Liner Opens AI Agent Hackathon to Anyone Over 40

Liner, a South Korean AI startup, has launched .EXE-THON 2026, a hackathon specifically for individuals aged 40 and above. The company's CEO, Kim Jin-woo, stated that experienced professionals "know best where work gets stuck and how to fix it." This initiative aims to harness deep, practical understanding of workplace challenges, translating this know-how into functional AI agents designed to address specific on-the-job problems.

The hackathon's structure prioritizes practical expertise over advanced technical skill. It is open to anyone aged 40 or older, regardless of their occupation or prior coding experience. Participants are permitted to use AI coding tools, suggesting the focus is on problem definition and solution design rather than intricate programming proficiency. Submissions must be working products, not just conceptual proposals, ensuring a tangible outcome.

Project examples illustrate the practical intent: an AI to organize retiring employees' knowledge for handover, an inspection AI to detect inventory mismatches, and a customer service AI for routine queries. Participants are required to integrate at least one of Liner's AI models or search-related application programming interfaces (APIs) into their solutions, ensuring the developed tools have a clear pathway to practical application and leverage Liner's own technological offerings.