Collabute X TheBlock. Hackathon

Hosted by Collabute x TheBlock. Join us in Dubai for an intensive one-day AI hackathon bringing together developers, designers, product builders, founders, and AI enthusiasts to build and launch working products in a single day. Participants will use Devin by Cognition, Convex, and Context.dev to turn an idea into a functional prototype before the submission deadline. This is not a pitch-deck competition. Teams are expected to build something real, demonstrate how it works, and explain the problem it solves. Event Details Date: 30 AugustTime: 10:00 AM–6:00 PMLocation: TheBlock, DubaiHosted by: CollabuteCo-hosted by: TheBlockTechnology partners: Devin by Cognition, Convex, and Context.devCommunity partner: TheCircle The Challenge Build an original AI-powered product that solves a real problem. Projects may focus on areas such as: Developer toolsAI agentsProductivity and workplace automationEnterprise softwareFintech and commerceEducationCollaborationKnowledge managementConsumer applicationsCreative toolsSocial impact There is no fixed industry theme. The objective is to create something useful, technically credible, and demonstrable by the end of the event. Every eligible project must meaningfully use all three technology partners: Devin by CognitionConvexContext.dev Simply creating accounts, installing SDKs, or mentioning the technologies in the presentation will not be sufficient. Teams must be able to demonstrate and explain how each technology contributed to the product. Who Should Attend? The hackathon is open to: Software engineersAI engineersProduct designersProduct managersTechnical foundersUniversity studentsIndependent builders Participants of different experience levels are welcome, but every team should be capable of producing a working prototype during the event. You may register with an existing team or form a team at the venue. Speakers and Panelists The event will conclude with a panel discussion featuring leaders from AI, fintech, product, and the regional startup ecosystem: Head of Product at TabbyBehrooz Evans, CEO of CollabuteFounder of TheBlockMENA Lead at Cognition / Devin The discussion will cover building AI products, moving from prototype to production, product execution, and opportunities for founders and builders in the MENA region. Agenda 10:00–10:30 AM — Registration and Opening Participant check-inWelcome from Collabute and TheBlockIntroduction to the challengePartner technology overviewRules and judging criteriaPrize overviewTeam formation and preparation 10:30 AM–12:30 PM — Building Session 1 The hackathon officially begins. Teams will define their problem, select their product direction, divide responsibilities, and begin building the core product. Mentors and partner representatives will be available for technical questions. 12:30–1:00 PM — Lunch Break Lunch, networking, and informal conversations with participants, mentors, and partners. 1:00–3:00 PM — Building Session 2 The main development session. Teams should focus on: Completing the primary user journeyIntegrating Devin, Convex, and Context.devConnecting additional APIs and modelsValidating the core functionalityResolving major technical risksPreparing a stable product demonstration 3:00–3:15 PM — Snack Break A short refreshment break before the final development sprint. 3:15–5:00 PM — Final Building Session Teams complete their prototypes, test their integrations, and prepare their submissions. By the end of this session, each team should have: A working prototypeMeaningful use of all three partner technologiesA clear product demonstrationA concise explanation of the problemA summary of the technical implementationA short presentation for the judges 5:00 PM — Strict Submission Deadline Development ends at exactly 5:00 PM. All projects must be submitted through the official submission form before the deadline. Late submissions may not be accepted. 5:00–5:45 PM — Panel Discussion and Judging The panel discussion will take place while the judging team reviews the submitted projects. Selected teams may be asked to provide a short demonstration or answer questions from the judges. 5:45–6:00 PM — Winner Announcement and Closing First-, second-, and third-place announcementsPrize presentationPartner awards and creditsClosing remarksGroup photos Prizes and Participant Benefits To qualify for the placement prizes, teams must meaningfully integrate Devin, Convex, and Context.dev into their submitted product. First Place The first-place team will receive: $1,000 Convex cash gift card$1,500 in Devin credits100,000 Context.dev credits$1,000 in Collabute credits100% complimentary TheCircle Startup Global Membership, valued at $990Founder interviewPodcast appearanceInvestor Readiness AssessmentFast-track evaluation for TheCircle’s Foundry or Seed Program Second Place The second-place team will receive: $500 Convex cash gift card$1000 in Devin credits$500 in Collabute credits50% off TheCircle Startup Global Membership Third Place The third-place team will receive: $750 in Devin credits$200 in Collabute credits30% off TheCircle Startup Global Membership Every Participant Receives 15,000 Context.dev credits$200 of Devin credits$100 in Collabute credits20% off TheCircle Startup Global Membership, valued at $990 per yearFast-track approval without the standard application processPriority onboardingExclusive Founding AI Builder Cohort status TheCircle’s participant offer will remain valid for 10 days after the hackathon. Hackathon Rules 1. Team Size Teams may include between one and four participants. Each participant may only join one team. Team members cannot be added or replaced after the hackathon begins without approval from the organizers. 2. Build During the Event All meaningful product development must take place during the official hackathon. Participants may prepare their development environment, general-purpose libraries, design systems, reusable tools, and basic project scaffolding in advance. However, the submitted product and its core functionality must be created during the event. Previously completed products, existing commercial applications, or projects substantially built before the hackathon are not eligible. 