Name: Turn AI and Data into Real-world Intelligence.
Start: 2026-03-13T08:00:00-04:00
Location: Singapore

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Dream Bold. Build Smart

Date:

Mar

13

,

2026

The Final Countdown!

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Turn AI and Data into Real-world Intelligence.

You are invited to join a hackathon where builders give purpose to technology.

Every breakthrough begins with a builder – someone who sees more than data and code, and imagines what they could become.
Forge the Future Hackathon is a celebration of that spirit where innovators turn bold dreams into intelligent realities.

This is your chance to get hands-on with the power of the Elastic Search AI Platform and AWS cloud infrastructure, to design, build, and scale solutions that can think, adapt, and create real-world impact.

This year’s theme – Dream Bold, Build Smart – brings together creativity and precision, proving that when purpose meets technology, innovation takes shape.

Join us in Singapore to build with intent, collaborate with brilliance, and forge what’s next.

RSVPs Closed

What's in it for you?

- Be in the Spotlight:

The top 3 projects will join us on stage on March 17th at Elastic{ON} Singapore, before a vibrant crowd of hundreds of senior leaders, product visionaries, and industry trailblazers, including Elastic’s Chief Product Officer, Ken Exner.

- Mentor Power Chats:
Turn your ideas into reality with one-on-one mentorship from leading industry experts, AI innovators, and solution architects.

- Winning isn't the End:

The top 3 teams will earn the spotlight on Elastic's official blog, sharing their breakthroughs with the Elastic community worldwide. Gain recognition among the trailblazers shaping your industry!

Prizes

Grand Prize - Oculus Quest 3S Advance VR Headset 256GB^*
1st Runner Up - DJI Neo 2 Fly More Combo^*
2nd Runner Up - LUMOS FLOAT Home Cinema Projector^*

^{* per team member}

And There's More:

Spotlight feature on the Elastic blog
Recognition on Elastic Community YouTube and Official Channels, reaching our global community

Themes to Innovate!

Shape a Better World

Use innovation to uplift communities and causes.

Innovate at the Edge

Redefine how businesses grow, compete, and scale with insight.

Reinvent the Everyday

Use innovation to make life simpler, smarter, and more connected.

Here’s a quick sneak peek into last year’s action…

Innovation wasted no time.
5 hours.
A wave of brilliant builders.
Bold ideas. Big wins.
And solutions that pushed boundaries.

Think you can top that?
Step in, build hard, and claim your spot at this year’s Hackathon.

RSVPs Closed

Who can participate?

Whether you're a seasoned professional seeking to stay ahead of the curve or an enthusiast curious about the future of technology, you are welcome to participate in Forge the Future Hackathon.

Each team should consist of 3-5 participants and have a unique team name.
A team can comprise Engineers and Product Managers from different organisations.
Provide key contact details for each member, including their phone number and email address.
Each individual can participate in the event only once and be part of just one team.
Employees and affiliates of Elastic and AWS, their families or anyone involved in the design, administration, or fulfilment of the Hackathon are not eligible to participate or win.

When

Round 1: 13th March, 2026

Round 2: (Grand Finale) 17th March, 2026

How to Participate

Complete the registration form with all required details.
Download the template, and add your Team Name, Team Members’ information, and Hack Idea.
Save the filled template as an .xlsx file and upload it with your submission.

Meet Our Judges

Ken Exner

Chief Product Officer,

Elastic

Chris Walker

VP, Solutions Architecture APJ,

Elastic

Desmond Loh

Group Director at Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies (CSIT)

Laurence Liew

Director AI Innovation,

AI Singapore

Wei Wah Lim

Partner Solutions Architect Lead - ASEAN, Amazon Web Services

Kunal Panchal

Sr. AIML Specialist,

Amazon Web Services

Judging Criteria

Innovation (25%)

Novelty of the idea and its use of Generative AI.

Bonus marks: for Elastic Agent Builder

Impact (20%)

Practical applications and the potential to solve real-world problems.

Presentation (10%)

Clarity of the demo and pitch.

Technical Implementation (30%)

Effective use of Elasticsearch & “mentioned technology relevance"

User Experience (15%)

Simplicity, design, and usability.

Hackathon Journey

Registration open till February 23, 2026

Registration and Idea Submission

- Select a theme from the list provided.

- Form your team.

- Submit a compelling vision based on the theme, outlining the problem and your solution.

After submitting your idea, our team will review it. Once your idea is selected, your registration will be approved.

February 27, 2026

Pre-Hackathon Kick Off—Virtual Meet

The session will be held to assign mentors, address questions, and outline necessary resources to ensure teams are well prepared.

March 13, 2026

Hackathon Day

The hacking begins! Prepare for 4 hours of focused coding, creativity, and problem-solving. The top 3 winners will be shortlisted.

March 17, 2026

Finale Pitch at ElasticON Singapore

Top 3 winners will battle it out on stage in front of a distinguished jury and a vibrant audience at ElasticON Singapore 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in Forge the Future Singapore Edition?

The hackathon is open to teams of 3-5 members, all of whom must be 18 years or older. Basic knowledge of Elastic products and AWS LLM is recommended. Teams must be made up of no less than two (2) members and no more than five (5) members.

Can individuals register for Hackathon?

Individual registrations are welcome! You can choose to work independently or let us know if you’d like to be grouped with like-minded individuals. Simply register and share your ideas in your submission.

Where can I find support and get answers to my questions?

Send us an e-mail at Elasticon-apj@elastic.co

Is there a cost to take part in the hackathon?

No, participation is completely free.

Can we do any pre-preparation before the hackathon?

No, you are only expected to start hacking on the hackathon day. However, data preparation is encouraged.

I already have data an existing Elastic cluster, can I reuse that?

Yes, you can reuse it. We consider this part of data preparation. You will not be at a disadvantage if you don't have an existing one.

I do not have any technical background, can I join the hackathon?

At least one member of your team should have a technical background to be able to create an application using Elastic and Amazon Bedrock (and/or Foundation Models). You may find that a diverse team made of product managers or UX practitioners can be beneficial.

What do I have to bring for the hackathon?

If shortlisted, all participants are expected to bring their own problem statement or use case. Additionally, bring your own device(s) and accessories like chargers. We'll share a full checklist before the hackathon.

Who owns the IP of the project?

Please refer to Section 9. Intellectual Property of Hackathon Terms and Conditions for details on ownership.

I’m a government employee or represent the government. Can I participate?

Pursuant to Elastic's Anti-bribery and Gifts & Entertainment Policy, we ask that you provide a written acknowledgment via email confirming that you have reviewed the potential prize within your organisation and that its acceptance complies with the local anti-bribery laws and policies of your country and employing agency.

Details

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You are invited to join a hackathon where builders give purpose to technology.

Every breakthrough begins with a builder – someone who sees more than data and code, and imagines what they could become.
Forge the Future Hackathon is a celebration of that spirit where innovators turn bold dreams into intelligent realities.

This is your chance to get hands-on with the power of the Elastic Search AI Platform and AWS cloud infrastructure, to design, build, and scale solutions that can think, adapt, and create real-world impact.

This year’s theme – Dream Bold, Build Smart – brings together creativity and precision, proving that when purpose meets technology, innovation takes shape.

Join us in Singapore to build with intent, collaborate with brilliance, and forge what’s next.

Elasticsearch is a trademark of Elasticsearch B.V., registered in the U.S. and in other countries. Apache, Apache Lucene, Apache Hadoop, Hadoop, HDFS, and the yellow elephant logo are trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and/or other countries