As the last few faces appeared in the (virtual) room, the background shifted from GUBATHON 2026 to a “TOP 3 FINALISTS” display.
After a week of coding, navigating group chats, and refining every last detail…it all came down to this. One last announcement and the chance to deliver a final pitch to secure the win.
It was stressful. It was exciting. It was Gubathon.
Once a year at Gubagoo, our developers and product managers collaborate on a hackathon designed to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of what’s possible for our platforms.
Teams have the space to try out new concepts, and it’s also a great way to connect with colleagues outside of your normal team. This year’s theme focused on utilizing AI into the workflow, challenging teams to quickly identify opportunities, build concepts, and deliver solutions that flexed both creativity and practical value.
“Gubathon was a big success this year. With AI at the forefront, teams really stepped up and delivered ideas that excited both judges and the audience—we’re excited to keep building on that momentum.” - Zack Zhou, Software Development
Project submissions were evaluated on both technical execution and their potential to enhance the Gubagoo ecosystem. After an initial round of judging conducted by the Gubathon board, three finalists advanced to the presentation stage.
The most stressful part? Each team had to prepare as if they would make it to the final stage. After the judges revealed the three finalists, teams weren’t given any time to celebrate — the presentations began immediately.
“Gubathon gave me the space to use AI in ways I never had before. It completely changed how I think about what's possible inside our own platform." - Abi Rieke, Associate Product Manager
From there, the judges stepped aside and associate-wide voting determined the Gubathon Champion!
While competition is front-and-center at Gubathon, the impact goes far beyond a single winner. The event creates space for ideas to be explored, tested, and refined in a matter of days — helping shape innovation throughout our teams and projects.
“Gubathon gives us the opportunity to work with others we don't usually get to see and learn about each other. It's so fun having light banters while working on the hack together and helping each other out to finalize the projects through new perspectives. It also sparks innovation and company growth without that mindset of it being part of the work routine, and presents you with that big opportunity to put your grand idea into the spotlight." - Kevin Mateo, Software Development Manager
Of course, it wouldn’t be Gubathon without the fun moments. Side awards honored everything from the funniest name to the most creative design, along with a "WOW" award for the most ambitious idea.
After three standout presentations, voting commenced, and the Guba Guardians squad were crowned Gubathon Champions! Their winning concept focused on leveraging AI to improve system visibility and streamline how teams monitor and manage integrations, showcasing both technical creativity and practical application.
As the final session came to a close, Guba Guardians team lead Mark Hodgson recognized the team effort behind the win, highlighting the collaboration that made the project possible. But even moreso, gave credit to the entire event that was full of incredible ideas.
“Gubathon continues to be one of the best ways to innovate and connect with the wider team beyond our usual focus — even if it comes with a week of intense coding and last-minute presentations. It's a rewarding and genuinely fun experience that showed how AI can amplify ideas and rapidly turn concepts into solutions capable of delivering real value to the company.” - Mark Hodgson, Software Development Supervisor
Gubathon is a unique moment in the year to step outside the day-to-day, think differently, and build something new under pressure. While only one team sees their name etched in the Gubathon Hall of Fame, every team contributes to what comes next at Gubagoo.