Indy Init 2026

About the challenge

Build something useful—and show how you made it trustworthy.

Indy Init is a free, one-day AI Builders Hackathon & Conference hosted by Indy Hackers on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Launch Fishers.

Working solo or in teams of up to four, start with a blank repository and use AI to build a production-grade app addressing a problem you choose. Show the engineering behind your app: the standards, tests, security, and delivery process that make your approach repeatable.

Compete for three prizes: Software Factory, Community Impact, and Wildcard. Judges visit your table to see your demo and discuss your technical decisions.

Get started

Register free at indyinit.com. Throughout the day, explore sessions on Building with AI, Building the Factory, and Building an AI Career.

Event schedule — Eastern Time

• 8:00 AM: Check-in
• 9:00 AM: Welcome
• 9:30 AM–5:00 PM: Build
• 10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Conference sessions
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Judging and awards
• 6:00–9:00 PM: Social happy hour