3. All Three Technologies Are Required Every eligible submission must meaningfully use: Devin by CognitionConvexContext.dev Each technology must contribute directly to the product’s development, infrastructure, functionality, context system, or user experience. A superficial integration, unused SDK installation, logo placement, or simple mention during the presentation will not satisfy this requirement. Failure to meaningfully use all three technologies may result in disqualification from the placement prizes. 4. Additional Technologies Teams may also use additional APIs, frameworks, models, libraries, hosting services, datasets, and third-party tools. These tools may supplement the required partner technologies but cannot replace them. 5. Originality Projects must be original work created by the participating team. Open-source software, templates, public libraries, AI coding tools, and existing datasets may be used where legally permitted. Teams must disclose any major pre-existing components included in their project. 6. Use of AI Tools AI-assisted development is permitted and encouraged. Participants may use Devin, coding assistants, language models, design-generation tools, and other AI systems. Teams must still understand their product and be able to explain, operate, and demonstrate what they have built. 7. Submission Requirements Each team must submit: Project nameTeam member namesShort product descriptionProblem being solvedTarget usersExplanation of how Devin was usedExplanation of how Convex was usedExplanation of how Context.dev was usedRepository or source-code linkDemo link, where availablePresentation or demonstration materialsDisclosure of major pre-existing assets The official submission form will be shared during the opening session. 8. Demonstration Projects must be demonstrable at the end of the hackathon. A deployed production application is not required. Local prototypes are accepted, provided the core product experience and functionality can be clearly demonstrated. Teams should prepare a concise demonstration of approximately three minutes covering: The problemThe productThe working functionalityThe use of Devin, Convex, and Context.devThe project’s potential impact A pre-recorded video may be used as a backup, but teams should be prepared to demonstrate the product live if requested. 9. Intellectual Property Participants retain ownership of the intellectual property they create during the hackathon. By submitting a project, participants allow the organizers and partners to display the project name, description, screenshots, recordings, and demonstration footage for event-related communication and promotion. Participants are responsible for ensuring that their work does not violate the rights of others. 10. Fair Participation Mentors, sponsors, and organizers may provide guidance, but they may not build substantial portions of a team’s project. Participants must not interfere with another team’s work, accounts, systems, devices, data, or development environment. 11. Data and Security Projects must not use unlawfully obtained, confidential, private, or sensitive data. Teams should use test or synthetic data wherever possible and follow reasonable security practices when handling personal information, authentication, financial data, or sensitive functionality. Projects designed to facilitate fraud, compromise systems, cause harm, or violate applicable laws will be disqualified. 12. Code of Conduct All participants must maintain a respectful, professional, and inclusive environment. Harassment, discrimination, plagiarism, sabotage, abusive behavior, deliberate disruption, or unauthorized access to another team’s work may result in immediate removal from the event. Participants must follow all venue and organizer instructions. 13. Submission Deadline The 5:00 PM submission deadline is strict. Teams are responsible for managing their time and successfully submitting their project before the deadline. Technical difficulties, unfinished features, deployment delays, or last-minute changes may not justify an extension. 14. Final Decisions The judging panel’s decisions are final. The organizers may disqualify any team that: Violates the event rulesMisses the submission deadlineMisrepresents its workUses substantially pre-built functionalityFails to meaningfully integrate all three required technologiesEngages in misconduct or unfair participation Judging Criteria Product Value — 25% Does the project solve a clear and meaningful problem? Is it useful to its intended users? Technical Execution — 25% Does the product work? Is the implementation technically credible and sufficiently complete for the available time? Partner Technology Integration — 25% Does the project meaningfully and effectively integrate Devin, Convex, and Context.dev? Are all three technologies essential to the product rather than added superficially? Innovation — 15% Does the project introduce an original idea, interaction, workflow, or technical approach? Demonstration and Clarity — 10% Can the team clearly communicate the problem, solution, product experience, and technical implementation? What to Bring Please bring: A laptop and chargerAny required adaptersAccess to GitHub or another source-control platformAccounts required for your development toolsAny personal equipment needed for building or presentingA valid identification document if required by the venue Internet access, seating, power, lunch, snacks, and refreshments will be provided. Registration Capacity is limited, and submitting a registration does not automatically guarantee admission. Applications may be reviewed to maintain a balanced group of engineers, designers, product builders, founders, and students. Approved participants will receive final venue instructions and event information before the hackathon. Please register only if you can attend the full event from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.