Join the Vibe
100 builders. 48 hours. Working prototypes. Here's what it looks like.
From the Vibe Hackathon November 2025 – our first edition at STARTPLATZ Cologne
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.
Four tracks. Pick your lane.
Every track has its own owner, its own mentors and its own prize. You choose when you arrive — and you can still change your mind on site.
Track 01
AI Builder
From idea to a working prototype in 48 hours.
With Claude Code, Cursor and n8n you'll build a working MVP with real data.
For: Developers, Vibe-coders, n8n builders, Product people
Led by Ben Sufiani
Track 02
AI Glasses
XR, AR and extended reality — AI in physical space.
You'll build applications for smart glasses, AR headsets or mixed reality devices.
For: XR developers, Computer vision, Hardware enthusiasts, Spatial AI
Led by Thomas Riedel
Track 03
Agentic Enterprise
Integrating AI into businesses — secure and scalable.
RAG on internal data, LLM integration into enterprise software, workflow automation.
For: Enterprise devs, IT leads, Business analysts, Innovation teams
Led by Stephan Noller
Track 04
Harness Engineering
Build your own agent harnesses — from automation to custom tooling.
You'll develop custom agent harnesses for real workflows and tool integrations.
For: Automation engineers, Process owners, Tool builders, LLM integrators
Led by Andre Machon
Experts on site. Grab them.
No booking needed — walk up during their office hours. Mentors and jurors are on the floor across the whole weekend.
Niklas Bätge
Personnect.ai
AI Builder
19 mentors and jurors confirmed so far — office hours and full profiles are in HackBase once you have your ticket.
Three days. One prototype.
Friday is for finding your track and your team. Saturday is deep dives and building. Sunday you pitch. Where two sessions run at once, you pick. Rooms and the fine print are in HackBase.
Friday
September 4
14:30–16:30
AI BuilderBuilding Your First Web App
With Ben Sufiani. From a blank folder to a working app you can show someone – the tools, the first prompts, the habits.
AI GlassesIntroduction to AI Glasses
With Andrew Douglas & Ines Hilz (Snap) and Thomas Riedel. Kickstart your project with Lens Studio and Snap AR capabilities.
Agentic EnterpriseGet Your First Agent Up & Running
With Stephan Noller. Bring your laptop – you leave with an agent installed, configured and doing its first useful task.
Harness EngineeringHarness Engineering Intro
With Andre & Karim. What harness engineering is, its key principles, and the OpenAI and Anthropic articles behind it.
16:30
Registration
Doors open — grab your badge.
17:00
Kick-off
Welcome, the weekend in ten minutes, how the tracks work.
17:30
Idea Pitches
Anyone with an idea gets two minutes at the mic.
18:00
Team Matching
Leads, joiners and explorers find each other.
19:00
Dinner at Startplatz20:00
From Prompt to Product: Base44 Builders Who Shipped
Real people who vibe-coded a product on Base44 and made it work — what they built, what broke, and what they would do again.
20:00
Start Hacking
24/7 access all weekend.
Saturday
September 5
09:00
Breakfast at Startplatz10:00–11:00
AI BuilderThe AI Skill Path: Find Your Level, Build the Next One
With Ben Sufiani. Six levels from Landlubber to Admiral – find where you stand and the next step on the Build track.
Harness EngineeringPI Agent Intro
With Andreas. The simplest, most customisable agent – extensions, custom tools, prompt caching and context engineering.
11:30–12:30
AI GlassesDevelopment with Snap Spectacles
With Andrew Douglas & Ines Hilz. Advanced spatial computing, AI integration and hands-on device testing.
Agentic EnterpriseTransforming into an AI-Augmented Company
With Stephan Noller. Where agents fit, what changes in the organisation, and what to build first.
13:00–14:00
Lunch break (self-serve)
Explore the local restaurants.
14:00–15:00
Harness EngineeringVerification Loops, Agent Workflows & Software Factories
With Andre & Karim. Verifiability, goal-driven development and AI workflow design, with Heedvane as the software factory.
19:00
Dinner at Startplatz
Sunday
September 6
09:00
Breakfast (self-serve)
Explore the local restaurants.
