K2 Think Hackathon: could your idea turn into impact in 48 hours?

This October, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is extending a challenge to the world: bring your boldest ideas and most creative coding to Abu Dhabi, and build with one of the most advanced AI reasoning models ever created.  

The K2 Think Hackathon, hosted at MBZUAI’s campus in the UAE capital, offers not only the thrill of competition but the promise of real-world impact: the winning feature will be integrated directly into the K2 Think application, reaching users worldwide. 

Developed by MBZUAI’s Institute of Foundation Models (IFM) in partnership with G42, K2 Think is the fastest reasoning model in the world, operating at nearly 2,000 tokens per second. It has been engineered for advanced mathematical reasoning, enabling breakthrough applications across science, finance, education, logistics, and more. 

The hackathon is the first opportunity for students, developers, researchers, and founders to put this frontier AI model to the test – and to shape its future. 

Hector Liu, Director of MBZUAI IFM Silicon Valley Lab, said: “What makes this hackathon special is K2 Think itself – a model that combines advanced mathematical reasoning with lightning speed. We can’t wait to see participants push these unique capabilities to their limits and show us what’s possible.”

Two stages, one opportunity for global impact 

The Hackathon unfolds in two stages designed to combine global reach with high-intensity collaboration: 

Stage 1: Global Idea Call (October 13–26) 

Participants worldwide are invited to submit a one-page proposal outlining how K2 Think can power new applications, solve real-world challenges, or create entirely new user experiences. Proposals should define the problem, describe the solution, and show how K2 Think’s unique speed and reasoning capabilities unlock something new. 

Stage 2: Abu Dhabi 48h Build Challenge (November 7–9) 

The top 10 teams – selected by an expert panel – will receive up to AED 20,000 (per person), travel grants covering flights, accommodation, and meals to attend an intensive 48-hour build weekend at MBZUAI. With mentors and resources on hand, teams will turn ideas into working demos, culminating in a live pitch session before judges. 

The winning project won’t just win bragging rights – it will become part of K2 Think’s product roadmap, giving its creators the rare chance to see their feature deployed at scale. 

Why K2 Think matters 

Large language models have shown astonishing potential, but they often falter on tasks requiring structured reasoning or complex calculations. K2 Think was built to solve that problem. By combining superior math reasoning with unmatched processing speed, it offers a platform for building applications that are not only intelligent but reliable, responsive, and scalable. 

Imagine an education platform that can solve and explain advanced equations in seconds, a financial tool that recalibrates portfolios in real time, or a logistics engine that optimizes supply chains on the fly. These are the kinds of solutions MBZUAI hopes participants will explore. 

But the K2 Think Hackathon is not only about code. It’s also about careers, collaboration, and community. By taking part, participants will also build direct connections to MBZUAI, G42, and the UAE’s growing AI ecosystem – as well as fellow K2 Think experts and advocates from around the world. This reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global hub for applied AI innovation, where research breakthroughs rapidly translate into solutions for the world. 

Haochen Sun, Head of Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC), said: “Organizing the K2 Think Hackathon is core to IEC’s mandate: bridging cutting-edge research with real-world application. We’re providing the pathway for participants to turn their boldest ideas into deployed technology that reaches users worldwide.”

How to apply 

Applications open via the MBZUAI hackathon portal on Monday, October 13. Eligible participants include students, developers, researchers, and founders worldwide, with teams of up to four people. 

Proposals must include: 

• A problem statement and target users  

• How K2 Think is applied  

• The envisioned demo or experience  

• The potential global impact  


The deadline is October 26, with the top 10 teams announced soon after. Finalists will then prepare to travel to Abu Dhabi for the 48-hour build challenge from November 7–9, culminating in the winner’s announcement. 

The K2 Think Hackathon is more than a contest. It’s a chance to shape the trajectory of frontier AI, to see ideas leap from paper to global deployment in weeks, and to connect with one of the most dynamic AI ecosystems in the world.