The MLT20 AI Buildathon, Powered by WNCP AI (May 5–14, 2026) is a one-week onramp plus weekend build sprint, capped by a live pitch finale on Day 3 of the MLT20 Conference (NYC Hilton Midtown, May 14, 2026). Participants build real AI-powered prototypes — solo or in teams of 1–5 — against one of three prompts. Two Round 1 winners and one Viewer's Choice winner pitch live; the overall winner is announced Thursday evening.

Unlike traditional hackathons, this event focuses on:

  • Increasing AI fluency across MLT alumni — hands-on AI exposure for a community largely new to building with AI
  • A memorable MLT20 moment — a live pitch finale that produces marketing footage, alumni stories, and recap content
  • Driving MLT20 ticket sales — one more reason to attend
The three prompts:
  1. Career Navigation & Professional Networking — apps that help individuals manage and grow their careers.
  2. Learning, Training & Personalized Coaching — apps that teach, train, or surface curated guides tailored to one specific person.
  3. Personal Security & Family Safety — apps that protect individuals and households from modern threats (fraud, scams, deepfakes, identity exposure).

Every submission must show a plausible path to sustainability — funding, paying users, or measurable impact. New ideas only.

Daily Schedule (Hybrid):

Date
Time (ET)
Format
Event
Fri, May 8, 2026 5:00 PM ET Virtual Kickoff Event (30 min) — Build weekend launch; Devpost submissions open.
Fri, May 8, 2026 5:30 PM ET Virtual Coding 101 (1 hr) — Intro to modern AI build tools for non-coders.
Sat, May 9, 2026 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Virtual Webinars + Office Hours
Sun, May 10, 2026 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Virtual Webinars + Office Hours
Tue, May 12, 2026 1:00 AM ET Online Submissions Due — Final Devpost deadline (no extensions).
Tue, May 12, 2026 Daytime Online Round 1 Judging • Viewer's Choice voting opens to entire MLT20 conference.
Wed, May 13, 2026 Evening Online Finalists Notified — 2 Round 1 winners + 1 Viewer's Choice winner.
Thu, May 14, 2026 Daytime In-Person (NYC Hilton Midtown) Live Finalist Showcase • Viewer's Choice Award.
Thu, May 14, 2026 Evening In-Person (NYC Hilton Midtown) Winner Announced

This isn't just a hackathon — it's an onramp into the AI-first MLT alumni and WNCP AI Partner Network ecosystem.

Requirements

Round 1 — Virtual Submission (Due Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 1:00 AM ET)

Submit on Devpost with the following:

Required

  • Demo Video (≤2 min) — Team intro + live product walkthrough. No slide-only videos.
  • Usable Project Link —  Link to a functional prototype hosted anywhere (Vercel, Lovable, own server, etc.). If login is required, include test credentials and instructions on how to use the prototype.
  • Project Write-up:
    • Product Name: One-sentence marketing tagline
    • Product Overview:  Short description of the product, target user, problem solved, and plausible path to sustainability
    • How it works: Tools used, tech stack, technical aspects to be considered in judging
  • Code Access — Public GitHub repo link with all keys/secrets hidden and clear README / run steps.
  • AI Tools Disclosure —  Models/services/AI tools used.

Viewer's Choice Award Submission (optional)

While not required, teams can submit a 30-60 second commercial for their project. These submissions will be voted on by participants and judges for a viewer's choice award.

  • Marketing Video (30–60s): A commercial-style spot promoting your product (eligible for Viewer's Choice).

Submission Checklist

  • Project title, elevator pitch, and screenshots/cover
  • Video URL, live URL, repo URL
  • Team members added on Devpost (solo or teams of 1–5)
  • Tech / AI tools used and category/track (one of the three prompts)
  • Credentials (if needed) in the "Testing Instructions" field

 

Round 2 — Finale (Live Pitch & Demo, Thu 5/14/26)

Finalists announced Wed evening (May 13). At the finale, each of the 3 finalists (2 Round 1 winners + 1 Viewer's Choice winner) delivers a live pitch on stage at MLT20.

  • At least one team member must be registered for MLT20 to present at the finale. Finalist teams without a registered member receive up to 3 complimentary tickets.

Format

  • 3 finalists pitch live at MLT20 (NYC Hilton Midtown)
  • Viewer's Choice award presented during the live finale
  • Overall winner announced Thursday evening
  • 6‑minute VC‑style pitch & Demo (problem, solution, market, traction, GTM, differentiation)
  • Q&A at judges' discretion

Final Submission Requirements

  • Pitch deck (PDF or link) with a clear story and metrics
  • Updated demo link/credentials if changed since submission

Intellectual Property

All submitted project code and IP remain the sole property of the participants, but participants grant a royalty-free license to MLT and WNCP AI for non-commercial private use of marketing, promotion, and research.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

1 non-cash prize
MLT Public Recognition
1 winner

Social Media and Conference Recognition of the Win

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Mark Taguchi

Mark Taguchi
MLT

Luis Calderon

Luis Calderon

Kareem Williams

Kareem Williams
Peepalytics

Judging Criteria

  • 30% Problem & Audience Fit
    Clear, real problem tied to one of the three prompts; specific target user
  • 25% Total Potential Impact (People & Value)
    Potential monetization, social, or human impact based on number of users and value gained per person
  • 25% Demo & Storytelling
    Compelling video walkthrough and clear written narrative
  • 10% Prototype Quality
    Functional, accessible app that delivers on the pitch
  • 10% Sustainability
    Ability to support the app and operations through the business model

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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Hackathon sponsors

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