​🚀 MantisGrid AI Hackathon & Summit:
Build the Future of AI Reliability

​📅 September 17, 2026 · Palo Alto, California

​About the Event

​Powerful AI requires more than advanced models—it depends on infrastructure that is reliable, observable, fast, and efficient.

​Spend one day building practical tools for mining infrastructure data, intelligent model routing, or AI reliability. Compete for a share of our $10,000 cash prize pool. Choose one challenge track or combine ideas across multiple tracks.

​We’ll provide APIs📊, $25 inference credits for every participant, public infrastructure datasets🛠️, a starter notebook and a community of builders 🤝 to support you throughout the hackathon.

​After the competition, join the AI Reliability Summit, featuring industry leaders, founders, and investors discussing the future of AI infrastructure and reliability. Wrap up the day with an evening networking reception providing food, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages.

​Timeline

• ​8:00 AM — Doors Open, Breakfast & Networking

• ​9:00 AM — Welcome Keynote

• ​9:30 AM — Hackathon begins

• ​12:00 PM — Lunch

• ​3:00 PM — Project Submissions Close

• ​3:05 PM — Finalist Demos

• ​4:30 PM — Keynote & Demo

• ​5:30 PM — The Future of AI Infrastructure Panel

• ​6:00 PM — AI Reliability Beyond the Model Panel

• ​6:30 PM — Award Ceremony

• ​6:45 PM — Networking Reception (Dinner, Beer & Wine Service Begins)

• ​7:45 PM — Event Concludes

​🏆 Prizes & Opportunities

​Compete across multiple award categories for a $10,000 cash prize pool:

• ​Best Overall Solution

• ​Most Innovative

• ​Highest Business Impact

​👥 Speakers

​Panel: The Future of AI Infrastructure

​Boris Scholl. VP & Architect, Cloud & AI Engineering at Microsoft.

​Vijay Vusirikala. Distinguished Lead - AI Systems & Networks at Arista.

​Malhar Thakkar, Global AI ISV Solutions & Ecosystem Leader at Intel.

​Sam Aldrin, Distinguished Engineer, Nvidia.

​Panel: AI Reliability Beyond the Model

​Vijay Krishnan. Founder & CTO of Turing.com.

​Mahesh Ram. Ex-Head of AI, Zoom.

​Jared Quincy Davis. Founder & CEO of Mithril.

​Featured Keynote

​Muckai Girish. Co-founder & CEO of Rockfish Data.

​William Vambenepe. VP of Product at Mithril.

​Brian Laing. Chief Solutions Officer at AccuKnox.

​❓ Good to know

​Who should join
University students, researchers, developers, founders, and industry professionals

​Team format
Teams up to 5

​What to bring
Laptop and charger

​Food and drinks
Lunch and dinner provided · Non-alcoholic options available
Beer and wine available for guests 21+ with valid ID

​Registration
Free to attend