100 builders.
One weekend.
October.
FaithTech's annual UK weekend hackathon for redemptive technology, rooted in a biblical approach.
So, what is a hackathon?
A focused two-day sprint where teams solve real challenges using technology, redemptively. You pick up a problem that matters, join a team, and build a solution to it before the weekend is out.
It runs around the clock. Some teams pace themselves, some build through the night! Either way, there's room for everyone, and you do not need to be technical to take part. Designers, product people, storytellers, product and project managers, first-time coders: the best teams are a mix.
Use your skills on something that matters.
Around 100 builders gather across roughly 10 teams. You join a team of about 5-10 people, working a real challenge brought by a charity, church, ministry or individual. A genuine challenge someone wants to work on.
By Saturday evening you'll have built something (deployed code, an interactive prototype, a concept design or something else), and met people who share your faith and your craft. This is a weekend to use your gifts where your heart is.
David Gardner
We're excited to have David joining us as a judge and sitting down for a conversation on Saturday evening. Bring your questions about building things that last.
David grew Electronic Arts in Europe into a $1bn business as Chief Operating Officer, then went on to serve as Chief Executive of Atari. Today he runs London Venture Partners, an early backer of Unity and Supercell.
How the weekend runs.
Two days, one room, and a clear shape from the first welcome to the final presentation.
- 6:30pmDoors open. Dinner served.
- 7:15pmWelcome and worship.
- 7:50pmPitches. The challenges are presented, one by one.
- 8:15pmTeam formation. Find your challenge, find your team.
- 8:45pmBuild begins.
- 8:00amBreakfast.
- 5:00pmCode freeze. Tools down, final touches only.
- 6:45pmIn conversation with David Gardner.
- 7:30pmPresentations, dinner and prizes. Teams show what they've made.
- 9:00pmClose.
Run a charity, church, ministry or kingdom-focused business? You can bring a real problem for a team to work on.
A decade of building for the Kingdom.
Run previously by Kingdom Code, BUILD is now part of FaithTech, carried forward alongside the Kingdom Code team. The heart of it has not changed: Christians in technology, serving Jesus.
For ten years, BUILD has gathered people to put their skills to work for the Kingdom. Since 2015, this annual hackathon has brought developers, designers and creatives together to serve churches, charities and ministries, treating technology as an act of worship, not only problem-solving. Wrapped in prayer and praise across the weekend, teams turn ideas into working tools that reach further than any of us could alone.
- Bible engagement brought to life through reading apps, games and scripture tools.
- Evangelism and discipleship equipped with apps for sharing faith, prayer and growing communities.
- Care for the poor and vulnerable through tools for foodbanks, debt advice, fostering and adoption.
- Global mission extended through translation tools reaching churches worldwide.
Past teams have served partners like Bible Society, Tearfund, Scripture Union, Christians Against Poverty, Compassion and Safe Families. Beyond the projects, BUILD has grown a lasting community of Christian technologists who see their work as worship and service to the church.