ExecuTorch Hackathon

Next Hackathon

ExecuTorch Hackathon

Starts Jun 27, 2026

Join this hackathon →
This Event Has FinishedOnline

IBM Bob Hackathon

Your repo. Your rules. AI as your dev partner.

Build solutions that improve how software is built.

Work with an AI that understands your codebase, helping you reduce repetitive work and build with real context.


⏳ Build your project in 48 hours.

🚀 Get hands-on with IBM Bob and explore how AI fits into real development workflows before it becomes standard.

💡 Build tools and workflows that developers would actually use.

⭐ Learn directly from experts throughout the event.

🤝 Join a team or build solo.

💰 Prize pool: $10,000

🧑🏻‍💻 Register before the Kick-Off Stream and start building with Bob.

IBM Bob Hackathon event thumbnail

Registration Deadline

⚠️ Please Note:

Registrations will close on May 15th, 2026 at 7:00 AM ET / 1:00 PM CET.
After this time, no new participants will be able to enroll or be approved for the hackathon.

Thank you for your understanding.

About IBM Bob

IBM Bob is an AI-powered development partner designed to help developers work with real systems, not just code snippets.


It operates with full repository context, allowing developers to understand how software is structured, reason through logic, and navigate complex codebases more effectively.


Bob supports practical development tasks and helps builders at any skill level move from idea to implementation with greater clarity and confidence.


This hackathon is your chance to apply Bob in a real project and see how it fits into your workflow.

Challenge
Challenge

In this hackathon, you will design and build a proof-of-concept solution using IBM Bob, your AI-powered development partner, to address the following challenge:


Turn idea into impact faster

Got an idea for how to work smarter and faster? Create a solution that speeds the way you work every day.


Maybe you need to:

• Get up to speed on existing code quickly

• Generate documentation and tests

• Reduce effort spent on repetitive tasks that slow your team down


Use IBM Bob as your development partner to bring your idea to life.


Bob understands intent, reads complete repository context, explains logic with clarity, automates complex transformations, and streamlines multi-step work.


Show how your solution, powered by Bob, can help builders at any skill level deliver high-quality software with greater efficiency and confidence.


Important:

All submissions must clearly demonstrate how IBM Bob is used in the solution. 

Projects that do not show meaningful use of Bob may be disqualified.  


Technology

IBM Bob is an AI-powered development partner that works directly with your codebase, helping you build and improve software with real context.

It is designed to support developers across everyday workflows, allowing you to apply AI within your own project rather than working in isolation.


Access to Technology

Participants will receive access to IBM Bob at the start of the hackathon.

🤖 IBM Bob Setup Guide
👉 Follow the setup guide below to activate and start using IBM Bob during the hackathon.

🔘 Open IBM Bob Setup Guide

Please Note

  • • Access is provided specifically for the duration of the event
  • • Usage is limited and should be managed throughout the build
  • • Participants are expected to actively use Bob as part of their solution
Prizes
🥇
1st Place:
💰Cash: $5,000
🥈
2nd Place:
💰 Cash: $3,000
🥉
3rd Place:
💰 Cash: $2,000
Please note: Participation in lablab.ai hackathons is voluntary. Prizes and opportunities depend on eligibility, availability, and third-party sponsors, for whom lablab.ai is not responsible. Hackathon rules, prizes, and terms may change or be canceled at our discretion. Submissions must be original and MIT-compliant. Prize distribution may take up to 90 days.

Community & Social Channels


Stay connected with the teams behind the hackathon and follow along for updates, highlights, and future opportunities.

lablab.ai
IBM
NativelyAI

What to submit?

📋 Basic Information

• Project Title

• Short Description

• Long Description

• Technology & Category Tags

📸 Cover Image and Presentation

• Cover Image

• Video Presentation

• Slide Presentation

💻 App Hosting & Code Repository

• Public GitHub Repository, including exported IBM Bob report

• Demo Application Platform

• Application URL 

For further details and guidance, please visit Submission Guidelines 


⚠️ Public GitHub Repository & IBM Bob Report
Your project code should be stored publicly on GitHub. Include any code or files where IBM Bob assisted in the development, and be sure to include the exported IBM Bob report of all relevant tasks/sessions used for your project.

👉 Follow the official IBM Bob setup and export guide below:
🔘 Open IBM Bob Setup Guide
Please note: If you submit a private repository, judges won’t be able to fully review your work, which may lower your overall score.
lablab.ai

Topic: Hackathon Submissions Process

▶️ Watch Video
Judging Criteria
Application of Technology
How complete and well thought-out the project is, with a clear application of IBM Bob.
Presentation
The clarity and effectiveness of the project presentation. 
Business Value
The impact and practical value, considering how effectively the solution addresses a high priority issue.
Originality
The uniqueness and creativity of the solution and the approach in applying IBM Bob to address the stated issue.

Hackathon Details

Join lablab.ai hackathon and innovate using the latest models in the market. Discover all the relevant details below.

🗓️ Where and when

The hackathon is fully online starting on May 15th till May 17th, 2026. The hackathon will take place on the lablab.ai platform and lablab.ai Discord server. 

🦸🏼‍♂️ Who can join?

