nextReality Hackathon 2026 in cooperation with PICO and Gebr. Heinemann – supported by Universität Hamburg and HAW!
From June 18 to 19, 2026, we’re inviting students, developers, and UX/XR designers to take part in a two-day hackathon at the intersection of XR and AI. On both days, you’ll work in teams on a real-world company challenge that can be implemented on PICO headsets.
Our case partner: Gebr. Heinemann From Hamburg to the world: Founded in 1879 by the brothers Carl and Heinrich Heinemann as a small family business in the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the company has grown over five generations into a global group of companies. Today, Gebr. Heinemann is one of the leading distributors and retailers in the international travel retail market. In case the name doesn’t ring a bell – you’ve almost certainly walked through one of their Duty Free stores at the airport. For the hackathon, Gebr. Heinemann is bringing real-world retail challenges to the table – what exactly they look like, you’ll find out once you’re in.
You’ll be supported by PICO representatives as well as staff from Universität Hamburg and HAW. Over the two days, you’ll develop ideas and first prototypes – on the evening of June 19, the teams will present their results to a jury that will select the winning team. The best team wins a PICO ULTRA – plus a goody bag from Gebr. Heinemann!
Now is your chance to apply for one of the limited spots. Students, developers, and UX/XR designers are all welcome – all you need is enthusiasm for XR and AI! We look forward to your applications and are keeping our fingers crossed!
My English is slightly better than my German, so I would like to fill out the application in English. Link to application!
Please make sure all questions have been answered completely before submitting your application. Only complete applications can be considered.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Sarah – Sarah.wienberg@nextReality.Hamburg
