Idea to Prototype: A Climate & Energy Hackathon

Interested in using AI to solve a real world/life problem? Come find out. Let’s do it together. This Hackathon is a fast-paced, one-day event where you'll go from idea to working prototype — with real teammates, real tools, and a real plan to test what you build. The event builds on climate and energy challenges inspired by the Upskilling Labs' “Build Cycle,” a thematic 12-week program where participants work on real-world problems and build practical solutions. No previous involvement or AI-capacity required. This event is for you if: You're curious about AI but haven't gotten hands-on with it yet. You care about climate and want to do something beyond reading about it. You want to meet people who are actually making things and working to change the status quo. Come with an open and curious mind. Choose your Track: If you are a Newcomer: Welcome! Join a beginner-friendly morning track where you'll get hands-on with AI tools and learn how to turn an idea into something you can actually show someone. In the afternoon, you'll get a look inside what the pods are building. If you are an Upskiller in the Climate and Energy Build Cycle, join the Pod Sprint: Welcome! You are invited to join a Pod (a small research team focused on a specific environmental challenge) in a Pod Sprint (a structured team problem-solving session). During the day, each person: Shares their perspective on the problem. Helps identify promising directions with their Pod. Chooses one idea to explore. Builds a simple prototype. Creates a plan to test it with a real user. By the end of the day, everyone leaves with a prototype and a plan to test it in the real world. Schedule: 9:00am — Light Breakfast 9:30 Newcomer Track: About The Upskilling Labs and what to expect. 10:00 Newcomer Track: Workshop — Design Thinking led by Emily Modde, Sr. Product Manager. Build a product with the actual user in mind. 10:50 Newcomer Track: Workshop — The Economics of Building with AI led by Tommy Shen, Founder of anthologist.ai. 11:20 Newcomer Track: Pod Briefing. 11:30 — All: Lunch. 1:00 Newcomer Track: Workshop — From Prompt to Prototype (led by AJ Bubb, AI Strategist and Founder of MXP Studio) Learn how to go from a rough idea to a working prototype using AI tools — no coding background required. 3:30 — All: Pod member prototype presentations. 4:30 — All: Depart for Happy Hour. About The Upskilling Labs: The Upskilling Labs is an open, project-based learning community prioritizing building real things with real people. Every quarter, we run a “Build Cycle” themed around an industry or topic — participants form “pods” around real problems, develop and test AI-enabled solutions together, and showcase what they've built. No credentials required. Just show up ready to learn alongside others.