We welcome participants with a strong interest in AI. While prior experience can be helpful, this challenge is designed for those ready to engage with AI in meaningful and practical ways. 

😅 What about teams?

If you don't have a team, don't worry! You can connect with other participants from all over the world on our dashboard or Discord server. We also recommend checking out our Discord server to find teammates and bounce around ideas. You can join the server here.

🛠️ How to participate

The hackathon will take place online on lablab.ai platform and lablab.ai Discord Server. Please register for both in order to participate. To participate click the "Sign up" button at the bottom of the page and read our Hackathon Guidelines and Getting Started Guide.

🧠 Get prepared / Use Lablab.ai to Learn About AI

To get ready for the hackathon, visit our AI Tech pages and read up on all the available technologies. You can also check out our tutorials page for more information on how to use them. Get a head start on your project by using the resources on lablab.ai!

Speakers, Mentors & Judges

Pawel Czech
Pawel Czech
CEO
Surge
Atul Thapliyal
Atul Thapliyal
Senior Managing Consultant
IBM
Hari Kanagala
Hari Kanagala
Group Product Manager AI/ML
RB Global
Suneeth Maraboina
Suneeth Maraboina
Technology Leader
Apple
Vasu Raj Jain
Vasu Raj Jain
Senior Software Engineer
amazon
James Lloyd
James Lloyd
AI Strategic Advisor
NEOM
Bhanu Pratap Singh
Bhanu Pratap Singh
Lead Technical Architect
Ameren Service Company
Venkata Guru Vemulakonda
Venkata Guru Vemulakonda
Technical Senior Lead
Andrea Marazzi
Andrea Marazzi
Founder & CCO
NativelyAI
Anshul Chetal
Anshul Chetal
IBM Consulting Global Alliance Leader
IBM
Anton Kiselev
Anton Kiselev
Lead backend developer
dapt
Sasha Aptlin
Sasha Aptlin
Founding AI Engineer @ ReachRx.ai
lablab.ai
Shaktesh Pandey
Shaktesh Pandey
AI Engineer | GenAI Systems | RAG Architect | LLMOps
Free lancer
Rahul Gupta
Rahul Gupta
Head of AI Foundry
Evergreen
Sohil Vinod Shah
Sohil Vinod Shah
Staff Software Engineer
PayPal
Kajal Singh
Kajal Singh
Product Manager
Oracle
Maximilian Jesch
Maximilian Jesch
Product Manager,IBM Bob
IBM
Mahati Kumar
Mahati Kumar
Software Engineer
Meta
Ramakanta Samal
Ramakanta Samal
Senior Software Engineer
IBM
Dharmendra Singh
Dharmendra Singh
Senior Software Engineering Manager
Workday
Tingting Lin
Tingting Lin
Lead Product Manager
SAP
Nikhil Mehra
Nikhil Mehra
Senior Product Manager
MKT WAVE
Zebo Furqatzoda
Zebo Furqatzoda
Startup Founder
Abhishek Saxena
Abhishek Saxena
Head of Strategy & Growth
Sentient
Yaniv Alon
Yaniv Alon
Affiliates' Programs Lead
IBM
Vishal Paul
Vishal Paul
Senior Software Engineer, Core Platforms Team
PayPal
Sanem Avcil
Sanem Avcil
AI & Blockchain Advisor
Kaisvault
Japjit Singh
Japjit Singh
Applied AI Product Lead
Google cloud
Sriharsha Makineni
Sriharsha Makineni
Business Engineer
Meta
Nirmal Kumar Jingar
Nirmal Kumar Jingar
Sr. Engineering Manager
wayfair
Aliaksandr Zhorau
Aliaksandr Zhorau
Software Engineer
Meta
Daniil Gonik
Daniil Gonik
Senior Fullstack Engineer
Pawel Czech
Pawel Czech
Co-Founder
New Native
Andrea Marazzi
Andrea Marazzi
CCO
New Native
Pawel Czech
Pawel Czech
Founder
NativelyAI
Victoria Neiman
Victoria Neiman
Co-founder & COO
AI/ML API
Sergey Nuzhnyy
Sergey Nuzhnyy
Head of Developer Relations
AI/ML API
Sergey Nuzhnyy
Sergey Nuzhnyy
Head of Developer Relations
AI/ML API
Addy Crezee
Addy Crezee
Founder & CEO
/function1
Sergey Nuzhnyy
Sergey Nuzhnyy
Head of Developer Relations
AI/ML API
Junnan Li
Junnan Li
Research Lead
Rhymes.ai
Gus Martins
Gus Martins
Staff Developer Relations Engineer
Google
Philippe Brulé
Philippe Brulé
CTO
Restack
Pawel Czech
Pawel Czech
Co-Founder
New Native
Andrea Marazzi
Andrea Marazzi
CCO
New Native
Andrea Marazzi
Andrea Marazzi
Founder and CCO
NativelyAI

Event Schedule

  • To be announced

Submitted concepts, prototypes and pitches

Submissions from the teams participating in the IBM Bob Hackathon event and making it to the end 👊

ExecuTorch Hackathon

Next Hackathon

ExecuTorch Hackathon

Starts Jun 27, 2026

Join this hackathon →