🚀 TAG AI Hackathon: Bring Your Own Startup (BYOS) - Matt Biilmann (Netlify CEO)
- Date
- 2026-03-25
- Location
- Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
- Host
- TAG
About this event
If you have an AI product idea you want to pressure-test in the real world, this is the room to be in. TAG AI Hackathon: Bring Your Own Startup (BYOS) is built for founders, builders, and ambitious operators who want to spend a day turning early momentum into something sharper, more usable, and more credible. With Matt Biilmann, Netlify CEO attached to the event, this is not framed as a casual coding meetup. It is a focused in-person working session in Amsterdam for people who want to build, refine, and discuss AI startups with others who care about product, execution, and the future of autonomous software. About the Event This event combines the energy of a hackathon with the practical lens of a startup working session. The "Bring Your Own Startup" format means you are not showing up to be assigned a random idea or spend the day on a generic prompt challenge. You come with something of your own: a concept, prototype, side project, early product, or startup direction you want to push forward. The focus is on AI, tech, startups, and autonomy. That makes this especially relevant if you are building products that use AI as a core capability, experimenting with agent workflows, or thinking seriously about how autonomous systems change how software is designed, launched, and scaled. Because it is in person, the value is not just in what gets built on a laptop. It is also in the fast feedback loops: conversations at the table, direct reactions from other builders, and the kind of practical exchange that helps you spot weak assumptions early. Rather than broad inspiration without follow-through, expect a format oriented around momentum. The goal is to leave with clearer thinking, stronger product direction, and tangible progress on something that matters to you. What to Expect Expect a day shaped around building, discussing, and refining startup ideas in an AI-focused environment. The exact flow may vary, but the spirit of the event is clear: bring your own startup context, get to work, and use the room well. You can likely expect a mix of: Hands-on building time for prototyping, shipping features, or tightening your product concept Startup conversations with people working through similar questions around AI products, go-to-market, and technical direction Hackathon-style energy with a bias toward output rather than passive listening Exposure to high-level founder thinking through the presence of Matt Biilmann and the broader event context This is the kind of event where your day might include refining a product narrative in one conversation, getting technical input in the next, and then spending the next block of time implementing what you just learned. That rhythm is part of the appeal. If you are early-stage, you will get a chance to test whether your idea communicates clearly and solves a real problem. If you are further along, you can use the event to sharpen execution, stress-test assumptions, or explore how autonomy and AI can expand your product roadmap. Why Attend The strongest reason to attend is simple: focused time with the right people around you. It is rare to get a room full of technically curious, startup-minded attendees all oriented toward building AI products at the same time. You are not attending just to hear abstract takes on AI. You are attending to make your startup better. That could mean clarifying your product angle, improving the prototype, getting feedback on technical architecture, or understanding how other founders are approaching the same wave of change. There is also real value in the BYOS framing. Bringing your own startup means the day is immediately relevant to your goals. You do not need to translate generic advice back into your context later. The work you do there connects directly to the product or company you care about now. You should also expect the event to be useful if you care about where AI is going next. The combination of startup thinking and autonomy makes this a strong fit for people who want to move beyond simple AI demos and toward products with sustained value, real workflows, and practical use cases. A few likely takeaways: A clearer articulation of what your startup does and why it matters Better feedback on product direction or technical decisions New connections with founders, developers, and operators in AI Fresh perspective on building in an AI-native or autonomy-driven market Tangible progress on a prototype, feature, or business concept Practical Details This is an in-person event in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which is a meaningful part of the experience. Being physically in the room matters for a hackathon-style format: it makes collaboration faster, conversations more candid, and feedback much more immediate. The event takes place on Wednesday, March 25 at 9:30 AM GMT+1. If you are planning to attend, it is worth treating this as a working session rather than a drop-in social event. Come prepared to think, build, discuss, and show what you are working on. To get the most out of it, you should arrive with a clear sense of what you want to move forward. That might be: A startup idea you want to validate A prototype you want feedback on A product problem you want help thinking through An AI workflow or autonomy concept you want to test In short: if you want a high-signal AI startup event in Amsterdam that rewards preparation and action, this is a strong bet. Bring something real, be ready to build, and use the room to accelerate what you are already trying to make happen.
Who should attend
This is for people who want to **work on a real AI startup idea**, not just talk about one. - You are an **early-stage founder or aspiring founder** with an AI product idea, side project, or startup concept you want to sharpen in a serious builder environment. - You are a **developer, engineer, or technical builder** who wants to prototype faster, test AI-driven features, or explore products shaped by autonomy and agent-based workflows. - You are already building something and want **direct feedback on product direction, positioning, or technical decisions** from other smart people in the room. - You are a **startup operator, product person, or designer** who works well in fast-moving sessions and wants to help turn rough ideas into clearer products. - You are interested in the intersection of **AI, startups, and practical execution** and prefer hands-on events over passive panels. - You will get the most from this if you are comfortable showing unfinished work, asking sharp questions, and using a day in person to create real momentum. If you have something you are building and want the right setting to push it forward, you will likely feel at home here.