12:00–13:00
Pitch Training with Gesa
Gesa Dankwerth on the four minutes that decide it.
13:00–13:45
Lunch at Startplatz13:45–14:00
Pitch Intro
Running order, rules, how the jury scores.
14:00–14:20
Pitches · AI GlassesAI Glasses14:25–14:45
Pitches · Harness EngineeringHarness Engineering14:50–15:10
Pitches · Agentic EnterpriseAgentic Enterprise15:15–16:15
Pitches · AI BuilderAI Builder16:15–16:30
Keynote16:30–17:00
Awards Celebration
Winners, prizes, and out by 17:00.
FridaySeptember 4
14:30–16:30
AI BuilderBuilding Your First Web App
With Ben Sufiani. From a blank folder to a working app you can show someone – the tools, the first prompts, the habits.
AI GlassesIntroduction to AI Glasses
With Andrew Douglas & Ines Hilz (Snap) and Thomas Riedel. Kickstart your project with Lens Studio and Snap AR capabilities.
Agentic EnterpriseGet Your First Agent Up & Running
With Stephan Noller. Bring your laptop – you leave with an agent installed, configured and doing its first useful task.
Harness EngineeringHarness Engineering Intro
With Andre & Karim. What harness engineering is, its key principles, and the OpenAI and Anthropic articles behind it.
16:30
Registration
Doors open — grab your badge.
17:00
Kick-off
Welcome, the weekend in ten minutes, how the tracks work.
17:30
Idea Pitches
Anyone with an idea gets two minutes at the mic.
18:00
Team Matching
Leads, joiners and explorers find each other.
19:00
Dinner at Startplatz20:00
From Prompt to Product: Base44 Builders Who Shipped
Real people who vibe-coded a product on Base44 and made it work — what they built, what broke, and what they would do again.
20:00
Start Hacking
24/7 access all weekend.
SaturdaySeptember 5
09:00
Breakfast at Startplatz10:00–11:00
AI BuilderThe AI Skill Path: Find Your Level, Build the Next One
With Ben Sufiani. Six levels from Landlubber to Admiral – find where you stand and the next step on the Build track.
Harness EngineeringPI Agent Intro
With Andreas. The simplest, most customisable agent – extensions, custom tools, prompt caching and context engineering.
11:30–12:30
AI GlassesDevelopment with Snap Spectacles
With Andrew Douglas & Ines Hilz. Advanced spatial computing, AI integration and hands-on device testing.
Agentic EnterpriseTransforming into an AI-Augmented Company
With Stephan Noller. Where agents fit, what changes in the organisation, and what to build first.
13:00–14:00
Lunch break (self-serve)
Explore the local restaurants.
14:00–15:00
Harness EngineeringVerification Loops, Agent Workflows & Software Factories
With Andre & Karim. Verifiability, goal-driven development and AI workflow design, with Heedvane as the software factory.
19:00
Dinner at Startplatz
SundaySeptember 6
09:00
Breakfast (self-serve)
Explore the local restaurants.
12:00–13:00
Pitch Training with Gesa
Gesa Dankwerth on the four minutes that decide it.
13:00–13:45
Lunch at Startplatz13:45–14:00
Pitch Intro
Running order, rules, how the jury scores.
14:00–14:20
Pitches · AI GlassesAI Glasses14:25–14:45
Pitches · Harness EngineeringHarness Engineering14:50–15:10
Pitches · Agentic EnterpriseAgentic Enterprise15:15–16:15
Pitches · AI BuilderAI Builder16:15–16:30
Keynote16:30–17:00
Awards Celebration
Winners, prizes, and out by 17:00.
The Venue
STARTPLATZ Cologne – Cologne's leading innovation hub.
STARTPLATZ Cologne
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
Parking: Synodome Parking house
This hackathon has wrapped
Tickets for this date are closed. Join us at the next Vibe Hackathon Cologne.
See the next Vibe HackathonQuestions? Answered.
Everything you need to know about the hackathon.
Do I need programming experience?
Can I participate alone or do I need a team?
What should I bring?
Is overnight accommodation available?
What happens to my project after the hackathon?
What tools can I use?
What language are the sessions in?
What if I can't attend all 48 hours?
Is there a refund policy?
