​Join us at NYC Hub for the def/acc Hackathon!

​‼ Important ‼:

• ​This event is to register for the in-person venue ONLY - if you will not be in NYC for this hackathon, please use the link below, as we have limited space and want to make sure we have enough room for everyone.

• ​Regardless of where you are, please make sure to sign up for the hackathon itself here!

​Sponsored by Halcyon Futures.

Halcyon identifies leaders from business, policy, and academia, and helps them build a secure and resilient world for the era of transformative artificial intelligence.

​The Problem

​Offensive AI capabilities spread in seconds.
Our defenses take years.

​A single bio student with some compute can now explore dangerous pathogen designs. Automated tools find software vulnerabilities faster than we can patch them. This asymmetry is accelerating.

​But it’s not too late to flip the script.

​enter def/acc - accelerate defensive technologies to make sure humanity reaches a glorious future.

​What We’re Building

​You’ll build prototypes—or full end-to-end defensive systems—with immediate, real-world applications across three tracks:

​🦠 Biosecurity Track

• ​Environmental pathogen surveillance

• ​DNA synthesis screening

• ​Early warning systems to prevent the next pandemic

​🛡️ Cybersecurity Track

• ​AI red-teaming for UK critical infrastructure

• ​Automated vulnerability assessment

• ​Memory-safe refactoring (C++ → Rust)

​🤖 AI Control & Monitoring Track

• ​Trusted models supervising untrusted ones

• ​Coordination tools for the UK AI Safety Institute

• ​Privacy-preserving threat intelligence systems

​❓ Another Defensive Gap not listed!

​🏆 Prizes & Opportunities

• ​$10,000 prize pool

• ​Fully-funded spot in Bluedot’s December Incubator Week (Dec 1–5) for the winning team

• ​Guaranteed place in our AGI Strategy Course for anyone who submits a project

• ​Intros and networking with funders, technical leaders, and decision-makers

​Schedule

​Friday, Nov 21

• ​5:00 pm — Doors open

• ​6:00 pm - Team formation

• ​7:00 pm — Problem deep-dives with domain experts

• ​9:00 pm — Hacking begins

​Saturday, Nov 22

• ​10:00 am — Doors open: hacking continues

• ​1:00 pm — Expert office hours

• ​6:00 pm — Progress check-ins

• ​Late — Optional overnight hacking

​Sunday, Nov 23

• ​10:00 am — Doors open: final sprint!

• ​3:00 pm — Submission deadline

• ​4:00 pm — Demo session

• ​6:00 pm — Winners announced

• ​7:00 pm — Celebration

​Who Should Come?

​Engineers ready to build.
Researchers ready to implement.
Anyone who believes defensive technology is under-invested relative to its importance.

​If you’re good, this can be your path to scale your solution into a real org.

​What We Provide

​Amenities:

• ​High-quality workspace at the NYC Hub

• ​Beverages and soft drinks!

• ​Snacks + dinner (TBD)

​Technical resources:

• ​Mentorship & domain experts across biosecurity, cybersecurity, and AI control

• ​$400 in API credits for every team (sign up required)

• ​A community of builders committed to beneficial AI and societal resilience

​Hosted By

​Bluedot Impact - the leading talent accelerator for beneficial AI and societal defenses + Apart Research