This summer, the UW Tech Exploration Lab became ground zero for the next generation of AI-driven ventures.
As a capstone to Google’s AI Startup School, the Lab hosted a high-energy, high-impact AI Startup Hackathon—a hands-on experience that brought cutting-edge tools, education, and startup frameworks from Google to life.
Students from across campus gathered not just to learn, but to build. Armed with insights from Google’s best-in-class startup curriculum and support from visiting Google engineers, they tackled real-world problem spaces and developed promising early prototypes in just a matter of days.
From personalized learning platforms to AI-powered recruiting tools and smart social impact tech, the ideas that emerged were as bold as they were grounded in real opportunity.
This wasn’t your average hackathon. It was the culmination of a multi-week learning sprint, paired with mentor drop-ins, team coaching, and collaborative sessions—all designed to get students closer to what launching a real startup actually feels like. And true to the Lab’s mission, it fused industry access, hands-on experimentation, and emerging tech exploration to activate talent in ways the classroom can’t.
As one participant said: “I came in with an idea. Now I know how to pitch it, prototype it, and actually see where it could go.”
The buzz doesn’t stop here. We’re just getting started. More collaborations with Google are in motion, and the Lab will continue to serve as a launchpad where students, alumni, and partners come together to explore, experiment, and accelerate what’s next in AI.
Save the date: Join us August 18 for our end-of-summer networking and see what’s launching next.