Hackathon format & key facts
Organized detailsOverview
Registration is open for the free Crossroads AI Hackathon on 9–11 October 2026 in Sofia, where individuals and teams of up to five build and pitch a working AI prototype.
Complete hackathon details
The programme is free, capped at 200 participants and does not require a Crossroads conference ticket. Participants may register individually or as a team and can form or join teams on site. The build days include mentoring and workspace support. Organizers currently plan to select up to five standout teams to pitch at Crossroads, subject to adjustment; only the regional winner pathway can progress toward the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, so no investment or advancement is guaranteed.
Eligibility requirements
Open to developers, AI/vibe coders, founders, designers and business professionals who can contribute to building an AI project. Participants may register individually or in teams of up to five.
Tips for this hackathon
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Read the rules, eligibility, judging criteria, required technologies and intellectual-property terms before forming your submission plan.
- Build a complementary team early and assign product, engineering, design, research and presentation responsibilities clearly.
- Optimize for the published judging rubric: demonstrate a real problem, working solution, measurable impact and a concise live demo.
- Prepare the repository, pitch deck, demo video and submission links before the final hours so upload or platform problems do not invalidate the entry.
- Check whether travel, finalist presentations, team-size limits or mandatory attendance apply before committing.
Verification notes
Current organizer page explicitly says registration is open, participation is free, capacity is 200, dates are 9–11 October 2026 in Sofia, team size is up to five and no conference ticket is needed. It also cautions that pitch-selection numbers are subject to organizer adjustment and does not promise investment.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
StartUp Bulgaria — Crossroads ↗Browse current Job and Scholarship listings from StartUp Bulgaria — Crossroads →
