Put your tools on the tables at a Crackathon™
Crackathons™ are short, social AI hackathons we run with universities and the communities around them, all year round. Sponsor one and students, researchers and innovation teams build with your tools on real challenges, in person or online.
An AI hackathon in a cracker, built around real challenges
AI is changing how ideas get made. Tools that turn a sentence into a sketch, a plan or a working prototype are now in everyone's hands, but most students and teams haven't had the chance to try them properly.
A Crackathon™ is a hackathon run with a university and its community, built around the cracker: every team pulls one and finds a prompt and the story behind it. Teams crack a real challenge, picture the answer with AI, build just enough to test it, and share what they made. Your tools are on the tables alongside others, and teams choose what suits the task. Two hours or 48, in person or online, any time of year.
Four reasons to sponsor a Crackathon™
Your tools, used for real
Teams build with your tools on real challenges against a deadline, not in a demo.
Chosen on merit
We are vendor agnostic, so when teams pick your tool it is because it suited the task. That is feedback worth having.
One route into a whole ecosystem
Reach students, researchers, spinouts and innovation teams from the university's business network in one programme.
Credit for opening up access
Be recognised across the programme, its events and its community for helping more people try the tools shaping their future.
And it fits any moment
Your tools wherever people gather
Crackathons™ run all year: welcome weeks, the end of term, team celebrations, project wraps, and our Christmas edition every December. Sponsor one or a season of them, and teams leave having tried your tools on something real, knowing what they want to keep using.
In their words
Choose how you show up
Credits and access
Give teams credits or extended access so they can build properly, not just sign up.
A challenge track
Set a challenge that shows what your kind of tool does best. Teams still choose their tools.
Prizes
Fund a prize for the best way of cracking a problem, judged on the thinking, not the tool.
People at the tables
Send builders or developer advocates to coach teams, in person or online.
Everything it takes, done for you
You bring the tools and the backing. We bring the university, the people, the format and the coaches, and make sure your support reaches the teams who will use it.
The university and its community
Hackathons run with university partners, open to students, researchers, staff and the innovation teams around them.
The format and the challenges
A run sheet, challenge cards and a judging rubric, so teams get straight to building.
Coaches and AI makers
People who build with AI every day, at the tables helping teams get the most from the tools.
A round-up you can share
Photographs, quotes and a write-up afterwards, with credit for your support.
Three things from you
- Credits, access or infrastructure teams can use during the run.
- A budget for prizes, if you would like to fund them.
- A contact who can help teams if they get stuck with your tools.
What you take away
- Your tools used on real challenges by students, researchers and innovation teams.
- A view of how they chose and used AI tools, and why.
- Recognition across the programme, its events and its community, and a round-up to share.
Talk to us
Put your tools on the tables at the next Crackathon™
Tell us about your tools and what you'd like to make possible, and we'll show you where they fit. A real person reads every message and replies by email.
We will reply from hello@agentbuild.club within 48 hours.
Questions
Questions sponsors ask
What does it cost to sponsor a Crackathon™?
It depends on the format, how long it runs and whether it is in person or online. A short online starter costs far less than a 48-hour sprint with coaches in the room. Tell us what you have in mind and we will send a simple proposal.
Who takes part?
Your people: students, staff, clients or a community you want to reach. If you would like to meet new people too, we can open places to the Agent Build Club community.
Do people need to know about AI already?
No. Coaches show everyone the tools on the day, and every Crackathon starts with ideas, not code. Builders who want to go further can.
Can we set the challenge?
Yes. Bring a real problem or a theme and we will turn it into the prompts inside your crackers, to suit the format and your people. If you would rather keep it light, we can write challenges for the occasion instead.
Who owns what gets made?
Participants own their work. You and we can show it with their consent, and anything more specific, such as confidentiality, is agreed before the day.
Can our AI tools be part of it?
Yes. Teams can use your tools with credits you provide, and we credit your support. We do not endorse products, and teams choose what suits the task.
When can it run?
Any time of year. Our Christmas edition runs every December, and we design Crackathons for welcome weeks, away days, team celebrations and project wraps whenever you need one. The earlier you talk to us, the more dates and formats we can offer.
Is it a Christmas thing?
Only if you want it to be. Crackers are for any celebration, and so are Crackathons. Our Christmas edition plays on the Christmas cracker for fun, and you don't need to celebrate Christmas to take part. Agent Build Club is open to all, with no religious affiliation.