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SF Tech Week 2026

Physical AI Hackathon: From Idea to Factory

Hosted by One Culture Foundation

When
9:00 AM – 12:45 PM
Where
Embarcadero
Format
Hackathon, Networking and Roundtable / Workshop
Physical AI Hackathon: From Idea to Factory artwork

/ About this event

What happens when AI moves beyond the screen and into the objects, devices, and environments of everyday life?

Join us for a hands-on morning where anyone — engineer or not — turns a product idea into something a factory can actually build.

Type one sentence. Get back a design, a spec sheet, a bill of materials with real part numbers, and a quote from a factory that can make it.

With Vlight AI, participants can move from idea toward factory-ready product specs in one morning.

Everyone builds. Everyone pitches.

Bring a laptop and one idea — a gadget, wearable, robot, home device, wellbeing product, or something entirely new.

No CAD. No engineering background. No technical co-founder required.

Artists, designers, technologists and founders are all welcome.

BUILD HUMAN FUTURES

This event is part of Human Futures Lab’s BUILD HUMAN FUTURES hackathon series, designed to discover promising ideas, build real-world prototypes, and help selected teams move toward their next stage.

Promising projects may continue through mentorship, prototyping, manufacturing exploration, the Human Futures Showcase, and future Human Futures Lab cohort opportunities.

Build something real — and discover which ideas are worth continuing.

AGENDA

9:00–9:20 AM Arrival, check-in & networking

9:20–9:35 AM Welcome + BUILD HUMAN FUTURES introduction

9:35–11:10 AM Build your product — hands-on support throughout the room

11:10–11:40 AM 60-second pitches

11:40 AM–12:05 PM Voting, feedback & project selection

12:05–12:30 PM Networking & connections

12:30–12:45 PM Wrap-up

TO BUILD

Bring a laptop and one idea.

No idea yet? We’ll have an Inspiration Library to help you get started.

Every attendee receives 1,000 free Vlight credits.

FOR INVESTORS & INDUSTRY

If you invest in or work across hardware, Physical AI, consumer technology, robotics, wellbeing, future living, or manufacturing, join the pitch round and help identify ideas worth continuing.

PARTNERS & VENUE

One Culture Foundation — A U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on cultural diplomacy and international cultural exchange, connecting art, learning, wellbeing, and human-centered innovation.

Human Futures Lab — A venture-building and prototyping platform for human-centered innovation, bringing creative talent, technology, industry, and manufacturing together to discover promising ideas, build real-world prototypes, and support selected teams as they move from concept toward scalable products and ventures.

Vlight AI — AI product development platform. Idea to factory-ready specs, matched to a 200+ factory network. MOQ 1.

Google Community Space — Google’s San Francisco community hub for mission-driven organizations to convene, collaborate, and create impact through workshops, meetings, and events.

This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com Free to attend. Part of #SFTechWeek.

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