One real problem in. One working solution out.
The AI Fixathon takes a company’s real operational problem and puts multiple teams on it at once — competing, side by side, on the same brief. No toy briefs, no throwaway demos: deep scoping up front, judging on withheld test sets and live code review, and a winning build the business can actually adopt.
The Fixathon is not an event you attend — it is a network that closes a loop.
- 48h Focused, mentored building
- Compete Multiple teams, one real brief
- Adopt A winner the business can use
Five stages from real brief to adopted build.
Multiple teams build competing solutions, live — on the same brief. The path from a real operational problem to something the business can actually adopt:
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A real problem
A company brings a real operational problem — the way the business actually runs.
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We scope it deep
Before any code, we lock the data, the rules and the definition of a win.
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Teams compete
Multiple teams build competing solutions, side by side, on the same brief.
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Judged for real
Withheld test sets, dual scoring and live code review pick the winner.
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First right to adopt
The challenge owner gets first right to adopt the winning solution.
The people behind the 48 hours.
A small, hands-on team that matches builders to problems, lines up mentors and tooling, and keeps 48 hours pointed at something real.
- Ana Costa Head of Getting It Done
- Luisa Lima Head of Wizardry and Tech
- Rui Amaro Head of "Been there, happy to help"
- Ana Barros Head of "I Know a Guy"
Fresh from the build floor.
Essays, updates and announcements from the team.
- What is a Fixathon? Several teams build solutions to one company's real operational problem over 48 hours, using that company's own data — so the company chooses between working prototypes, not proposals.
- Fit before scale Why an operations director should watch software run before reshaping the organisation around it.
- Buy by building For software that has to be built, the most revealing procurement process is the one you can watch.
Questions, answered.
The short version of how the AI Fixathon works.
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What is a Fixathon?
A Fixathon is a competition where several companies each bring a real operational challenge, and multiple teams compete to build solutions for each challenge over 48 hours using the company’s own data. By the end of the event, every challenge owner has several working prototypes to compare instead of proposals to read.
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How is a Fixathon different from a hackathon?
The difference is preparation. Each challenge is scoped in advance so it is realistically finishable as a Proof of Concept in the time available, every brief ships with real operational data, and the success criteria are agreed before anyone starts coding.
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Who takes part?
Three groups: challenge owners (companies and public bodies who bring a real problem), fixers (engineers, designers and AI builders who build the solutions), and sponsors (who fuel the 48 hours).
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How are entries judged?
Judging uses withheld test sets, dual scoring and live code review. The challenge owner gets first right to adopt the winning build.
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Where and when does it happen?
The AI Fixathon runs in Porto, Portugal. Check upcoming editions.
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What does it cost to take part as a fixer?
Fixers build alongside mentors with AI tooling and credits provided, and leave with a portfolio piece that has a real customer attached. To apply, use the “Apply as a fixer” form.