42 Hours for AI Impact Hackathon - Day 1
Build real, reusable AI assets for your business
The world changed faster than the systems built to navigate it. If you have expertise worth scaling, a process, methodology, or framework that works when you're in the room but doesn't when you're not, this hackathon is for you. In 42 hours, you'll build it into a working AI-powered system you can use Monday morning.
**You do not have to committ to all 3 days!**
What You'll Build
You're not here to learn another AI tool. You're here to create something that solves a real problem in your business.
A consultant workflow that guides clients through your process without you in every room
A decision framework that brings clarity to complex strategic choices
A meeting system that turns conversations into decisions and persistent knowledge
A client intake playbook that systematizes your expertise
A "second brain" for your niche that captures and activates your domain knowledge
Or something else entirely — if you can describe the problem, we'll help you build the solution
This isn't a prototype. It's a working asset you can deploy, share, or monetize.
Who This Is For
This hackathon is designed for two kinds of people:
The Founder/Builder/Exec who has spent years developing a way of thinking, a methodology, framework, or process that works brilliantly when you're involved, but can't scale because you've become the bottleneck of your own best thinking.
The Consultant/Facilitator who brings groups through complexity for a living. You know how to hold a room, surface real disagreement, build alignment — but the clarity you create in workshops evaporates into email threads, and you watch brilliant work disappear in the weeks after.
If either of those describes you, you're in the right place.
What Makes This Different
Most AI tools give you faster answers. STS (Strategic Thinking Systems) gives you better thinking infrastructure, a collaborative environment where human judgment is amplified, not replaced.
You're building a system that:
Holds context across time (not just one conversation)
Supports collaborative decision-making (not solo work)
Structures thinking without limiting it
Can be customized, shared, and monetized as your IP
And you'll build it with expert coaching, live support, and a community of people solving similar problems.
The 3-Day Journey
Day 1 — Define & Design (Tuesday, Feb 24)
11:00 AM ET: Kickoff & Welcome
11:30 AM: STS Basics
12:00 PM: Keynote - Coding with AI, a panel with TLM dev experts
1:00-2:00: Problem & Team Formation
2:00-4:00: Design Sprint & Coaching
4:00-4:30: AMA with STS coders
4:30:00-6:00: Build Sprint + Coaching
6:00-6:30: EOD Check-In / Share Progress
Day 2 — Build & Iterate (Wednesday, Feb 25)
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Welcome, Project Updates, Q&A
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Advanced STS Features
12:00-12:30: Keynote - The Thinking That Matters Most: The Role of Humans Alongside AI, with Ben Clayton
12:30-4:00: Build + Feedback Loops
4:00-4:30: AMA with STS coders
5:00-5:30: EOD Demos / Progress
Day 3 — Polish & Demo (Thursday, Feb 26)
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Welcome, Project Updates, Q&A
11:30-12:00 PM: Fireside Chat: Embedding humanist values into software, with Cristina Imre
12:00-12:30 PM: AMA with STS coders
12:30-2:00 PM: Final Polish / Feedback
2:00-4:00 PM: Demos
4:30-5:00 PM: Awards
5:30-6:00 PM: Next Steps / Closing
All times Eastern (New York/Montreal)
What You Get
✅ A shippable AI-powered asset for your business or clients
✅ Hands-on coaching from AI/product experts (design, prompts, monetization)
✅ Templates and starter assets to accelerate your build
✅ Access to new STS features (sharing, notifications, integrations)
✅ Opportunity for prizes, pilot projects, or template library inclusion
Win prizes or consulting opportunities:
Challenge sponsors may award cash or paid pilots
Top assets may become featured STS templates (with your attribution)
Outstanding projects may receive ongoing platform support
What You Need
Your expertise and a real business problem worth solving
No coding required (though coders are welcome and supported)
Willingness to build something real, not theoretical
3 days to commit (or as much time as you can give)
Work solo, join a team, or bring your own. Need collaborators? We'll match you by domain and problem type.
See the starting board in STS here: https://app.sts42.com/share/42-hours-for-impact-hackathon-welcome-board/
FAQ
Do I need to code?
No. If you can describe your process or problem, we'll help you turn it into a reusable AI-powered system.
Do I get to code?
Yes, if you want to. Tell us what you want to learn or build, our experts will guide you to concrete achievements.
What if my idea isn't fully formed?
Perfect. Even vague or "half-baked" problems can become powerful assets with the right coaching. Day 1 is designed to help you clarify.
What platform is this built on?
STS (Strategic Thinking Systems), an AI-powered collaborative thinking platform designed for decision-making and strategic work. You'll get full access during and after the hackathon.
Do I have to be present the whole time?
No. This is in the middle of the work week. This is not a weekend hackathon jam. We're all extremely busy, but we also know we have to make time anyway to learn AI and build stuff. You will have support. You will build something for your work. The more time the better, but whatever time you can dedicate will be worth it. We can build quickly on STS.
What happens after the event?
You own what you build. We'll support deployment, offer guidance on monetization, and potentially feature your asset in the STS template library (with your credits). You'll also join our community for ongoing collaboration.
About STS
Strategic Thinking Systems was built for the moment we're in. Organizations need better thinking infrastructure, not more AI tools, but systems that help teams think together, decide with clarity, and move with alignment in a world that won't slow down.
Founded by Francis Dion (25+ years in AI and decision systems) and built with the AI Working Group community, STS emerged from a simple conviction: human judgment, properly supported and structurally activated, is still the most powerful force in any organization.
This hackathon is where you turn that conviction into something you can actually use.
Register Now
Limited to 50 participants to ensure quality coaching and support.
Investment: Free (sponsored by STS and challenge partners)
Questions? Email: [email protected]
Learn more about STS: https://sts42.com