Kill the Search Bar - pdm Hackathon 2026

No panels.
No small talk.
Just a weekend to rebuild the directory ecosystem in Germany.
Berlin · May 15–17 · In-Person Hackathon
Online directories like Yelp, Gelbe Seiten and Google Business are how millions of people discover and choose local businesses every day.
Most of them are still stuck somewhere around 2010.
Berlin doesn’t do static.
And neither should online directories.
For one weekend, we’re turning the pdm office in Friedrichshain into a curated innovation playground.
Six teams.
Real industry pain points.
Zero buzzword theatre.

The Challenges
You won’t hack on vague ideas.
You’ll work on real structural problems from the directory and local business ecosystem.
Our industry is moving beyond static listings toward platforms that help people discover, trust and transact with local businesses.
Search bars worked when users knew what they wanted.
But what happens when AI understands intent before users even ask?
What happens when you remove the search bar entirely?
Static listing → smart discovery → seamless transaction.
That’s the arc.
We’re building the next chapter.
Choose your angle:
🖤 AI-native interfaces that understand user intent
🖤 Embedded booking & transaction flows for SMB services
🖤 Self-healing live-data engines that keep listings accurate
🖤 New business models for the next generation of directories
🖤 Or something we didn’t see coming
We’re not looking for pitch decks.
We’re looking for working prototypes.

Rough flow
Friday (May 15)
15:00 – Kick-off, intros & team setup
→ then: start building
Saturday (May 16)
Full day building
→ mentors available throughout the day
Sunday (May 17)
Morning: final build & polish
~15:00 – wrap-up
Wednesday (May 20)
15:00 – 16:30 Demo Day (Hackathon Final)
MotionLab Berlin, Bouchéstraße 12 / Halle 20
→ present your prototype live on stage at the VDAV Branchentreff

The Setup
3 days of focused building.
Curated teams (3–5 people).
Mentors from industry (operators, not theorists).
Pizza, brainfood & proper Berlin caffeine.
Working hours (flexible):
Friday: 15:00 – 00:00
Saturday: 09:00 – 00:00
Sunday: 09:00 – 15:00
Teams decide how long they work. We provide the environment.

Demo Day (May 20)
The best part:
You’ll present your prototype live on stage at the VDAV Branchentreff 2026.
May 20, 15:00 – 16:30
MotionLab Berlin
In front of:
CEOs & decision-makers from leading media companies
Product & strategy leads
Digital & innovation experts
Industry partners with real market access

Prizes
1st place
1,000€
CEO pitch session
additional perks
2nd place
500€
additional perks
3rd place
250€
additional perks
Plus for all teams:
Industry exposure
Pilot opportunities
Direct access to decision-makers

Jury (confirmed)
Felix Güßfeld (TikTok)
Ilja Radusch (Fraunhofer / Automotive Services and Communication Technologies)
Michael Lesch (Berlin Partner for Business and Technology)