Rewire hosts the Power of Europe Hackathon, a one-day sprint dedicated to building prototypes using European AI tools
On Friday, July 26, Rewire hosted the Power of Europe Hackathon.
The idea was simple but ambitious:
What can be built in one day, using a European AI stack as much as possible?
To make it happen, Tech Makers, Build Europe, AI for Good, Mistral AI, Weaviate, Koyeb, Orq AI, and Kilo Code AI joined forces and provided the tools and platforms that made the day possible. From open-source models to homegrown infrastructure, teams were encouraged to think locally.
The AI hackers
By 10am, over 70 AI hackers (a mix of software developers, data & ai scientists, systems and infrastructure engineers, designers, product specialists, etc.) had gathered at Rewire, ready to build. Some arrived as full teams, others came solo – or just with an idea. Within the hour, 27 teams had formed and were off designing, building, and testing their projects.
The jury
To evaluate the prototypes, we brought together a jury of seasoned experts whose feedback offered valuable insights into each team’s concept and growth potential. The jury:
- Daniel Gebler: Co-founder & CTO, Picnic Technologies
- Jorn Eiting van Liempt: Entrepreneur & Startup Village Advisor
- Katherine Elizabeth Bustos Rodas: AI Ethicist and Head of Technology at Felyx
- Kevin Kuipers: Co-founder & Partner, Galion.exe
- Simon Koolstra: Principal Advanced Analytics & Head of Agentic Lab, Rewire
- Yeni Joseph: Head of Ecosystem Strategy, The Next Web & TEDxAmsterdam Board Member
The prototypes
At 5:30pm, the teams pitched their prototypes: 2 minutes for the demo, followed by 2 minutes of Q&A. Most prototypes were impressive. Some highlights:
- A glaucoma progression tracker tailored for developing countries
- A rare earth supply chain audit and recommendation engine
- A startup idea validator powered by AI
- A vision-RAG toolkit for developers to connect LLMs with custom data
- A public transport network analyzer
- A compliance assistant for coders who “vibe-code” a bit too freely
And many more that impressed with both ingenuity and execution.
Why this matters
Europe is at a turning point in History. It has the talent to compete on the global stage and to shape the innovations of the future. But progress is needed to achieve long-term digital sovereignty. Within that context, the Power of Europe Hackathon wasn’t just a coding sprint. It was a statement: Europe can shape its own future.
What’s next?
At Rewire, we’re committed to helping build that future — and this event was just the beginning. If you're building something with data and AI, we want to hear from you.
On July 26, makers, engineers, and founders will gather to build AI that works, powered by European innovation.
On Friday, July 26, Rewire is hosting a hackathon, in collaboration with technology partners who are shaping the AI landscape in Europe: Tech Makers, Build Europe, AI for Good, Mistral AI, Weaviate, Koyeb, Orq AI, and Kilo Code AI.
Together, we’re inviting the tech community to roll up their sleeves and build a working AI prototype. No power points, no keynotes, no fluff. Just hands-on prototype building with some of the most exciting AI technology coming out of Europe. Whether you're hacking with RAG, smart agents, fine-tuned LLMs, or something totally unexpected, this is your space to experiment, test limits, and share ideas.
At the end of the day, each team will have a chance to demo what they built, share what they learned, and get inspired by others.
📍 Location: Rewire offices in Amsterdam. Mauritskade 55G, 1092 AD Amsterdam.
🕘 Time: 10:00 to 20:00
🎟️ Register here.
Why this matters
Europe is brimming with AI talent and infrastructure — but too often, the focus is elsewhere. This hackathon is a celebration of European innovation and talent, and a chance to connect the dots between AI research, tooling, and real-world applications.
Whether you're an engineer, designer, researcher, or product thinker, you'll find your place here.
How to join
This is an open event, but space is limited.
See you on July 26 at Rewire!
Recognized in the categories Digital Transformation, Large Scale Project, and Digital Leadership & Diversity.
We’re incredibly proud to share that Rewire has been nominated for three categories in the prestigious 2025 Computable Awards 😊
Often referred to as the “Oscars of the ICT industry” the Computable Awards celebrate excellence in technology, innovation, and impact. These nominations reflect exactly what we aim for at Rewire: meaningful change, driven by data, and delivered at scale.
Here’s what we're recognized for:
- Large Scale Project (Grootzakelijk project). For our work with the Postcode Lottery Group (PLG), where we co-developed an AI-powered business analytics hub. This platform supports PLG’s broader mission to raise funds for social causes across culture, nature, environmental and animal protection, health, human rights, and development aid.
- Digital Transformation (Digitale Transformatie). In collaboration with DekaMarkt, we built an AI-driven retail promotion optimization platform, which led to a remarkable 30% increase in the margin of promotional sales — showing what data can do when deeply embedded in commercial decision-making.
- Digital Leadership & Diversity.This nomination celebrates Laura Brandwacht, Rewire Partner, for her outstanding efforts in advancing gender diversity in tech and empowering the next generation of female digital leaders — a mission that benefits us all!
Help us bring it home
Voting is now open to the public, until October. If you believe in our mission, we’d be honoured to have your support.
Each person can cast a single vote per category:
- For the Large Scale Projects category, vote here.
- For the Digital Transformation category, vote here.
- For the Digital Leadership & Diversity category, vote here.
A big thank you to our clients, our partners, and of course the Rewire team.
These nominations belong to all of you.