The first hackathon of the AI Builders Turkey program, “Founders Create,” organized in collaboration between Meta and YTU Startup House, took place on August 22–23, 2026, at the YTU Davutpaşa Campus. Selected from over 100 applications, 28 entrepreneurial teams spent 36 hours transforming their ideas into complete brand and go-to-market kits; the winners of the $10,000 prize pool were determined following evaluations by a jury of experts in their respective fields. The awards ceremony was held with the participation of Yıldız Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik.

Founders Create, the first phase of the AI Builders Turkey program—a collaboration between Meta and YTU Startup House aimed at strengthening AI literacy and entrepreneurial capacity—was organized under the theme “Build it. Brand it. Launch it.” Open to developers and early-stage entrepreneurs aged 18–35, the program received applications from over 100 teams; following the evaluation process, 28 teams and approximately 100 participants were accepted into the hackathon.

Prior to the hackathon, participants completed a hands-on training program consisting of four modules and totaling over 20 hours, held from August 11–20. The curriculum covered AI-powered brand development, content creation, campaign planning, and market entry strategies.

Working nonstop on campus for 36 hours, the teams delivered the following outputs: a brand identity and one-page brand guide; a live presence on at least four social media channels; six posts and two video pieces; a market entry approach; and an investor pitch. Throughout the process, teams were mentored by experts in the fields of law, product development, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

A six-member jury evaluated the projects based on criteria including the integration of artificial intelligence and Meta tools, brand and identity, communication and social media presence, market entry strategy, entrepreneurial potential, and presentation performance.

Cash Prize-Winning Teams

1. Synclens — $5,000 cash prize

Synclens is developing a wearable technology ecosystem that enables employees with hearing loss to follow workplace conversations in real time. The team positions its solution not as a medical device that seeks to “fix” the individual, but as a workplace technology that makes corporate accessibility the norm. Its revenue model is built on a structure that leverages employment incentives, combined with a SaaS subscription covering corporate hardware sales, device management, and a simplified language database.

2. StuMap — $3,000 cash prize

StuMap is an AI-powered career exploration platform inspired by the fact that high school students are often forced to make career decisions using limited and static guidance tools. Students first discover career fields suited to them through a dynamic skills assessment, then experience these careers in interactive workshops. The team aims for a growth model that reaches students first and then schools through a product that operates in two formats: individual and in-class.

3. Memento — $2,000 cash prize

Memento is an AI-powered assistant that transforms the information overload created by email and app notifications into a manageable memory. The product categorizes messages from different channels by priority and distills what the user really needs to do that day into clear action items. Thanks to its Llama-based chat interface, users can inquire about their daily responsibilities using natural language, ensuring that no commitment is overlooked.

Teams Directly Accepted into the YTU Startup House Pre-Incubation Program

Dresskit

Dresskit is a personalized fashion app that helps users find the colors and outfits that suit them best. The app creates a personalized color palette for each user through seasonal facial analysis; generates daily outfit suggestions using items from their closet; and rates how well new purchases will coordinate with their existing wardrobe. The team is targeting a style-conscious user segment that spends on fashion with a business model based on recurring subscription revenue.

kervansar.ai

kervansar.ai is building a curated production network that connects traditional artisans with modern architecture and hospitality projects. Instead of listing ready-made products, the platform breaks down the architect’s brief into material, technical, and timeline specifications; its Llama-based matching engine presents each recommendation along with its rationale. Thanks to a trust layer that offers sample approval, phased payment guarantees, and single-channel coordination, artisans can set their own prices and have the final say while gaining access to the global market.

About the Program

AI Builders Turkey is a capacity-building program conducted in collaboration with Meta and YTU Startup House, consisting of a Turkish AI curriculum, a trainer-training component, and two hackathons. The program aims to train over 500 participants. The second hackathon in the series, the Student AI Hackathon, will be held on November 13–15, 2026.

YTU Startup House is an entrepreneurship center operating under Yıldız Technical University and YTÜ Yıldız Technopark that provides end-to-end support for technology-based startups, from the idea stage through to entering global markets.