AI After Hours: THE IBM BOB HACKATHON

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Hack. Build. Win $$. A live AI sprint powered by IBM Bob, where ideas become real products. AI After Hours | An ARC X Zellus Networking Initiative | Huntsville, Alabama.

THE IBM BOB HACKATHON: AI-Assisted. Human-Driven. Want to win from a $1,000 prize pool using AI to design, build, and demonstrate? The IBM Bob Hackathon is the flagship "live-build" competition of AI After Hours — a premier innovation ecosystem where applied research, entrepreneurial execution, and next-generation AI development converge. In this high-intensity competition, competitors don't just brainstorm — they architect, build, and launch live applications powered by IBM BoB — in two hours! Participants harness IBM Bob's AI-native development environment to transform raw concepts into functional, launch-ready products at extraordinary speed. Experience in vibe coding or platforms is helpful, but great ideas and execution are the highest determinants of success. This is not a pitch contest. It is a production challenge. Every solution must be built on IBM Bob. You can compete individually or team up with one other person.

THE BASICS: The IBM Bob Hackathon is a high-velocity, 2-hour live-build competition where single competitors or teams of two design, develop, and demo a working application using IBM Bob — in real time. This is not a pitch competition. This is a live execution challenge. All meaningful development must occur during the official build window. Compete with fellow builders to create impactful AI-powered solutions, tackle real-world challenges, and showcase what happens when human creativity meets enterprise AI.

THE PRE-REQUISITES: Download the Free Trial of IBM BoB to your computer before attending the Hackathon event. The IBM team will be there to assist if there are any questions.

COMPETITION FORMAT: Kickoff & Category Selection — 10-minute briefing and declaration of build requirements. Live Build Sprint — 2 hours of real-time product development using IBM Bob. Judging — While the judges review the apps, participants or attendees will eat a catered dinner. Finalist and Award Presentation — 5-minute stage presentation per team.

OFFICIAL REQUIREMENTS: At kickoff, the official challenge will be revealed. No participant will know the full details in advance — everyone starts on equal footing. All projects will be evaluated within the context of the selected category and official judging rubric. To compete: Your application must be built primarily using IBM Bob. Core functionality must be developed within the IBM Bob platform. All development must occur during the 2-hour live build window. Pre-built applications are strictly prohibited — your IBM Bob workspace and account may be inspected at any time. No third-party APIs are permitted to ensure a level playing field. You may include up to 500 words of written instructions or context to support your demo if needed. Judges may request a live walkthrough of your IBM Bob workflow to verify platform usage.

IMPORTANT — PARTICIPANTS UNDER 18: In accordance with The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Child Protection Policy (06.09.01) and Mandatory Reporting Policy (06.09.04), all minors must be appropriately supervised at all times. A parent or legal guardian must accompany all participants under the age of 18 throughout the event. The accompanying adult must remain on-site and be directly responsible for the minor at all times. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in immediate denial of entry or removal from the event. No exceptions will be made. Participation by minors constitutes acknowledgment and acceptance of these conditions.

ORIGINALITY & INTEGRITY: All ideas and builds must be original to your team. No recycled projects. No pre-developed applications. No copying other teams' ideas or structures. No direct copying of previous programs or uploading of screenshots of comparable software. Violations may result in immediate disqualification.

JUDGING CRITERIA (subject to change based on the challenge): Effective Use of IBM Bob — how powerfully and intelligently did you leverage IBM Bob? Judges are looking for advanced prompting, rapid iteration, and clear AI-native execution. Prior experience isn't required — but those who master the tool will stand out. Functional Execution — does it work cleanly, reliably, and without explanation? Judges will interact with your product independently. If it's not intuitive or breaks under pressure, it will cost you. You may include up to 500 words of supporting context. Innovation — how bold is your thinking? Judges are looking for originality, creativity, and solutions that go beyond the obvious. Safe ideas won't win. Real-World Relevance — does this solve a real problem for a real user? Strong submissions demonstrate clear use cases, practical value, and potential beyond the competition. User Experience — is it seamless, intuitive, and compelling? Great ideas fail without strong execution. The best products feel effortless to use. Judges' decisions are final. Execution determines the winner.

TIPS TO WIN: Bring a buddy! AI will be helping you, but another human will make all the difference. They too can bring their own laptop to look up ideas, document progress, or write explanations. Always be prompting! Download the Free Trial of IBM BoB to your computer before attending the Hackathon event. Be concise! Like people, AI thrives on specifics. Clearly define what you want. Also avoid large lists of tasks in a single prompt. Break down all instructions into smaller segments to maintain control.

AWARDS: $1,000 Prize Pool — 1st Place $400, 2nd Place $300, 3rd Place $200, Honorable Mention $100.

WHO SHOULD JOIN: Builders, doers, and fast thinkers. The IBM Bob Hackathon is designed for individuals who want to move beyond ideas and into execution. Founders & Aspiring Entrepreneurs — test an idea, validate a concept, or build your next MVP — fast. Engineers & Technical Builders — push your speed, experiment with AI-native development, and ship under pressure. Students & Early-Career Talent — stand out by building something real — not just talking about it. Designers & Product Thinkers — shape user experience, define product flow, and bring ideas to life visually. Non-Technical Innovators — if you can think clearly and communicate effectively, Lovable will help you build. You don't need to be an expert. You need to be ready to build. If you're comfortable moving fast, learning on the fly, and executing under pressure — this is for you. Remember, IBM Bob is the core of this competition. You'll need to use it — effectively. So get familiar with it!

WHO SHOULD NOT JOIN: This competition isn't for everyone — and that's intentional. If you're looking to just watch or "see how it goes" — this is a build-first environment, passive participation won't cut it. If you rely on slides instead of products — there are no pitch decks here; if it doesn't work live, it doesn't compete. If you're uncomfortable with pressure — you have 2 hours, no extensions, no resets; execution happens in real time. If you plan to reuse old work — everything starts from zero; pre-built ideas or recycled projects will be disqualified. If you don't want to engage with AI tools — IBM Bob is the core of this competition, you'll need to use it effectively. This is for builders who move fast, think clearly, and ship under pressure. If that's not you, this won't be your environment.

The event runs Thursday, September 17, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM, approximately 3 hours in person at I2C, 850 Ben Graves Drive, Huntsville, AL 35899. Questions? Contact arc@uah.edu. Organized by UAH Invention to Innovation Center.

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