What if it only took one day to turn an idea into a working prototype?
That was the challenge of Vibathon Algarve 2026, which brought together students, entrepreneurs, professionals and those curious about technology at UALG TEC CAMPUS, on October 31st.
Registrations sold out in just 72 hours and, despite the demand, we were still able to accommodate participants on the waiting list.
With the help of artificial intelligence and tools likeLovable, participants went from ideas to action, developing solutions to real problems in a single day.
We have seen projects emerge that demonstrate how technology can make innovation more accessible to everyone.
The winning projects:
🥇 1st place: LearningHub
A platform that facilitates access and sharing of study materials.
Premium: Arduino UNO Q 4GB + Arduino Sensor Kit
🥈 2nd place: PataCerta
A solution to improve the compatibility between animals for adoption and their future families, promoting more responsible and lasting adoptions.
Premium: Arduino UNO R4 WiFi + Arduino Sensor Kit
🥉 3rd place: WeHelp
An application that simplifies access to information on social support and benefits.
Award: Arduino UNO R4 WiFi
Two honorable mentions
- Marginalia: A solution to organize and make the most of the highlights and notes saved on Kindle.
- SpeakUp: by Lucas Brito, only 13 years old! — An application to learn five languages, inspired by video games.
Vibathon Algarve was much more than the award-winning projects! Get to know some of the other solutions developed by the participants:
- 🏙️ LifeCity — Transforms everyday tasks and responsibilities into a fun, collaborative experience.
- 🎭 LocalVibe — Helps you discover small local events and experiences that often go unnoticed.
- 📚 FlowSpace — Brings together assignments, deadlines, and academic projects on a single platform.
- 🎣 Algarve Fishing App — Supports recreational fishing with information on species, safety and seasonal trends.
- ⛳ Golf Villas – Algarve — Facilitates the booking of tourist experiences in one place.
- 📝 Corretor639 — Supports the correction of answers to the national Portuguese exam.
- ♻️ Flawless? — It seeks to give a second chance to products with minor aesthetic defects.
- 💻 CodeTrail — Makes programming projects easier to understand through animations and voice explanations.
- 🌱 EcoAlgarve — Promotes more sustainable and less concentrated tourism in the Algarve.
- 🏄 Algarve e-foiling for everyone — Facilitates the management of shared e-foiling equipment.
- 🤖 Reach Check Agent — Verifies that the AI agents' settings match the authorized permissions.
- 🏫 Anima Escolas — A solution for the management of school activities.
- 🚗 NuBai — Seeks to respond to mobility challenges.
👏 Congratulations to all the teams!
A special thanks to those who made all this possible:
AE Team Sílvia da Paz and Antonio Guerreiro for running another hackathon, Rui Barroca, for the exceptional facilitation and collaboration; Angelo Leggio, Dinis Cruz, and Jorge Cabaço, for the valuable mentoring; the Mariana Afonso and Vadym Lemnaru students, for their tireless support as volunteers.
To the CRIA UAlg partner, to the technological partner Lovable Community, who provided credits, and to Algarve STP (Systems and Technology Partnership) and UALG TEC CAMPUS, for the support and welcome.
And, of course, to David Nicol Williams, whose generous donation made this event a reality!
🔥 Spoiler: We’re doing it again! The next edition of Vibathon Algarve is officially confirmed for 📅 February 13, 2027.
Stay tuned for news. 🚀
📸 :MidFox Media