Still have questions? Email us at ben@pirateskills.com
What you're playing for.
Each track's jury picks its winner. Everyone in the room votes for one more. What the winning teams take home comes from the people backing this weekend.
Four track winners
One per track, chosen by that track's own jury.
One audience award
Every participant votes for their favourite team of the weekend.
Sunday, 16:30
Awards Celebration, right after the keynote.
Pirate Skills
Pirate Forge — 12 week programme
Places in the 12-week Pirate Forge programme for the winning team.
KI Accelerator
Idea validation workshop
A two-hour idea validation workshop with the KI Accelerator team.
STARTPLATZ
1 month free co-working
One month of free co-working at STARTPLATZ in Cologne or Düsseldorf.
Heedvane
2h consulting + Heedvane subscription
Two hours of consulting with the Heedvane team, plus three months of Heedvane Solo or one month of Heedvane Teams with four seats.
Heedvane + STARTPLATZ
1 month Heedvane + 1 month co-working
One month of Heedvane Solo or Teams, plus one month of free co-working at STARTPLATZ.
STARTPLATZ AI Hub + STARTPLATZ
Claude Cowork workshop + 1 month co-working
A full-day Claude Cowork workshop with the STARTPLATZ AI Hub, plus one month of free co-working at STARTPLATZ.
Thomas Riedel
2h XR consulting with Thomas Riedel
Two hours of consulting with AI Glasses track owner Thomas Riedel.
STARTPLATZ
1 month free co-working
One month of free co-working at STARTPLATZ in Cologne or Düsseldorf.
Base44
3× 440 Base44 credit packs
Three packs of 440 Base44 credits, so the team can keep building after the weekend.
The jury
14 judges decide who wins on Sunday afternoon — each track is scored by the people who know that field.
Niklas Bätge
Personnect.ai
AI Builder
Gesa Dankwerth
Journalist, Host & Presentation Coach
AI Builder
Lorenz Gräf
Founder, STARTPLATZ
AI Builder
Christoph Spinger
XR Expert Engineer · Telekom MMS
AI Glasses
Selin Kampa
Siemens Energy
AI Glasses
Christian Steiner
"Der Steiner" — Strategist in Emerging Technologies · heise
AI Glasses
Stephan Noller
Enterprise AI
Agentic Enterprise
Ulrich Hafenbradl
Co-Founder, Trusted Shops
Agentic Enterprise
Cosima Gräf
Head of Marketing, neuland.ai
Agentic Enterprise
Andre Machon
FlowCon AI
Harness Engineering
Andreas Spannagel
AI Consultant & Engineer
Harness Engineering
Daniel Brammertz
Head of Development, SCALARA
Harness Engineering
Karim Classen
Co-Founder & Lead Developer, FlowConAI
Harness Engineering
Salah Zayakh
CEO & Founder, Paymenttools
Harness Engineering
Backed by Builders.
This hackathon is made possible by partners who believe in the future of AI-powered building.
Base44
Base44 is the main sponsor of the AI Coding Hackathon and provides the prizes for the best teams. 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 →
Heedvane
AI code review for teams shipping with agents — every pull request gets a full first-pass review before a human opens it, flagging bugs, security holes and architecture drift with evidence and a suggested fix.
Visit Website →
High Score Hunt
Germany's biggest city-spanning VR tournament, and the crew behind the camera this weekend — High Score Hunt sponsors the official hackathon video and films the whole event, from first commit to final pitch.
Visit Website →
Snap
10x Snap Spectacles are available on-site for participating teams. No prior XR experience required — you get starter templates, API boilerplates and dedicated Snap Ambassadors to build with.
Visit Website →Hybrid AI
Hybrid AI by Stephan Noller, owner of the Agentic Enterprise track. Prize partner: three months of Hybrid AI Pro membership for the track winner.
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STARTPLATZ
Cologne's startup and coworking hub — host venue and co-organizer of the hackathon series.
Visit Website →
STARTPLATZ AI Hub
The epicenter of Generative AI and innovation — AI workshops, events and community building.
Visit Website →
Pirate Skills
Hands-on AI builder education — co-organizer, track owner and mentor crew of the hackathon.
Visit Website →