Design
Driven,
Business
Minded.
The first ever AI & XR startup design hackathon for the real people behind great ideas.
Sponsorship & Collaboration with Industry Leaders
Design Holds Untapped Power For Entrepreneurs
Mission
Designpreneurs Hackathon is shaping the next generation of AI-powered founders and designers. We bring together top-tier builders, creatives, and strategists to collaborate, prototype, and validate impactful ideas — fast. At the intersection of design and entrepreneurship, we cultivate hackers to be design driven, business minded.
Innovation
Innovation isn’t just about ideas — it’s about who builds them, how fast, and with what.
We’ve built a bridge between emerging founders and the giants of AI/XR — giving you access to top class mentorship, frameworks, and tools that turn bold ideas into tangible breakthroughs. From prototyping to product-market fit testing, participants move fast and build smarter.
Community
Great ideas don’t grow in isolation. You're an entrepreneur who wants to validate your idea, build a prototype, secure funding, or meet your next hire. You are a designer who wants to grow your AI design skills, build a portfolio, or find a new job. Our community is designed for you.
Our Impact Since Nov 2023 Launch
Our Impact Since Nov 2023 Launch
14
Hackathons with top corporates & institutions
580+
Designer & entrepreneur hackers from AI, XR
$6M
Early stage startups investments through our hackathon
72
Job placements
10k+
Hackers waitlist for future events
✦ Testimonials
"Designpreneur Hackathon helped take WLab’s platform from just an idea to something real. We got to work with some of the best design master’s students right away, and honestly, the lessons we took away will stick with us for life. Sally’s one of the kindest and most talented people you’ll meet- highly recommend any hackathon, event, or project she’s part of."
Timothy Wang
Founder, WLab(acquired) & Ponder AI
✦ Testimonials
"Designpreneur Hackathon helped take WLab’s platform from just an idea to something real. We got to work with some of the best design master’s students right away, and honestly, the lessons we took away will stick with us for life. Sally’s one of the kindest and most talented people you’ll meet- highly recommend any hackathon, event, or project she’s part of."
Timothy Wang
Founder, WLab(acquired) & Ponder AI
Kinds of Events
Activation Events
Panels, fireside chats, and community nights that put your brand in the room with NYC's AI founders, designers, and builders.
Innovation Workshops
Private, hands-on sessions that help teams use design thinking and AI on real business problems, from first idea to product-market fit.
AI Hackathons
Fast-paced sprints where designers, engineers, and subject experts build AI solutions to real-world challenges, judged by industry leaders.
Get Involved Today
We’re building a global hub for design-driven innovation. Whether you’re a sponsor, founder, investor, engineer or designer, we’d love to collaborate with you!
Hackathon Sponsor
Be a sponsor to our hackathon, get access to exclusive AI founders, designers and creative technologists.
Premium brand placement, speaking opportunities and curated pipeline
Bring us your toughest product challenge—we'll deliver a working solution within 24 hours.
Visibility to 200+ vetted founders, designers and design-engineers
Host an Event
Internal offsite or external spotlight—we’ll help you run panels, workshops, or ideathons that actually spark ideas and action.
Engage directly with emerging AI talent
Thought leadership positioning
Community building
Judge & Mentor
Coach the next wave of builders—or judge the winners. Join us as an industry leader to shape the future of design-led innovation in AI.
Build and position as a leader in your industry
Mentor top AI design and business
Stay at the forefront of cutting-edge AI & design solutions
Hackers
Tackle real business challenges, prototype AI-powered solutions, and pitch to industry leaders—all in a fast-paced, turning bold ideas into real products within hours.
Application based, access to one-of-a-kind collaboration between founders and designers
Get mentorship from industry leaders in AI, design, and product
Access to internal hirings, and build a real product and portfolio case studies
Join today to be a hacker, sponsor or be featured in our upcoming hackathons & events!
Upcoming Events
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Upcoming Events
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FAQ
How can I apply to join the hackathon?
What makes Designpreneurs different from other hackathons?
Is there an entry fee for hackathons?
How can I sponsor your events?
How can I get invited to future events & hackathons?
How can I apply to join the hackathon?
What makes Designpreneurs different from other hackathons?
Is there an entry fee for hackathons?
How can I sponsor your events?
How can I get invited to future events & hackathons?
We Are Designpreneurs,
We Are Designpreneurs,
Design Driven, Business Minded.
Design Driven, Business Minded.
Designpreneurs Hackathon is an AI & XR startup design hackathon commited to cultivate design-driven business-minded founders and designers.
Subscribe to Designprenuers Newsletter For Future Events & Announcements
Subscribe to Designprenuers Newsletter For Future Events & Announcements
Join today to be a hacker, sponsor or be featured in our upcoming hackathons & events!
Join today to be a hacker, sponsor
or be featured in our upcoming hackathons & events!
