Join our AI Hackathon with MariaDB Vector

Written by Written by Robert Silén Leave a comment on Join our AI Hackathon with MariaDB Vector
MariaDB AI-RAG Hackathon

We are excited to announce a hackathon with MariaDB Vector and Python. Since we are reaching outside our bubble, let’s start from the beginning: 

MariaDB, the open-source database powers the world’s most demanding applications, from Wikipedia to global financial institutions. Now MariaDB Vector is bringing AI-ready vector search natively into the open-source database world. MySQL users ahoy: 

Our hackathon is your chance to explore AI possibilities with MariaDB Vector and Python. Whether you’re a developer, data scientist, or AI enthusiast, MariaDB Foundation invites you to build innovative AI applications, compete for prizes, and showcase your work.

Gather a team, submit your idea, and develop it! Winners get to demo their project at Helsinki Python Meetup in May, and receive prizes sponsored by Verkkokauppa.com. Can’t be on-site? Participate and earn a special mention!

For more details about the Helsinki Python Meetup in May hosted by MariaDB Foundation and Open Ocean Capital – see May Helsinki Python meetup, with MariaDB Foundation.

Key parts and dates

  1. Ideation (Now – Mon 31 March 2025, 23:59 EET): Submit your idea for approval.
  2. Development (Upon Approval – Mon 5 May 2025, 23:59 EET): Build your solution based on your approved idea and submit it by instructions below. 
  3. Demo (Tue 27 May 2025): Winners present their project’s live demo at the Helsinki Python Meetup (Hackathon participants will be informed about the hackathon results a week before the meetup).

How to Participate

  • Form a team (1 to 5 members) via the Helsinki Python Discord group at #mariadb-hackathon. Diverse and new teams are encouraged.
  • Your project must be in Python, and utilize MariaDB Vector (see Vector Overview in the MariaDB Knowledge Base, with video tutorials)
  • Choose between two tracks:
    • 1) Integration: Enable MariaDB Vector in an existing open source project or AI-framework. Either add it alongside other vector solutions (Qdrant, pgvector, etc.) or create a first implementation. See e.g. this list of frameworks, or do RAG-magics for the MariaDB Jupyter kernel.
    • 2) Innovation: Build a reference implementation for a use case, such as a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system in text, image, voice, or video form.
  • Submit a one-page PDF proposal via email to hackathon@mariadb.org (a one sentence summary, short use case, and a brief technical outline).
  • If needed, discuss your idea with organizers (@robertsilen) on Helsinki Python Discord #mariadb-hackathon or receive mentoring from international experts at MariaDB Foundation
  • Develop your project and submit the code as a GitHub repository (or a Pull Request to an existing open-source repo) under an Open Source license. Record a 2-4 minute demo video (unlisted/public YouTube or other) and send the URLs to hackathon@mariadb.org.

Evaluation & Prizes

Projects will be judged by representatives from MariaDB Foundation and the Helsinki Python Team based on:

  • Impact: How effectively MariaDB Vector is integrated or how significant the reference implementation is.
  • Elegance: Code quality and implementation. 

Prizes sponsored by Verkkokauppa.com will be awarded at the event. Fine print: While everyone can participate online, only in-person participants can claim prizes. At least one team member must be present at the event to demo and receive the prize.  

Let’s get going 🙂

Timeline recap: submit idea by end of March, develop until May 5th, and meetup May 27th.

Whether you’re participating in the hackathon or joining the Helsinki Python Meetup to learn and be inspired, we look forward to seeing you participate!

Further reading