Next Hackathon
AMD AI League
Starts Sep 1, 2026
Alpaca AI Trading Agents Hackathon
Code the next generation of algorithmic trading
π Online Hackathon | π» Dates: 28 Augustβ4 September 2026 | π $6,000 Prize Pool
Build AI trading agents on Alpaca β autonomous agents and trading apps using Alpaca's Trading API, MCP server and CLI.
π Fully online hackathon. Join and build from anywhere in the world.
Alpaca AI Trading Agents Hackathon
Code the next generation of algorithmic trading
Build AI trading agents on Alpaca β autonomous agents and trading apps using Alpaca's Trading API, MCP server and CLI.
Every participant builds on Alpaca's developer stack. Alpaca is a programmable brokerage: you plug in an API key and your app can place orders on US stocks, options, ETFs and crypto β Alpaca provides the brokerage infrastructure and APIs; you build the application.
Projects for the hackathon are developed and tested using Alpaca's paper-trading environment.
Build AI trading agents on Alpaca
Build autonomous agents and trading apps using Alpaca's Trading API, MCP server and CLI. Projects are developed and tested in the paper trading environment β no real capital, no funding needed, just a live market to build against.
Core requirements
- Autonomous agents β participants must build autonomous AI trading agents using Alpaca's Trading API.
- MCP or CLI β projects must utilize either Alpaca's MCP server or its CLI tools.
- Options trading β all strategies must incorporate options trading.
Main Challenge
Options Alpha AgentsOptions Alpha Agents
Build an autonomous AI trading agent designed to generate P&L using Alpaca's trading platform. Develop a clear, testable trading strategy and demonstrate how your agent identifies opportunities, makes trading decisions, manages positions, and performs over the course of the competition. You may explore options, trading agents, portfolio income, or other approaches supported by Alpaca.
Account requirements
Use any paper account to start building
Sign up for Alpaca and open a paper trading account to explore the API, MCP server, and CLI, prototype your agent, and test strategies. Use any paper account you like during development.
Create paper account βSubmit with a new, fresh account
For your final submission, create a brand-new Alpaca paper trading account dedicated to this hackathon. Projects run on an existing or reused account will not be eligible for judging.
- Competition account starting balance must be set to $100,000.
- One-page write-up covering your AI logic, risk gates, and Alpaca infrastructure implementation.
Build in Public
Share your progress publicly on social media β X and LinkedIn β while you build. Share your process, your reasoning, and your setbacks. Tag both lablab.ai and Alpaca in your posts.
You can submit up to 5 social media post links with your final project submission.
Partners
Lead partner
Alpaca is a brokerage platform providing access to financial markets through developer-friendly APIs.
Alpaca's Broker API is a full-stack, end to end brokerage infrastructure service empowering global fintechs and institutions to build customizable investing applications and platforms.
Their Trading API allows programmatic traders, retail investors, hedge funds, and prop firms to develop algorithms that automate trading strategies across multiple asset types, including stocks, options, and crypto.
Securities trading is offered by Alpaca Securities LLC (dba βAlpaca Clearingβ). Crypto trading is offered by Alpaca Crypto LLC.
Trading API
The programmable brokerage itself β the interface your app uses to place orders on US stocks, options, ETFs and crypto.
MCP server
Lets an AI assistant β Claude, Cursor, VS Code, ChatGPT β interact with Alpaca's APIs through structured tools in the paper-trading environment.
Alpaca CLI
The same trading functions from a terminal command, with structured JSON output. Built for long-running agent sessions, cron jobs and CI, where MCP is heavier than needed.
Paper trading environment
Simulated funds with real market data. Free, no card required. Build and test without touching real money.
Community & technical resources
Build with Alpaca
Everything you need to explore the APIs, SDKs, developer tools and resources for building your trading agent.
Developer tools
AI & agent development
Technology partners
Featherless AI provides serverless AI inference for open-source models, helping teams integrate specialized models into agents, workflows, and real-time applications.
