about this event
Builders Hack, brought to you by Lyra and Product Counsel. A mystery brief. A weekend to build. Then a room full of people ready to see what you've made. Build from Friday 9 October at 9am through Sunday 11 October, then join us at Lyra on Friday 16 October for demo night. The top 10 teams will present their work, with a $1,000 cash prize plus two mentoring sessions with the Rampersand team up for grabs to help you develop your startup.
Engineers, designers, product people, growth people, students and founders are all welcome. If you like making things and figuring out how they could work in the real world, this is for you.
How it works:
Brief release: Friday 9 October, 9am. Everyone starts with the same mystery challenge. Registered builders will receive the full brief and submission instructions.
Build: Friday 9 October, 9am, through Sunday 11 October. Work remotely to turn your approach into something you can demonstrate.
Submissions due: Monday 12 October, 9am. Get your submission in by the deadline to be considered for demo night.
Top 10 announced: 12–15 October. The 10 teams selected to present will be notified between Monday 12 and Thursday 15 October.
Demo: Friday 16 October. The top 10 teams present what they've built at Lyra's Sydney office. All times are Sydney time (AEDT). The judging panel will be revealed closer to the date.
The prize: $1,000 cash from Product Counsel, plus two mentoring sessions with the Rampersand team to help you develop your startup.
Demo night: Friday 16 October 2026, 6–10pm AEDT, Lyra, Level 7, 20 Windmill Street, Millers Point, Sydney.
Register to take part in the hackathon or come along to watch the demos and meet other builders.
when
Brief release
Everyone starts with the same mystery challenge. Registered builders will receive the full brief and submission instructions.
◍ OnlineBuild weekend
Work remotely to turn your approach into something you can demonstrate.
◍ OnlineSubmissions due
Get your submission in by the deadline to be considered for demo night.
◍ OnlineTop 10 announced
The 10 teams selected to present will be notified between Monday 12 and Thursday 15 October.
◍ OnlineDemo night
The top 10 teams present what they've built at Lyra's Sydney office. The judging panel will be revealed closer to the date.
◍ Lyra, Level 7, 20 Windmill Street, Millers Point, Sydneytickets
| tickets | price | Fee | Status | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Registration | Free | TBA | Available | Register to take part in the hackathon or come along to watch the demos and meet other builders. |
prizes
| # | PRIZE | price |
|---|---|---|
| Top 10 teams | $1,000 cash from Product Counsel, plus two mentoring sessions with the Rampersand team to help you develop your startup | $1,000 |