--- title: "AI Builder Hackathon" description: "Hands-on hackathon for freelancers, entrepreneurs and founders. On 18 and 19 January 2027 at Hoeve Hestia from idea to working prototype, with guidance." language: en source: https://coachsteff.live/en/ai-builder-hackathon --- # AI Builder Hackathon [event] [Book your place →](#boek-je-plek) ## You see AI opportunities every day. But you are still not building with them. You have ideas. For yourself. For your clients. For your business. For a tool, an app, a site, a workflow, an assistant. You feel it: **there is something here**. But between inspiration and reality there is usually a frustrating gap. Too many tools. Too many options. Too little focus. Too little time. And above all: too few moments when you actually sit down and finish something. ## Does that sound familiar? - You are an entrepreneur, founder or professional. You see AI opportunities everywhere, but you never quite get to a first working version. - You experiment with ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot or other tools, but it usually stays at loose attempts. - You want to build something useful for your own business or for a wider audience, but you do not know where to start. - You do not feel "technical enough" to just build an app or website yourself, but you are more than sharp enough to properly grasp the idea behind it. - You have had enough of yet another AI talk or inspiration session. You want to make something you can actually use or launch. ## That is why there is the AI Builder Hackathon A two-day hands-on hackathon for **freelancers, entrepreneurs, founders and AI enthusiasts** who want to turn a real idea into a first working solution. Not a classic tech hackathon. No developer jargon. No tool overload. Instead: - you start from your own reality; - you first get clear on **why** this idea matters; - you then define **what** exactly you are going to build; - and only then do you choose **how** to build it in a smart, feasible way. You will be guided by me and my colleagues Hans, Karl and Tom from The House of Coaching. Over two days you will work, with guidance, towards a tangible first version of something you can show, test, share and, if you want to, publish, as: - a website, - a mini-app, - an AI tool, - a workflow, - an agent, - or a publicly usable prototype. Think of a quotation assistant that turns a request into a first proposal, a simple website with a registration form that follows up itself, or an agent that sorts and summarises your inbox every morning. ## Who is this for? This hackathon is for you if you: - are a freelancer and want to tackle repetitive work smarter; - are an entrepreneur and want to turn an idea into a first MVP; - are a founder and want to test something quickly without a full development track; - are an AI enthusiast and want to step out of the experimentation phase; - want to build something without having to be a classic developer. You do not need to be a programmer. You do need to be curious, willing to make choices, and in the mood for two focused building days. ## What you can expect ### Day 1: WHY & WHAT (Monday 18 January 2027) We do not start with tools. We start with your reality. Together you work on: - the problem you really want to solve; - the user or context for which this matters; - the value of your idea; - the scope of the smallest meaningful solution; - a clear plan for what you are going to build over the two days. ### Day 2: HOW & BUILD (Tuesday 19 January 2027) Only then do you start building. With practical guidance you work on: - the first version of your solution; - the right tool choices for your specific case; - testing and iterating; - a demo of what you have built; - a clear next step, so you can continue after the hackathon. ## What you take home After two days you do not leave with just inspiration. You leave with: - a sharply formulated use case; - a first working solution or prototype; - a demo of what you have built; - a clearer view of which tools actually work for your project; - a result you can publish or develop further. ## What do you need? **A laptop** on which you can not only install software yourself, but also build apps and run them locally. **At least one of these licences.** One platform is enough. - ChatGPT Pro or ChatGPT Business - Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra - Google Workspace Business or Enterprise with Gemini - Claude Pro, Max or Team - GitHub Copilot **To install beforehand** - One code editor of your choice: [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com), [Cursor](https://cursor.com), [Craft Agents](https://www.thecraftagents.com), [ChatGPT Desktop](https://chatgpt.com) or [Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai) - [Google Antigravity](https://antigravity.google) - [Git](https://git-scm.com) - [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md) > **Important.** You only need one code editor. If you work on a managed laptop, ask your IT department beforehand if you are allowed to install and use development tools like Git. Craft Agents is a separate application and is not the same as Craft. ## Why this place works The AI Builder Hackathon takes place at [**Hoeve Hestia**](https://www.karlmortier.be/hoeve-hestia), Dikkebusseweg 299, 8900 Ieper, Belgium. A new place for peace, connection and growth in the Westhoek, on a two-hectare estate with greenery, a pond and wide views. Hoeve Hestia welcomes groups of up to 20 people, has four guest rooms and is explicitly designed for retreats, teams and multi-day programmes. That is no detail. Because really building requires more than tools. It requires **focus, peace and distance from the daily noise**. That is exactly the experience Hoeve Hestia was made for: slowing down, connecting, growing. ## Book your place [event] *An initiative by CoachSteff in collaboration with [The House of Coaching](https://thehouseofcoaching.com).* ### Without overnight stay **OPTION A · € 1,512.50 incl. VAT per person** *Two days · all meals included* [Book your place →](https://buy.stripe.com/dRmcN5705emPdM76m2fUQ00) ### With overnight stay **OPTION B · € 1,645.60 incl. VAT per person** *Full immersion · private room · breakfast* [Book your place →](https://buy.stripe.com/fZu28r0BH2E79vR25MfUQ02) ## Frequently asked questions **When and where does the AI Builder Hackathon take place?** - On Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 January 2027 at Hoeve Hestia, Dikkebusseweg 299, 8900 Ieper, in the Westhoek. You choose between two days without an overnight stay, with all meals, or with an overnight stay in a private room. **What time does the hackathon start and end?** - Both days there is a welcome from 09:00. We start at 09:30 and finish at 16:30. **Where can I stay overnight?** - At the farm there are four guest rooms (option B), as long as there is space. There are a maximum of 12 participants, so not everyone can sleep at the farm. In and around Ieper you will find plenty of hotels a short drive away. **Do I need to know how to program to participate?** - No. The hackathon is made for people without a programming background. You do need to be curious, dare to make choices and be in the mood for two focused building days. **What laptop and licence do I need?** - A laptop on which you are allowed to install software yourself and can run apps locally, and a paid licence for one AI platform: ChatGPT Pro or Business, Google AI Pro or Ultra, Google Workspace Business or Enterprise with Gemini, Claude Pro, Max or Team, or GitHub Copilot. What you install beforehand is listed above under What do you need? **Who guides the hackathon?** - I will guide you together with my colleagues Hans, Karl and Tom from The House of Coaching. **Who is the hackathon for?** - For freelancers, entrepreneurs, founders and AI enthusiasts who want to turn a real idea into a first working solution, such as a website, mini-app, AI tool, workflow or agent. **What do I take home?** - A sharply formulated use case, a first working solution or prototype, a demo of what you built, a clearer view of which tools work for your project and clear next steps. ## And after the hackathon? Do you want to continue after these two days? Then you can continue building at your own pace with the full online toolbox of [Leverage](https://coachsteff.live/leverage). Or you choose [Leap](https://coachsteff.live/leap): a year of coaching and support from me, in a small group of at most twelve people. [Discover the learning space →](https://coachsteff.live/learn)