AI Hackathon

In Autumn 2024, I Organised an AI-First Innovation Hackathon

Bringing together teams from across the company, we built, pitched, and competed for top prizes. It wasn't just about AI—it was about creativity, problem-solving, and real impact. The energy was electric as ideas took shape, pushing the boundaries of automation and innovation.

More than just a competition, this event sparked real change, proving that AI isn't the future—it's happening now.

🌍 Bristol BT Group | 100+ Attendees | AI Hackathon

The AI-First Innovation Day Hackathon – A High-Energy Sprint to the Future

It started with a vision—a space where AI, creativity, and competition could collide. But bringing it to life? That was a whole different challenge.

I knew an Innovation Day was necessary to show teams at all levels what's possible when we focus and make room for AI-driven innovation. With that, I set up and managed the event—from securing sponsorships and assembling a panel of top judges to curating the right mix of developers, designers, and product experts. Every detail, from the event structure to the tools available, was designed to fuel fast innovation.

And when the doors opened on the morning of the hackathon, the energy was electric.

The Challenge: Build & Pitch an AI Innovation in a Single Day

Over 60 participants filled the room, with another 60 joining online. They split into six teams, each a blend of developers, designers, and product minds. The mission? Turn any AI-driven idea into a functional proof of concept using all the AI tools at our disposal—before the clock runs out.

With low-code and no-code tools, no one was held back by technical barriers. Everyone could contribute, from seasoned engineers to product managers with no AI background. It wasn't about technical ability—it was about execution. Could they bring an idea to life fast enough?

Judgment Time: Presenting to Industry Leaders

As the countdown ended, teams rushed to polish their pitches. The stakes were high. Their ideas would be judged by a panel of senior leaders, including:

• Engineering Directors

• Head of Data & AI

• Wholesale Propositions Leaders

With presentations in full swing, seeing how far each team had come in just a few hours was incredible. Prototypes were live, concepts were refined, and the pitches were sharp, confident, and packed with real-world potential.

The Award Moment: 60 People, Big Prizes, and a Grand Finale

After hours of intense building, it was time to celebrate. Over 60 people gathered in the room as we announced the winners—prizes in hand, excitement at its peak.

Our sponsorship partners brought merch, giveaways, and exclusive rewards, ensuring no one left empty-handed. But beyond the swag, the biggest reward was seeing how AI could break barriers and drive innovation unexpectedly.

What started as an idea became one of the year's most engaging, high-energy AI events. The results? It is not just a new concept but a fundamental shift in how people see AI—not as a distant future, but as a tool they could use now.

The best part? Weeks later, some of the hackathon's ideas were put into production—a true testament to the power of innovation when you give people the space to create.

And this was only the beginning.

Thomas Archer