Dell x NVIDIA AI Hackathon, NYC

Local AI becomes more interesting when builders have to ship something that stays on, uses real hardware, and cannot fall back on a cloud API. The Dell x NVIDIA AI Hackathon in New York gives 40 teams one day to build an always-on business agent on Dell Pro Max systems powered by NVIDIA GB10 hardware.

The constraint is the story. Running locally changes privacy, latency, reliability, and cost assumptions. It also forces teams to confront what an agent needs beyond a model call: tool access, safe execution, durable workflows, interface design, and a reason for the system to keep operating after the demo. A twelve-hour sprint will not settle the local-versus-cloud debate, but it can expose which applications become more compelling when data and compute stay closer to the user.

What the event is built around

• Always-on business agents running on local AI infrastructure
• Privacy, latency, reliability, and cost tradeoffs outside cloud APIs
• Team-based building with Dell Pro Max and NVIDIA GB10 hardware
• Agent orchestration using the event’s required OpenClaw, NVIDIA NemoClaw, and OpenShell stack
• Final pitches, judging, and prizes for the strongest working projects

Who should have it on the radar

The hackathon is designed for engineers, technical founders, AI product builders, designers, and operators who can contribute to a working local-agent prototype. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Teams consist of two to four people, and the organizer says participants can apply individually or with a team.

What to watch

Dell Technologies and NVIDIA are the named event partners, with registration managed through BuilderBase. The official page describes a 40-team program and a final pitch round for the top eight projects. No speaker or judge roster is currently published, so DevCuration is leaving that field empty. Watch which teams use local execution as a product advantage rather than simply a technical constraint.

Event details

• Date: 2026-08-22
• Time: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM ET
• Location: Starrett-Lehigh Building, 601 West 26th Street, New York, NY
• Type: Hackathon
• Register: Official event page

Registration requirements, capacity, ticket prices, location details, and program information can change. Use the official registration page for the latest information from the organizer.