About Niteco AI Hackathon 2026
On 9-10 May 2026, Niteco AI Hackathon 2026 was held across both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offices, bringing together 16 teams from across both offices and a total prize pool of $2,200.
Centered around the topic of AI, the competition was designed to bring the company’s AI-First vision to life, encouraging employees to explore new technologies, experiment with ideas, and apply them to real-world challenges. The event also created a vibrant space for collaboration, where teams stepped out of their daily routines and built something new together.
A 48-Hour journey from idea to reality
On the morning of May 9, Niteco AI Hackathon 2026 officially kicked off with an opening speech by Mr. Pelle Niklasson, CEO of Niteco. He highlighted the growing importance of AI in the future of businesses and expressed excitement to see the ideas the teams would bring to life.
Then, it was game on. Over the next 48 hours, teams jumped into action, turning ideas into features, shaping prototypes, and prepping demos. Some ideas got changed along the way, some got improved, and others took a totally different turn after testing things out.
The clock was ticking, but creativity didn’t slow down - and the energy stayed strong throughout.
Pitching to impress the judges
The Niteco AI Hackathon 2026 judging panel consisted of 5 Niteco leaders and key experts with extensive experience delivering technology projects for global clients.
Mr. Pelle Niklasson – CEO Niteco
Mr. Do Hong Khanh – Head of System Architecture
Mr. Quach Man Tien – Head of HCM Delivery
Mr. Le Hoang Hung – System Architecture Lead
Mr. Dang Viet Hung – System Architecture
The panel followed clear criteria, including AI relevance, innovation, feasibility, business value, presentation quality, and team collaboration. Rather than perfection, they valued originality - plus the curiosity and passion that drive the idea.
The Pitching & Demo stage was where all ideas finally got their moment to shine. In just 7 minutes, each team had to explain the problem, show how their solution works, and why it matters. Then came the Q&A with the judges, which turned up the heat even more. Teams had to think on their feet and defend their ideas through questions about feasibility and real-world use. Want to know more? Explore all teams’ ideas here.
Celebrating the winning ideas
All teams brought great ideas to the table, but three teams stood out with ideas that really caught the judges’ attention. Big congratulations to:
- Winner: Team Frey 2
- Runner-up: Team IntelliOps
- Third Place: Team CULI
Let’s see what made their ideas special!
Team Frey2 stood out with a Chrome Extension that works as an “AI translator” for Cursor, helping non-technical users write better prompts and make more effective use of AI.
Team IntelliOps took on a very practical challenge: the overload faced by Maintenance and Customer Support teams when too many requests come in at once. Their AI Agent can categorize issues, suggest next steps, and automate repetitive tasks.
Team CULI introduced an AI solution that helps Project Managers and Tech Leads stay better aligned during estimation. With one shared analysis for the whole team, the estimation process becomes clearer, faster, and more efficient.
The next four teams to step onto the stage were Sentinel, Carbon, Lazitea, and Vector4, receiving the Special Contribution Award as a well-earned shoutout to their enthusiasm, persistence, and the distinctive energy they brought throughout the Hackathon.
The Hackathon ends, the journey continues
A competition wrapped up, but the energy definitely doesn’t stop here.
Beyond the ideas and prototypes, it was the late nights, shared meals, and spontaneous conversations that truly brought people together.
And the AI-First mindset? It continues forward, into everything we build next.
