How to Win the National AI Challenge 2026 | by ManusAI & TechIreland
Hosted by Kevin Collins, Manus Fellow, Dublin, Ireland
🏁 Gearing up for the National AI Challenge 2026? Want to actually win it?
The TechIreland National AI Challenge runs from 28 August to 14 September, bringing 1000+ developers, engineers, founders, students and researchers together to build with AI and autonomous agents. This year's theme is "AI & Agents: Strategy, Processes and Roles". Hub showcases take place on 14 September, and finalists go through to the TechIreland National AI Meet in Galway on 24 September.
This session is your run-up. Two hours, fully online, walking you through exactly how to take an idea from a blank page to a working demo that judges remember.
Whether you're a developer, founder, designer or an AI-curious first-timer, this is your launchpad into building a project that actually solves a problem, actually gets built, and actually wins.
Last year's challenge produced 44 AI projects, with 15 teams reaching the finals, double the year before. This session is about making sure you are one of them.
📅 Event Details
💻 Location: Online. The joining link goes out to registered guests before the session.
📅 Date: Thursday, 20 August 2026
🕔 Time: 18:00 to 20:00 (GMT+1)
🎟 Capacity: 500
What to Expect
A hands-on, two-hour working session. Bring an idea, or bring no idea at all, and we will build alongside you using AI tools provided on the day. Have a laptop ready and you will finish the evening with something real. We will provide the AI credits.
Here's how it works:
🔍 Problem Research
We'll help you research live using AI agents across the challenge's own domains: enterprise tech, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, health, sustainability, public services and immersive tech. Wildcard ideas welcome too.🧠 Map out your methodology
Use our guided instructions to build a clear, logical plan that actually solves something real.🛠 Turn it into a winning plan
We'll help you shape a development plan you can actually execute across the two build weeks.⚙ Prototype a working demo
We'll show you how to build multiple quick working prototypes, fast.🎤 Pitch it
How to present at your hub showcase on 14 September so the work actually lands with the judges.
Note: please have your laptop ready.
What is Manus?
Manus is the world's first general AI agent designed to turn your thoughts into action. More than just a chatbot, Manus autonomously executes complex tasks across your professional and personal life, whether that is conducting deep market research, processing batches of files, planning custom travel, or analysing data.
It thinks independently, plans strategically, and uses the tools in its own environment (coding, browsing the web, controlling applications) to deliver complete outcomes, not just recommendations.
You can hand off tasks to Manus, track progress in real time, and return to find the results ready, so you can focus on what truly matters.
Why Manus?
The name "Manus" is inspired by MIT's motto Mens et Manus, "Mind and Hand". It reflects the belief that knowledge must be applied to create real-world impact.
That's the promise of Manus AI: to extend your capabilities, amplify your output, and serve as the intelligent hand that brings your ideas to life.