About
What is it?
A focused online hackathon where developers build real content-moderation applications using Imagga's AI-MODE APIs, the same models used across dating apps, marketplaces, UGC platforms, and online communities.
WorldSingles reports a 12x faster moderation workflow with Imagga, which makes this event a practical way to explore how content safety can work in production.
Who should join
Developers, ML and data engineers, and technical builders based in Korea and across APAC.
How to join
Come solo and we will help with team formation, or arrive with a team of three ready to build.
What you get
Free AI-MODE sandbox keys and credits, live mentoring from Imagga engineers, real challenge briefs, prizes, and a certificate of participation.
Real moderation problems
Teams build for dating apps, marketplaces, UGC feeds, and online communities using AI-MODE moderation workflows.
Production-ready APIs
Participants work with the same content-safety models used across visual-first products and moderation operations.
Builder-friendly format
The program is designed for developers and technical builders who can move quickly from API call to demo.
Challenge tracks
Four tracks, four real moderation problems
Teams pick one track and build a working prototype around a concrete trust-and-safety scenario using the provided moderation APIs.
Track 1
Dating and profile safety
Verify that a profile is a real, single, safe person with selfie-versus-photo face match, single-face checks, unsafe-photo screening, and bio moderation.
APIs
Faces Similarity, Faces Detection, NSFW, Text Moderation
Track 2
UGC and short-video moderation
Moderate a high-volume feed of images and short videos in real time, then send only borderline items to human review.
APIs
Image Moderation, Video Frame Analysis, Text-in-Image
Track 3
Marketplace integrity
Detect prohibited or unsafe listing photos, OCR phone numbers and PII burned into images, and flag scam or spam descriptions.
APIs
Categories, Text-in-Image (OCR), Text Moderation
Track 4
Online community and chat
Moderate harassment and hate speech in text, then auto-redact PII leaked through screenshots and shared images.
APIs
Text Moderation and PII, Text-in-Image (OCR), Image Moderation
Requirements and rules
Eligibility
- Open to developers and technical builders aged 18 and older.
- Solo sign-ups are welcome and teams can form on Day 1.
- Teams must consist of 3 people and work must be created during the event.
Build rules
- Every project must use at least one AI-MODE content-moderation API.
- Any language or stack is allowed, using the sandbox keys provided at kickoff.
- Each team should choose one of the four challenge tracks.
Submission
Due by Day 2, 14:00 KST
- A public code repository link.
- A 90-second demo video.
- One slide covering the problem, the solution, and the AI-MODE APIs used.
Judging criteria
100 points total
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Technical execution | 20 |
| Innovation | 20 |
| Use of AI-MODE APIs | 20 |
| Impact and real-world fit | 20 |
| Presentation | 20 |
Prizes
Prizes, credits, and special awards
Winning teams receive a mix of cash, AI-MODE API credits, swag, and recognition for standout implementation and community impact.
Exact cash amounts will be confirmed before publication.
1st place
Cash, AI-MODE API credits, and swag.
2nd place
Cash, AI-MODE API credits, and swag.
3rd place
Cash, AI-MODE API credits, and swag.
Special awards
Best AI-MODE API Integration and Community Impact.
Timeline
Two days, fully online
The live agenda combines onboarding, mentor support, hands-on build time, tech checks, and final demos.
Accepted participants receive the full hour-by-hour agenda.
Opening, keynote, workshop, and team forming
Kick off with the event briefing, AI-MODE API workshop, and solo-participant matchmaking.
Build sprint and mentor office hours
Teams move into focused building time with direct access to Imagga engineers.
Build sprint and tech check
Finish the prototype, test the workflow, and prepare for demos and submissions.
Submission, demo day, judging, and awards
Wrap with final submissions, project demos, scoring, and the closing awards session.
Mentors and judges
Learn from the people who built AI-MODE
Mentoring and judging will be led by Imagga's AI-MODE engineers and product team, with guest mentors joining from the Korean startup ecosystem.
Live mentoring from Imagga engineers
Product and API feedback during the sprint
Guest mentors and partner presence announced closer to launch
FAQ
Frequently asked
Does it cost anything?
No. Participation is free, and sandbox API keys plus credits are provided.
Do I need a team?
No. Apply solo and we will help you form a team of three on Day 1.
What do I need to know?
You should be comfortable writing code and calling a REST API. No prior moderation or ML experience is required.
Is it fully online?
Yes. The event runs on Zoom and Discord for participants joining across APAC time zones.
Who owns what I build?
You keep your code, subject to the participation terms shared at sign-up.
Register
Registration is closed
The application deadline was 31 May 2026, and the hackathon took place on 6-7 June 2026. New applications are not being accepted.
Status update
If you are interested in future AI-MODE hackathons or follow-up programs, please contact the team for updates.
Hosted by Imagga Technologies OOD in partnership with All Things Asia in Busan.
Contact email: info@imagga.com