Durby Global Hack
Build the future with AI.
An international AI hackathon connecting ambitious builders from India and Germany to solve real-world problems, create innovative products, and compete on a global stage.
Dates announced soon
Build what comes next.
Durby Global Hack brings together developers, designers, AI builders, founders and students from India, Germany and beyond to build ambitious AI-powered solutions to real-world problems.
Build
Turn an idea into a working AI-powered product.
Connect
Meet builders, mentors and industry experts from around the world.
Compete
Present your solution and compete for global recognition.
Impact
Build technology that solves a real, meaningful problem.
No fixed problem statement. No required stack. Just ambitious builders, real AI tools, and a stage that spans two countries.
One stage. Two ecosystems.
Durby Global Hack connects ambitious students and innovators from India with technology, education and innovation partners from Germany — a global community of builders, in one event.
Builders
India
Ambitious students, developers and young builders — the ideas and the energy this event is built around.
Partners
Germany
Universities, technology companies and innovation partners — exposure to the next generation of global builders.
Build with AI. Solve something real.
No fixed problem statement, no required stack — use any AI models, frameworks or tools you like. Pick a track below, or bring something we haven't thought of.
AI for Business
Build AI solutions that solve meaningful business problems.
Operations, productivity, decision-making, automation — anything that makes a business run smarter, in any industry.
AI for Education
Reimagine how people learn, teach and prepare for the future.
Personalized learning, accessibility, skills training, the tools teachers and students actually need.
AI for Society
Build technology addressing meaningful real-world social challenges.
Public good, sustainability, accessibility, community impact — problems worth solving beyond the balance sheet.
AI for Creativity
Use AI to transform design, media, content, entertainment and creative work.
New tools and formats for creators — not replacing creativity, extending what one person or team can make.
Open Innovation
No restrictions. Build something genuinely new.
Any technology, any use of AI. If it doesn't fit the tracks above, it belongs here.
A prize pool worth building for.
Final figures are confirmed closer to the event — the structure below is locked.
1st Place
€X,XXX
- Grand prize purse
- Winner's trophy
- Global recognition
- Certificate of achievement
2nd Place
€X,XXX
- Runner-up prize purse
- Trophy
- Certificate of achievement
3rd Place
€X,XXX
- Prize purse
- Trophy
- Certificate of achievement
Special Awards
Best AI Innovation
For the team pushing the most technically ambitious use of AI.
Best Design
For the sharpest, most considered product and interface design.
Best Social Impact
For the idea that best addresses a real social or community challenge.
People's Choice
Voted by the entire hackathon community.
Seven stages. One global event.
Dates below are placeholders — the shape of the schedule is final, exact dates land with registration.
- Phase 1
Registration
Sep XX – Oct XXApplications open worldwide. Register solo or with a team.
- Phase 2
Team Formation
Oct XXSolo builders match up. Team channels open on Discord.
- Phase 3
Preparation
Oct XXKickoff livestream, resource walkthroughs, mentor office hours.
- Phase 4
Hackathon
Duration TBABuild your project. Exact duration and format confirmed with registration.
- Phase 5
Submission
Final DayProjects, repos and demo videos due at the closing bell.
- Phase 6
Judging
Following WeekJudges review every submission against the published criteria.
- Phase 7
Winners
AnnouncementResults announced live, prizes awarded, awards ceremony streamed globally.
Four steps to game day.
Register
Reserve your place and complete your registration.
Build Your Team
Join with teammates, or participate independently.
Build
Turn your idea into a working AI-powered solution.
Submit & Pitch
Submit your project and present it to the judging panel.
Who can join
Students, developers, designers, founders, AI builders and innovators from around the world.
Team size
1–4 people per team. Solo entries welcome.
Entry
Paid registration — pricing announced soon.
Format
International / Germany × India. Final format and event locations to be announced.
Experience
Open to different skill levels.
Entry is paid. Here's what it gets you.
Paid registration — pricing announced soon.
Build a Real Project
Ship something real over the course of the event — not a mockup.
Compete Internationally
Go up against builders from India, Germany and beyond.
Present to Judges
Pitch your work to an experienced judging panel.
Connect with Mentors
Get hands-on guidance from mentors while you build.
Meet Other Builders
Build a network of builders across two countries and beyond.
Gain Visibility
Showcase your work to mentors, judges and partner organizations.
University & Industry Exposure
Planned visibility with German university and industry partners in attendance.
Prizes & Recognition
Prizes, certificates and awards — confirmed and announced closer to the event.
Some starting points. Go further.
These are prompts, not limits — the strongest submissions usually take a hard left from this list.
AI Education Platform
Personalized learning that adapts to the student, not the other way around.
AI Business Assistant
An agent that handles the operational work nobody has time for.
AI Productivity Tool
Cut the busywork out of a workflow that shouldn't need a human in the loop.
AI Healthcare Concept
A tool that makes care more accessible, accurate or timely.
AI Sustainability Solution
Use data and models to make a real dent in a real resource problem.
AI Creative Platform
New tools for design, media or content that extend what one person can make.
AI Agent
Something that plans, acts and follows through — not just answers questions.
AI-Powered Application
A full product with AI as the core, not a bolted-on feature.
AI Research Prototype
A proof of concept for an idea that hasn't been built properly yet.
Something Else Entirely
Anything that solves a meaningful real-world problem. Surprise us.
How submissions are scored.
Every project is scored against the same five criteria, by the full judging panel — weighted exactly as shown below.
Technical Execution
Does it work, and is it built well?
Innovation
How original is the approach or idea?
Impact
Would this actually solve the problem it sets out to solve?
User Experience
Is it usable, considered, and well designed?
Presentation
How clearly is the idea communicated in the pitch?
Guided by people who've built this before.
Full roster confirmed closer to the event — here's the panel taking shape.
Judges
Alex Rivera
Head of AI · Durby
Applied ML, AI systems
Sofia Bergström
VP Product · Independent
Product strategy, UX
Daniel Osei
Founder · Independent
Startups, product strategy
Mei Lin Tan
Engineering Director · Independent
Platform, infrastructure
Mentors
Jonas Weber
Senior Engineer · Durby
Backend systems, architecture
Priya Nair
Design Lead · Durby
Product design, prototyping
Marco Ferrari
AI Researcher · Independent
LLMs, agents
Lena Kowalski
Growth Advisor · Independent
Go-to-market, pitching
Everything you need to start building.
Backed by the industry, built for builders.
Partner logos land here as they're confirmed. Interested in partnering? Reach out below.
For Universities & Organizations
Reach the next generation of global builders.
Connect your institution or organization with ambitious students, developers and innovators from India and beyond — planned sponsor benefits are confirmed and shared once available.
Title Partner
Presenting partner of Durby Global Hack.
University Partners
German universities connecting with ambitious students from India and beyond.
Technology Partners
Platform, tooling and infrastructure partners.
Community Partners
Communities helping us reach builders worldwide.
Media Partners
Press and media covering the event.
Want your organization on this list?
Become a PartnerFrequently asked questions.
The event is open worldwide, with a particular focus on ambitious students and young builders in India and Germany.
Ready to build the future?
Your next idea could go further than you think. Registration is open now, worldwide.