Sponsorship & Collaboration with Industry Leaders
Design Holds Untapped Power For Entrepreneurs
Mission
Designpreneurs Hackathon is shaping the next generation of AI-powered founders and designers. We bring together top-tier builders, creatives, and strategists to collaborate, prototype, and validate impactful ideas — fast. At the intersection of design and entrepreneurship, we cultivate hackers to be design driven, business minded.
Innovation
Innovation isn’t just about ideas — it’s about who builds them, how fast, and with what. We’ve built a bridge between emerging founders and the giants of AI/XR — giving you access to top class mentorship, frameworks, and tools that turn bold ideas into tangible breakthroughs. From prototyping to product-market fit testing, participants move fast and build smarter.
Community
Great ideas don’t grow in isolation. You're an entrepreneur who wants to validate your idea, build a prototype, secure funding, or meet your next hire. You are a designer who wants to grow your AI design skills, build a portfolio, or find a new job. Our community is designed for you.
Kinds of Events
Activation Events
Panels, fireside chats, and community nights that put your brand in the room with NYC's AI founders, designers, and builders.
Innovation Workshops
Private, hands-on sessions that help teams use design thinking and AI on real business problems, from first idea to product-market fit.
AI Hackathons
Fast-paced sprints where designers, engineers, and subject experts build AI solutions to real-world challenges, judged by industry leaders.
Startup PMF
A 72-hour product-market fit design hackathon, sponsored by Monday.com and hosted in collaboration with NYU Stern x Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship. Founders and designers team up to
validate ideas, build fast, and prove
product-market fit.
AI Design Hackathon
48-hour hackathon in partnership with Parsons School of Design's MPS CD program, AI solutions for climate, social and system.
XR & 3D Hackathon
24-hour hackathon sponsored by School of Visaul Art's interaction design program — AR, VR and 3D solutions in sustainability.
Startup PMF Hackathon
72 hours startup design NYC hackathon with NYU Stern x Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship accelerator program
Event
XR Startup Panel
A panel talk of XR founders and design leaders from Meta, IDEO, Spatial.io, Transfr, and Plai(acquired). They shared how today’s XR products are designed, built, and launched – especially meeting product-market fit.
Private CPG Ideathon
Internal corporate workshop for one of the world’s largest CPG companies, focused on achieving product-market fit through design thinking.
AI Design Career Forum
Featuring AI designers, hiring managers, and recruiters from Google, Adobe, Ramp, and Verizon sharing tactical advice for breaking into AI and interaction design.
Our Impact Since
Nov 2023 Launch
14
Hackathons with top corporates & institutions
320+
Designer & entrepreneur hackers from AI, XR
72
Job placements
10k+
Hackers waitlist for future events
$6M
Early stage startups investments through our hackathon
Get Involved Today
We’re building a global hub for design-driven innovation. Whether you’re a sponsor, founder, investor, engineer or designer, we’d love to collaborate with you!
Hackathon Sponsor
Be a sponsor to our hackathon, get access to exclusive AI founders, designers and creative technologists.
Premium brand placement, speaking opportunities and curated pipeline
Bring us your toughest product challenge—we'll deliver a working solution within 24 hours.
Visibility to 200+ vetted founders, designers and design-engineers
Host an Event
Internal offsite or external spotlight—we’ll help you run panels, workshops, or ideathons that actually spark ideas and action.
Engage directly with emerging AI talent
Thought leadership positioning
Community building
Judge & Mentor
Coach the next wave of builders—or judge the winners. Join us as an industry leader to shape the future of design-led innovation in AI.
Build and position as a leader in your industry
Mentor top AI design and business
Stay at the forefront of cutting-edge AI & design solutions
Hackers
Tackle real business challenges, prototype AI-powered solutions, and pitch to industry leaders—all in a fast-paced, turning bold ideas into real products within hours.
Application based, access to one-of-a-kind collaboration between founders and designers
Get mentorship from industry leaders in AI, design, and product
Access to internal hirings, and build a real product and portfolio case studies
Design Driven, Business Minded.
We Are Designpreneurs,
✦ Testimonials
"Designpreneur Hackathon helped take WLab’s platform from just an idea to something real. We got to work with some of the best design master’s students right away, and honestly, the lessons we took away will stick with us for life. Sally’s one of the kindest and most talented people you’ll meet- highly recommend any hackathon, event, or project she’s part of."
Timothy Wang
Founder, WLab(acquired) & Ponder AI
Upcoming Events
Loading events…
Designpreneurs Hackathon is an AI & XR startup design hackathon committed to cultivating design-driven business-minded founders and designers.
Subscribe to Designprenuers Newsletter For Future Events & Announcements
FAQ
How can I apply to join the hackathon?
What makes Designpreneurs different from other hackathons?
How can I apply to join the hackathon?
How can I sponsor your events?
How can I get invited to future events & hackathons?