Gloo AI Hackathon Winners Announced, Showing What Applied AI Can Do for Human Flourishing

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 9, 2026--

Gloo, a technology platform serving the faith and flourishing ecosystem, today announced the winners of its 2026 Gloo AI Hackathon, awarding $200,000 in cash prizes. A team from Austin Christian University won the $100,000 grand prize for Fosterly, an AI agent that connects young people aging out of Texas foster care to the services and people they need, to help ensure young people do not slip through the cracks.

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Fosterly team leader Jack Malouff was unable to attend due to a serious medical emergency. His team rallied with the slogan “Fight Like Jack” to win, representing him and the project he led.

More than 1,000 builders on more than 115 teams took part under this year's theme, "Building Together: Humans, Agents and the Future of Flourishing." Teams worked through a 30-day virtual build that began Sept. 8, then gathered for a 48-hour in-person build at the Limelight Hotel in Boulder, Oct. 6-8. Participants of all experience levels were invited, including people without a technical background.

“At Gloo we believe AI should be shaped for good, reflecting the needs, values and aspirations of the faith and flourishing ecosystem," said Scott Beck, co-founder and CEO of Gloo. "The Hackathon turns that belief into action. What this year's teams demonstrated is that AI is being used to help people flourish and communities thrive. That was true of the Fosterly team, which built something for young people who are easy to overlook. We were honored to celebrate them and their team leader, Jack, who is in our thoughts and prayers."

Three teams won their challenge tracks, each receiving $20,000:

Gloo awarded the remaining $40,000 across a number of best-in categories. Full results are at gloo.com/hackathon.

A panel of judges scored submissions on concept, innovation, impact, use of AI and team presentation. The panel included Scott Beck, Gloo co-founder and CEO; Eric Célérier, CEO of HelloBible; Pat Gelsinger, executive chair and head of technology at Gloo; and Scott Mosely, vice president of software at RightNowMedia.

To learn more about the Hackathon and this year's winners, visit www.gloo.com/hackathon.

About Gloo

Gloo is a leading technology platform serving the faith and flourishing ecosystem. Gloo helps missional organizations amplify their impact by powering their technology and expanding their reach, so that people flourish and organizations thrive. The company's values-aligned AI platform modernizes systems, workflows and data, while its marketing and donor solutions expand reach, awareness and long-term giving for mission-based organizations.

A team from Austin Christian University wins the $100,000 grand prize at the 2026 Gloo AI Hackathon.

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Simon was headed toward part of Mexico’s Pacific coast Friday and forecast to get much stronger.

U.S. forecasters issued a hurricane warning for parts of the central and southwest coast, where hurricane-force winds were expected within 36 hours.

Simon had maximum sustained winds of 150 kph (90 mph) early Friday and was moving northwest at 7 kph (5 mph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

The Category 1 hurricane was forecast to turn to the north by early Saturday and approach the coast. Simon was expected to intensify rapidly and become a Category 4 storm before landfall. Category 4 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson scale have maximum sustained winds of 210-250 kph (130-156 mph).

Simon was centered about 345 kilometers (215 miles) south of Manzanillo and 515 kilometers (320 miles) south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes.

Tropical storm conditions were possible along the coast later Friday.

Simon was expected to produce torrential rainfall that could cause flooding and mudslides. U.S. forecasters said 20 to 38 centimeters (8 to 15 inches) of rain could fall in southwestern Mexico, with isolated areas getting up to 63 centimeters (25 inches).

Farther north, Tropical Storm Rachel was expected to reach Baja California, northwestern Mexico and Southern California this weekend. It had 95 kph (60 mph) winds and was forecast to weaken, though it may bring heavy rain to the area.

Tropical storm activity has been above average this season in the Pacific, due to the effects of a strong El Niño.

The climate phenomenon typically depresses storm activity in the Atlantic. Hurricane Isaias, which was expected to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast late Friday or Saturday, developed more than four months into the Atlantic hurricane season.

This satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA shows Hurrican Simon in the Pacific on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP)