form, opens in a new tab)
// faq
Frequently asked questions.
What is Since AI Hackathon?
Since AI Hackathon is the flagship annual event of Since AI — a global execution-focused AI innovation ecosystem based in Turku, Finland. The 2026 edition is a Major League Hacking (MLH) 2027 Season Member Event. Builders from across the world gather for a weekend-long, 48-hour AI hackathon to solve real company challenges and ship working AI products.
When is Since AI Hackathon 2026?
Since AI Hackathon 2026 runs November 6–8, 2026 in Turku, Finland. Challenge summaries open in sinceai.app on Thursday 5 November at 15:00. Check-in, team formation and challenge selection open Friday 6 November at 15:00 at EduCity; team formation closes at 16:45, the opening ceremony starts at 17:00 and challenge selection closes at 17:30. Submissions close Sunday 8 November at 10:00, the closing ceremony starts at 13:15, each company challenge's top three teams are announced from 13:30, the finals start at 14:00 and the event ends around 15:30. Registration is open — apply at sinceai.app/sign-up.
Is Since AI Hackathon an official MLH event?
Yes. Since AI Hackathon 2026 is a Major League Hacking (MLH) Member Event of the 2027 MLH season, which covers the 2026–27 hackathon year. MLH is the world's largest hackathon league. The MLH Code of Conduct applies at the event alongside Since AI's own Code of Conduct.
Who can participate?
Since AI Hackathon is open to builders worldwide — developers, researchers, designers, and entrepreneurs. Students and professionals both welcome. The event is held in English.
Where is the event held?
On the Turku science park campus in Turku, Finland. The opening on Friday and the closing on Sunday are at EduCity (Joukahaisenkatu 7), the campus of Turku University of Applied Sciences; teams build around the clock next door at BioCity (Tykistökatu 6) and Joki (Lemminkäisenkatu 12b).
Is registration free?
Yes. Since AI Hackathon is free to attend for builders. Sponsorship and challenge partner opportunities are available for companies — see sinceai.ai/partners.
How do I register?
Registration for Since AI Hackathon 2026 is now open. Apply at sinceai.app/sign-up — free for all builders worldwide. Join our Discord (discord.gg/vMWdrVUPws) or Telegram (t.me/sinceaihq) to connect with other participants.
What companies set challenges?
Since AI Hackathon 2026 has 15 company challenges. Each company challenge awards its top three teams €2,000, €750 and €250 in cash — except FORCIT Group's Drill and Blast Cycle Intelligence: €3,000, €1,500 and €500, a €5,000 prize pot. The challenge partners are Valmet, Bayer, Turku Energia, Apetit, Takomo Golf, FORCIT Group, Elisa, Meyer Turku, Traficom, Lindström, Business Turku, DNA, Fonecta and Europress; one more challenge partner is still to be announced. Every team chooses one company challenge.
What happens over the weekend?
Teams of up to five form in sinceai.app — ideally before the event. On Friday at EduCity every member checks in, the team lead marks the team as ready and selects one of the 15 company challenges in the app between 15:00 and 17:30; the choice is final. Major League Hacking introduces its tools and awards on stage at 16:45; after the 17:00 opening and Jason Mayes' keynote and tech talk, each company briefs its teams. Teams then build at BioCity and Joki, which stay open around the clock, with company Q&A on Saturday. Submissions close Sunday at 10:00, and every eligible builder completes 20 comparisons in the participant vote by 12:00. Each company picks the top three teams of its challenge, and in the 14:00 finals five finalist teams — the highest-ranked projects from five different company challenges — present live on stage to the jury, which selects the overall winner.
Are there prizes besides the company challenges?
Yes — optional awards a team can enter with the same project in sinceai.app: seven Major League Hacking prize categories, the Red Hat OpenShift AI Technology Award and the non-cash FIWARE Open Innovation Award. They never replace the company challenge. Details and how to enter are in the Field Guide's Builder Resources, under Optional awards. Optional awards in the Field Guide
Can we use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor or GitHub Copilot?
Yes — AI-assisted development is permitted and encouraged, with any AI assistant, coding agent, model or platform. Teams stay responsible for their solution: understand and verify what you ship, be ready to explain it, disclose the main AI tools you used, and keep pre-existing work apart from what you build at the event. Licences and each challenge's rules and data restrictions still apply.
How do teams submit their projects?
In sinceai.app — the official submission platform, not Devpost — by Sunday 8 November 2026 at 10:00 (EET). Each team submits one entry with its project details, a submission URL and a repository or demo link, and every team member accepts the challenge's IP terms in the app. A demo video, a pitch deck and supporting documents are optional.
Which code of conduct applies?
Since AI's Code of Conduct (sinceai.ai/code-of-conduct) and the MLH Code of Conduct (https://github.com/MLH/mlh-policies/blob/main/code-of-conduct.md) both apply to everyone at the event.