Kill the Search Bar - pdm Hackathon 2026
No panels.
No small talk.
Just 72 hours to rebuild the directory ecosystem in Germany.
Berlin · May 15–17 · In-Person Hackathon
Online directories like Yelp, Gelbe Seiten and Google Business are how millions of people discover and choose local businesses every day.
Most of them are still stuck somewhere around 2010.
Berlin doesn’t do static.
And neither should online directories.
For one weekend, we’re turning the pdm office in Friedrichshain into a curated innovation playground.
Six teams.
Real industry pain points.
Zero buzzword theatre.
This is not a university hackathon.
This is not a networking event with name tags.
This is builders-only.
The Challenges
You won’t hack on vague ideas.
You’ll work on real structural problems from the directory and local business ecosystem.
Our industry is moving beyond static listings toward platforms that help people discover, trust and transact with local businesses.
Search bars worked when users knew what they wanted.
But what happens when AI understands intent before users even ask?
What happens when you remove the search bar entirely?
Static listing → smart discovery → seamless transaction.
That’s the arc.
We’re building the next chapter.
Choose your angle:
– AI-native interfaces that understand user intent
– Embedded booking & transaction flows for SMB services
– Self-healing live-data engines that keep listings accurate
– New business models for the next generation of directories
– Or something we didn’t see coming
We’re not looking for pitch decks.
We’re looking for working prototypes.
The Setup
🖤 A full weekend of focused building
🖤 6 curated teams (3–5 people each)
🖤 Mentors who actually run companies
🖤 Pizza, brainfood & proper Berlin caffeine
🖤 Demo Day pitch live on stage at the German Directory Industry Meetup: VDAV 2026
Office hours:
09:00 – 00:00 each day.
(We close at midnight. Sleep is still recommended.)
The Reward
There will be prizes.
We’re currently finalizing the full prize pool and partner perks – details coming soon.
The winning teams will receive a curated prize package with a total value of €3,000, including gadgets, devices, and exclusive industry opportunities such as:
– CEO Pitch Sessions
– Fast-track interview opportunities
– Industry media exposure
– Potential pilot conversations
Who Should Apply?
– Developers who ship
– Designers who think in systems
– Product minds with strong opinions
You can apply as a full team
or solo and we’ll match you with others.
Total capacity: ~30 builders
Timeline
Hacking Phase
May 15–17
Demo Day
May 20 — live on stage at the VDAV Industry Meetup