Thank you to all who joined us on July 9th for the AI Startup Mixer & Hackathon at the UW Tech Exploration Lab. It was a dynamic and electric evening where student passion met real-world insight, and where the energy of emerging innovation was on full display. These events were hosted as a capstone to Google’s AI Startup School, and they brought cutting-edge tools, education, and startup frameworks from Google to life.
Startup CEO, Kerra Guffey, hearing about student projects mid-hackathon.
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.
And set in the heart of the Hackathon schedule, our mixer wasn’t just about networking. Industry leaders, alumni, and entrepreneurial professionals did more than drop by—they jumped in. Throughout the event, guests circulated between student teams to hear early-stage pitches, offer valuable feedback, and share hard-won insights that helped shape ideas in real time. Projects ranged from API services, to browser extensions, to chatbots and agentic applications.
This kind of engagement is exactly what sets the Tech Exploration Lab apart. Our mission is to serve as a launchpad for innovation—connecting student talent, emerging technology, and real-world challenges through experimentation and exploration. And on July 9, that mission came to life. We were especially excited to see how many experienced programmers, whether they be master students or self-directed project veterans, showed up to learn about AI development for the first time. 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.
What made the evening special:
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Hands-on interaction with student teams building AI-powered startups in the Hackathon
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Meaningful conversations that turned into coaching moments and creative breakthroughs
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A shared sense of possibility at the intersection of entrepreneurship, AI, and impact
Students and industry leaders mingle during the mixer and pizza event.
To future participants, we asked students what they would say to someone who would be curious about jumping into future events like this:
- “Do it! Come up with a creative idea a few days in advance, plan a bit, and communicate well with your teammate throughout the whole time period.“
- “Go for it! You might end up with a very cool project by the end, or at the very least you’ll probably learn a thing or two. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things!
- “I’d say go for it—absolutely. It was an incredible experience where we not only got to build something meaningful but also learned a lot by collaborating under time pressure. You don’t need to be perfect or have everything figured out; just show up, stay curious, and keep building!”
To our alumni and industry guests: thank you for showing up not just as spectators, but as collaborators. Your presence and participation made a lasting impression—and we’re just getting started.
See more student highlights from the hackathon and if you’re interested in engaging further—whether by proposing a project, mentoring a student team, or exploring ways to partner. We’d love to hear from you. Contact us at our industry page.
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.