Hackyard mark

Come build in the yard.

Small solo AI hackathons. One theme, one build week: ship something by Friday, then the whole community votes over the weekend. No judges. No gatekeepers. Just builders.

  • Community-voted
  • Solo, Mon to Fri
  • Any AI model
  • Capped small
Join Yard #3
See the schedule

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Builders in the community

0

Projects shipped

Yard #3 · UPCOMING

Current yard

// Reigning champion

The build that won the yard

headzoo's winning build

@headzoo

Yard #2

Demo https://splatlab.games Splat Lab! is a child-friendly game-building app that helps young creators turn ideas into real, playable games without needing to write code. Instead of opening with a complicated editor, the app begins with simple, imaginative choices. A child chooses a game type, selects a world, picks a hero, and immediately sees those decisions reflected in a live game preview.

See the build →

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// How it works

How a Yard works

01

Grab a spot

Sign in with GitHub or email. Yards cap small. When it's full, join the waitlist. Check in before kickoff to keep your spot.

02

Build

One theme, the work week, any model you like. Monday to Friday, solo. Scrappy beats polished.

03

Ship

Drop your repo, a demo video, and a screenshot by Friday. The community votes over the weekend.

// How Yards run

Build the week. Vote the weekend. Crown on Sunday.

Yards run the 1st and 3rd week of every month, Monday to Sunday. Same rhythm every time, so you can plan around it.

Next kickoff Mon, Sep 21Full schedule →

  1. Mon01

    Kickoff

    18:00 UTC · 2:00 PM ET

  2. Mon → Fri02

    Build

    Solo. Any AI model.

  3. Fri03

    Ship

    18:00 UTC · 2:00 PM ET

  4. Fri → Sun04

    Vote

    The community decides.

  5. Sun05

    Champion

    Crowned 6:00 PM ET

// On the calendar

Up next

Yard #3

upcoming

One Screen

One Screen.

2026-09-21 18:00 UTC → 2026-09-25 18:00 UTC

// Yard #3 capacity

12 / 30 claimed

Small by design

// Capped small

Pop-up hackathons, capped small.

  • ✓Every Yard sets its own cap, usually a few dozen builders
  • ✓Small enough that every single project gets seen
  • ✓When a Yard fills, the waitlist moves automatically as spots open
See the Yards →

// Yard #3 brief

upcoming
Theme
One Screen.
Model
Your choice
Window
Mon to Fri

Same constraints. Different ideas.

// One theme, any model

One theme. One build week. Any model.

  • ✓A sharp theme sets the challenge, the same one for everyone
  • ✓Bring whatever AI model you want; the theme is the constraint
  • ✓One vote per builder, counts hidden until it's over
Get in the yard →

// Hall of fame

Champions

See all champions →

// Questions

FAQ

What's a Yard?

A small pop-up hackathon. A sharp theme drops, a capped group builds Monday to Friday, everyone ships, and the community votes over the weekend. That's the whole thing.

When do Yards happen?

The 1st and 3rd week of every month, Monday to Sunday. Kickoff Monday 18:00 UTC, ship Friday 18:00 UTC, champion crowned Sunday evening. Same rhythm every time.

How many people get in?

Depends on the Yard, usually a few dozen. Small on purpose, so every build gets eyes on it.

Does it cost anything to join?

No. Claiming a spot and building in a Yard is free.

Can I use any AI model?

Almost always, yes. Bring whatever you use, or no AI at all. The theme is the constraint, not the model. A Yard can name a model (usually a sponsor's), and its page says so up front.

What if I can't make it?

Release your spot so the waitlist moves. And if you don't check in before kickoff, your spot releases on its own, so a full Yard stays a Yard full of builders.

Teams?

Not yet. Solo builders only. You'd be surprised what one person ships in a week.

What do winners get?

The Champion badge on your profile, a spot in the Hall of Fame, a featured writeup, and a year pinned to the home page. Some Yards add a cash prize pool, stated up front.

First time building alone? Read our guide to AI hackathons for solo developers.

The yard is open.

COMMUNITY DRIVEN AI HACKATHONS.

Join Yard #3