about this event
On-Device AI Hackathon: Cleared for Takeoff ✈️ What if you could build an AI application that works, even when the Wi-Fi doesn't? Your flight is preparing for takeoff. Once the cabin doors close, your connection to the cloud disappears. Before switching to airplane mode, you have one mission: build an AI project that runs entirely on-device. In this hands-on hackathon from Qualcomm × Liquid AI, you'll team up with a flight crew of up to four people to build with Liquid Foundation Models (LFMs) and Qualcomm iQ9s. At the end of the night, we'll turn off the Wi-Fi and put every project to the test. Will your project survive offline?
Why on-device AI? Unlike traditional AI applications that depend on cloud servers, on-device AI runs models directly on the user's hardware. That means your product can benefit from: Low latency ⚡ Greater user privacy 🔒 No server inference costs 💸 Offline functionality 📴
Who this is for 👨💻 Developers who want to ship AI features without an inference bill 🤖 ML and AI engineers curious about deploying models beyond the cloud ⚙️ Edge, embedded, and robotics engineers building against real hardware constraints 🚀 Founders and product managers evaluating on-device versus cloud AI 🎓 Students and self-taught builders who want to leave having built something real. You don't need previous on-device development experience. If you can run a script, you can join the flight.
Teams may have up to four people. You can arrive with a team or meet your crew at the event.
Event details 🗓️ November 13, 2026 🕔 5:00–9:00 PM 📍 San Francisco 🍱 Food and drinks will be provided
Your Flight Crew ✈️ Heath Blandford — Developer Relations at Qualcomm (LinkedIn · X) and Viviana Márquez — Developer Relations at Liquid AI (LinkedIn · X)
Agenda 5:00–6:00 PM: Doors open, food and networking 6:00–6:30 PM: On-device AI workshop 6:30–8:30 PM: Team building session 8:30–9:00 PM: Project showcase, judging and awards
Prizes 🏆 First-place team: Qualcomm iQ9s; Second-place team: Rubik Pi boards
Capacity is limited. Request clearance, assemble your crew and prepare for takeoff.
By registering for and attending this event, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken during the event and may be used by Qualcomm and Liquid AI on social media, websites, and other promotional materials.
tracks
On-Device AI
Build an AI project that runs entirely on-device with Liquid Foundation Models (LFMs) and Qualcomm iQ9s, then test it offline once the Wi-Fi is turned off.
when
On-Device AI Hackathon: Cleared for Takeoff ✈️
Doors open, food and networking (5:00–6:00 PM), on-device AI workshop (6:00–6:30 PM), team building session (6:30–8:30 PM), project showcase, judging and awards (8:30–9:00 PM).
◍ San Francisco, CAtickets
| tickets | price | Fee | Status | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Admission | Free | TBA | Available | Free entry to the hackathon; capacity is limited, so register to request clearance. |
prizes
| # | PRIZE | price |
|---|---|---|
| First-place team | Qualcomm iQ9s | TBA |
| Second-place team | Rubik Pi boards | TBA |