In the spirit of collaboration, creativity, and community impact, Oxford Edge, the newly launched Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Christ Church, played host to the Oxford AI for Communities Hackathon. 

Organised by Rob Chapman, co-founder of Neya and Chair of NeighbourlyLab, the event brought together ten dynamic teams from across Oxford and the UK to explore how artificial intelligence can strengthen social bonds, foster inclusion, and tackle some of society’s most pressing local challenges. 

Held from Friday to Sunday, the event followed a no-frills, hands-on format building innovative digital products. Teams comprising University of Oxford students, researchers, software engineers and community organisers were formed on Friday evening, inspired by a series of community problem statements and pitches from participants. 

What followed was 48 hours of ideation, coding, mentoring, and community-building, driven by the shared goal of designing AI tools that do good locally. 

Participants in the Oxford Edge Hackathon

A Community of Builders

Backed by ElevenLabs, NeighbourlyLab, HumbleAI, Blenheim Chalcot, Founders & Funders, and Enspire, the hackathon embraced principles of accessibility, real-world testing, and joyful innovation. With mentorship, workshops, and social events woven through the weekend, participants were encouraged to experiment with cutting-edge tools from the likes of ElevenLabs, HumbleAI, and n8n—all of whom offered support and free access to their platforms. 

The Oxford Edge space buzzed with energy as rooms filled with whiteboards, laptops, snacks, and determined teams fuelled by pizza (courtesy of EnSpire Oxford), social lunches (thanks to ElevenLabs), and a strong sense of purpose. 

Participants in the Oxford Edge Hackathon

Prototypes That Matter

By Sunday, ten projects had come to life, each a testament to the power of AI to create meaningful community experiences. These included: 

Civy – A complete revamp of the Oxford Council website, making it accessible via voice for those without internet or English proficiency. 

GoodMigrations – A digital guide for newcomers, especially refugees, helping them integrate into Oxfordshire’s communities. 

Pathway – A volunteering app for youth that builds learning, networks, and mentorship. 

Care.AI – A 24/7 voice-first empathetic companion for people who are bed-ridden. 

Community Brain – An AI-powered friend that suggests local events and groups based on user interests. 

Include – A platform helping seniors stay connected with family through their TVs. 

 Kindly – A simple, secure way for neighbours to ask for and offer help, modelled on acts of kindness. 

Pulse – A space for honest sharing that transforms vulnerability into collective action. 

The Nerdy Community – A voice-first app to link researchers and hobbyists for academic collaboration. 

Vwoop – Gamified meetups and AI-generated event ideas to boost in-person connections among young people. 

Participants in the Oxford Edge Hackathon

Judging and Prizes

Sunday afternoon concluded with live demos judged on quality of the prototype, use of technology, and evidence of community impact. The judging panel featured: 

Anneliese Dodds MP, former Cabinet Minister for Development 

Louis Jordan, Engineer at ElevenLabs 

Rob Shilston, CTO at Blenheim Chalcot 

Claire Davenport, former CEO of HelloFresh UK and Notonthehighstreet 

Rob Chapman, non-exec Chair of NeighbourlyLab 

Prizes were awarded in several categories: 

  • Best Use of ElevenLabs Technology: Apple Mac Mini M4 (Civy)
  • Highest Potential Community Impact: £250 cash from NeighbourlyLab (Pathway)
  • Best Prototype: Mentoring lunch and career support from Rob Chapman and Chris Morton (Founder of Lyst) (GoodMigrations) 
Hackathon prizegiving in the Garden of the Oxford Edge centre
Participants in the Oxford Edge Hackathon posing in the garden

A Culture of Openness

Participants retained full ownership of the intellectual property they created, with an open license for non-commercial use granted to fellow participants and event sponsors—ensuring ideas can be shared, evolved, and built upon for continued community benefit. 

Rob Chapman said: “It was inspiring to spend time with ten teams who believe that AI should be used to amplify what makes us human—our ability to be social, coordinated, and joyful.”  

Keep posted for more events at Oxford Edge on our website or by signing up for newsletter updates