Vibe Hackathon Cologne

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

Nov 20-22, 2026
•
STARTPLATZ Cologne
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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

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

Secure Your Spot

Grab your ticket

A ticket for this weekend – or the Pirate Pass, with a ticket every three months.

Ticket – for this hackathon

  • Early Bird

    Until 30 September · max 2 per checkout

    + VAT$90$60
    0

  • Regular

    Bring your whole team

    + VAT$90
    0

  • Student 44

    For students – €44, a nod to our sponsor Base44

    incl. VAT$44
    0

  • Young Pirate 44

    One adult + one builder under 18 – the adult checks out and brings the kid

    incl. VAT$44
    0

  • Patron

    Pay what you want – back the hackathon

    incl. VATfrom $100

Bring the crew: Regular drops to $80/seat at 2, $70 at 5, $60 at 10 – applied automatically.

Got a discount code? It applies to a single Regular ticket – enter it at checkout.

Pirate Pass – for every hackathon

Pirate Pass

Support the crew and keep building with us all year.

$30a month +VAT

Three-month minimum, then cancel any time.

  • A hackathon ticket code every three months – this one included
  • 3,000 gold a month for the Captain
  • Pirate Night, the build-log and the pass badge
Can I join just for the ticket?

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

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