Vibe Hackathon Cologne

Build a real product with AI in just 48 hours.Stop planning. Start shipping.

May 29-31, 2026
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STARTPLATZ Cologne

This hackathon has wrapped.

Who Is This For?

The hackathon is for anyone who wants to stop planning and start building.

Founders

"I have an idea but can't build it myself"

Build your MVP yourself without waiting months for a technical co-founder.

Marketers

"I'm dependent on dev for everything"

Create AI-powered automations without writing code from scratch.

Product Managers

"I can see it but can't show it"

Build working prototypes to validate ideas – no dev sprint required.

Developers

"I want to ship faster with AI"

Deep dive into agentic patterns, guardrails, and n8n integration.

See the Schedule

48 Hours, One Goal

Optional pre-hackathon sessions from 2:30pm · kick-off Friday 5pm, demos Sunday 2pm – a focused weekend of building, learning, and shipping.

FridayMay 29
14:30

Optional pre-hackathon sessions

Onboarding for non-techies and personal AI agent installation help – arrive early and get set up.

16:30 – 17:00

Registration & check-in

Doors open, grab your badge, and find your spot.

17:00

Kick-off & North Star

Welcome, team building, MVP scope canvas, 48-hour playbook

18:00

Team Building & Project Pitches

Present ideas, form teams, or define your solo project

19:00

Dinner

Catering on site

20:00

Successful vibe coder stories by Base44

Online session with Ore from Base44

SaturdayMay 30
09:00

Breakfast & Check-in

Fuel up, group start, project status updates

10:00

Hacking & Optional Deep Dives

Build with mentor support, optional deep dive sessions

15:00

Office Hours & Deep Dives

Get individual mentor support or join a deep dive

19:00

Pizza & Evening Hacking

Dinner break, then continue building until midnight

20:00

Hacking continues

Keep on vibe coding through the night

SundayMay 31
09:00

Breakfast

Fuel up. Start your final day with breakfast and coffee

10:00

Final Sprint

Last optimizations, testing, demo preparation

14:00

Demos & Pitches

Every team/solo presents their prototype (3-5 min each)

16:00

Wrap-up & Networking

Feedback, lessons learned, community building

See the Venue

The Venue

STARTPLATZ Cologne – Cologne's leading innovation hub.

STARTPLATZ Cologne

Official Partner

Address

Im Mediapark 5

3rd Floor

50670 Cologne, Germany

Where to Stay

Recommended:Hotel Motel One Köln-Mediapark

Distance: 2 minute walk

Tip: Book early – fills up fast on weekends

Getting There

Public Transport: Media Park station (S-Bahn), 3 minute walk

Parking: Synodome Parking house

Pro tip:No sleeping facilities on-site. Book a nearby hotel if you prefer a proper rest, or power through with strategic naps – it's a hackathon, after all.

Secure Your Spot

Upcoming Hackathons

48 hours, one working prototype. Grab a seat at the next Vibe Hackathon Cologne.

Vibe Hackathon Cologne

14:30–16:00 CEST
Vibe Hackathon Cologne
STARTPLATZ Cologne
€90
48-hour hackathon where you build working AI prototypes alongside experienced practitioners at STARTPLATZ Cologne.

Vibe Hackathon Cologne

14:30–16:00 CET
Vibe Hackathon Cologne
STARTPLATZ Cologne
€90
48-hour hackathon where you build working AI prototypes alongside experienced practitioners.

This hackathon has wrapped

This edition is over. Catch the next one.

Tickets for this date are closed. Join us at the next Vibe Hackathon Cologne.

Questions? Answered.

Everything you need to know about the hackathon.

Do I need programming experience?
No programming experience required. The hackathon welcomes founders, marketers, product managers, and anyone interested in AI-assisted development. We have deep dive sessions for beginners and mentors available to help you.
Can I participate alone or do I need a team?
Both options work great. You can come with a team, form one during the Friday evening team-building session, or work solo on your own project. Many successful hackathon projects are built by individuals.
What should I bring?
Just your laptop and charger. We provide venue, WiFi, power, food, and coffee. Optional: bring headphones if you like to focus with music, and a notebook for sketching ideas.
Is overnight accommodation available?
The venue is open 24/7 during the hackathon, but there are no sleeping facilities on-site. Many participants book a nearby hotel, while others power through with strategic breaks. Hotels in the Mediapark area are a 5-minute walk.
What happens to my project after the hackathon?
You own everything you build. The hackathon is about shipping your own prototype. There's no IP transfer, no pitch competition stakes – just you building something real that you take home.
What tools can I use?
Any tools or frameworks you prefer. Claude Code, Cursor, n8n, any AI assistant, any tech stack. The hackathon is tool-agnostic – use whatever helps you ship fastest.
What language are the sessions in?
Training sessions and workshops are in English. Team work and collaboration can be in any language – we're an international community.
What if I can't attend all 48 hours?
That's fine. Most people come for the full experience, but you can participate for as much as you can. The demos happen on Sunday at 1pm – try to be there for that.
Is there a refund policy?
Full refunds are available up to 7 days before the event. After that, we can transfer your ticket to a future edition or to someone else.

Still have questions? Email us at ben@pirateskills.com

Join the Vibe

Backed by Builders.

This hackathon is made possible by partners who believe in the future of AI-powered building.

Base44 logo

Base44

The fastest way to build web apps with AI. Turn your ideas into working products through a simple chat interface – no coding required.

Visit Website →
Startplatz AI Hub logo

Startplatz AI Hub

The epicenter of Generative AI and Innovation. Offering AI workshops, events, and community building for the future of artificial intelligence.

Visit Website →
Secure Your Spot