First place at the AI Buildathon in Malta

Amedeo Cecconi and Philip Giuppini working at the AI Buildathon in Gzira

News

23 April 2026

2 min

By Devhook

On 22 April 2026 Amedeo and Philip took part in the AI Buildathon hosted by Smooth Operators and Crypto Hub Malta in Gzira. Devhook took first place.

The rules are simple: a live raffle assigns each team a random idea submitted by someone in the room. From that moment there are two hours to build something that works, then every team presents in front of everyone and the room votes.

The teams at the AI Buildathon — The teams at the end of the night.

Why we like this format

Two hours on an idea you did not choose is close to what our work looks like on a good day: a problem brought by someone else, a fixed time box, and no room for a slide deck instead of software. It is the same logic as our four-week cycles, compressed into an evening.

Amedeo and Philip with the organisers after the award — With the organisers after the vote.

Thanks to Smooth Operators for organising one of the best builder events we have attended, and to Crypto Hub Malta, one of the hubs Devhook works with, for the collaboration and the energy it brings to the island's tech scene.