Build with it:
- Add open-source model inference to agent workflows
- Build research, automation, and extraction agents
- Power agent reasoning, generation, & specialized model use cases
Access:
To be eligible for partner prizes, the relevant partner technology must be integrated into a project submitted under the hackathon challenge.
π Total prize pool: $6,300
Main prizes
$2,500
+ $300 in Featherless credits
$1,500
$1,000
Prize terms
Important: Winners are responsible for applicable taxes. US winners receiving more than $600 will receive a 1099-MISC. Non-US payments are generally subject to 30% US withholding unless a valid treaty claim applies on the W-8BEN. Gross prizes may be reduced by withholding and wire fees. Winners must complete required documentation within 90 days of winner notification or the prize may be forfeited. This is a skill contest and judging is final. Submissions must be original and MIT-compliant. Alpaca may use winner name, likeness, and project for publicity without additional compensation. Alpaca may modify or cancel prizes if the event is changed or cancelled. Alpaca will coordinate payouts directly with winners. Full details .
Guidelines
How to participate
The hackathon takes place online on the lablab.ai platform and the lablab.ai Discord server . Please register for both to participate. To join, click the Enroll button at the bottom of the page and read the Hackathon Guidelines , Getting Started Guide and the lablab.ai Hackathon Rule Book .
Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of previous AI or coding experience.
Before the kickoff, browse the AI Tech and tutorials pages to read up on the available technologies and get a head start on your project.
Teams
Teams consist of 1-6 people. If you don't have a team, don't worry! You can connect with other participants from all over the world on the dashboard or on the Discord server , where you can also find teammates and bounce around ideas.
What to submit
π Basic information
- Project title
- Short description
- Long description
- Technology & category tags
πΈ Cover image, presentation and write-up
- Cover image
- Video presentation
- Slide presentation
- One-page write-up
π» App hosting and repository
- Public GitHub repository
- Demo application platform
- Application URL
- Alpaca paper trading account ID
Judging criteria
P&L Performance
The trading performance of the submitted agent in the Alpaca paper trading environment. Judges will consider the project's P&L and how effectively the strategy performs through its trading activity.
Technology Implementation
How effectively the project uses Alpaca's Trading API, MCP server, CLI, and other required technologies to build an autonomous trading agent.
Creativity & Originality
The originality of the concept, trading strategy, agent behavior, and overall approach to solving the challenge. Judges will value projects that demonstrate thoughtful and creative use of the technology.
Presentation & Execution
How clearly and effectively the project communicates its idea, demonstrates the agent in action, and presents the reasoning behind its trading strategy and results.
Event Schedule
- To be announced
Community & social channels
Stay connected with the teams behind the hackathon and follow along for updates, highlights and future opportunities.
Speakers, Mentors & Judges
Disclosures
The content on this page is for general informational purposes only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or cryptocurrency.
Lablab and Alpaca are unaffiliated and are each responsible for their own liabilities.
Projects developed as part of this hackathon are intended to use Alpaca's paper-trading environment. Paper trading is a simulation and does not involve actual securities transactions or real funds. Paper-trading results are hypothetical and do not represent actual trading or guarantee future results.
Securities brokerage services are provided by Alpaca Securities LLC (dba βAlpaca Clearingβ), member FINRA/SIPC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AlpacaDB, Inc. Technology and services are offered by AlpacaDB, Inc.
Cryptocurrency services are made available by Alpaca Crypto LLC (βAlpaca Cryptoβ), a FinCEN registered money services business (NMLS # 2160858), Alpaca Crypto is not a member of SIPC or FINRA. Cryptocurrencies are not stocks and your cryptocurrency investments are not protected by either FDIC or SIPC. Please see the Disclosure Library for more information.
Options trading is not suitable for all investors due to its inherent high risk, which can potentially result in significant losses. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before investing in options.
All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Next Hackathon
AMD AI League
Starts Sep 1, 2026