Google DeepMind backs Stockholm AI hackathon for founders and developers
Google DeepMind is supporting a new AI hackathon in Stockholm that will bring founders, engineers, and researchers together to build early-stage AI products in a single day.
The event, organized with Lovable and the Tech: Europe community, will take place on March 28 at Lovable’s headquarters in Stockholm. Participants will be challenged to build the minimum viable product (MVP) of a potential startup, reflecting a broader shift toward rapid AI prototyping as development tools become more accessible.
The initiative highlights how developer communities and AI companies are increasingly using hackathons to accelerate startup formation, attract talent, and test new ideas built on emerging AI models.
Hackathon focused on startup creation
The Stockholm hackathon will host up to 90 participants across several categories including founders, engineers, researchers, students, and product or design professionals.
The event schedule includes networking sessions, team matchmaking, development time, and a live demo session where participants present the products they build during the day.
Joseph Michael, Venture Partnerships at Google, highlighted the event in a LinkedIn post, pointing to the speed at which founders can now turn ideas into working products. “I really love the challenge: Build the MVP of your next company,” he wrote.
Michael added that advances in AI development tools have lowered barriers for startup experimentation: “It's never been easier to build. Who knows, you might meet your co-founder, start a new company, and raise capital from this event. Sounds crazy, but it has happened before (look at Gro.app).”
AI tools and ecosystem partners
The event is hosted at Lovable’s Stockholm headquarters. Lovable develops software that allows users to create apps and websites through conversational AI.
Several ecosystem partners are supporting the hackathon, including AI agent platform Dust and early-stage venture capital fund Visionaries Club. Founders House is also participating as a community partner focused on early-stage builders.
Participants will receive credits from partner platforms during the event to support development of their prototypes.
Organizers say the hackathon is designed to help founders and developers experiment with AI technologies while connecting with investors, collaborators, and other builders in the European startup ecosystem.
Part of a wider European developer network
The Stockholm event is part of a wider series of developer gatherings organized by Tech: Europe, which hosts hackathons and technology events across cities including London, Berlin, Paris, Munich, and Stockholm.
Events like these are becoming more common across the AI sector as companies and developer communities look for ways to identify new startup ideas and encourage experimentation with emerging models and tools.
The Stockholm edition will run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., concluding with live product demonstrations and an awards ceremony.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 are now open and recognize education technology organizations delivering measurable impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning. The awards are open to entries from the UK, the Americas, and internationally, with submissions assessed on evidence of outcomes and real-world application.
