NEWS The pace was fast and the ideas were sharp when Innovation Office hosted its first Vibe Code Boot Camp. Thirty enthusiastic innovators dove into Vibe Coding, a cutting-edge AI-driven method for rapidly creating fully functional prototypes.
The weekend began with the teams running a short brainstorming session before diving into their business plans. They then jumped into Vibe Coding—an AI-powered approach that turns text into fully functional prototypes. Some participants arrived with a clear vision, while others shaped their ideas throughout the day with guidance from on-site business developers. What started as sketches and rough concepts gradually transformed into working prototypes by the end of the session.
“The most fascinating thing was how much you can actually build today using AI. In the past, it was difficult to create an app, but now you can get started quickly with fairly simple commands. We were almost shocked by how good the result turned out, and then we were able to continue improving and refining the solution,” says Ceren Ademoğlu.
The teams worked intensively throughout the day, and by 9:00 p.m. more than half were still hard at work, perfecting their presentations for Sunday’s pitch session.
“We arrived at the event without knowing each other and without any clear idea. Our initial concept was in the construction industry, but over the weekend we kept refining and improving it step by step. It was truly a process where the idea evolved constantly,” says Patric Grape.
Participants Oscar Andersson, Andrea Fält Pedreira, Agnes Gustafsson, and Ellen Strid are working on their prototype.
ImageEvelinn AppelkvistOn Sunday morning, anticipation filled the room as the teams prepared to present their prototypes to a jury of experts: Daniel Hoffman, Area Manager at the Innovation Office; Sara L. Olofsdotter, Business and Brand Strategist at the Innovation Office; and Gustav Lovén, CEO of Uminova Innovation.
Thirteen teams showcased their new business ideas, spanning smart everyday solutions to cutting-edge technological concepts. Highlights included a platform for discovering new communities, a fitness app for the unmotivated, and an innovative AI tool designed to simplify decision-making
“It’s incredibly cool to see how all the teams—with their different backgrounds and technical skills—supported one another and solved technical problems together. Vibe Coding is a new technology, and we’re impressed that so many people took the chance to learn something new, all while having a lot of fun together, ” says Elin Pudas, co-organizer of the event.
The winners were: Salvage, Avante Garde, and Byggklar.
The photo shows the winners: Enzo Marcani, Patric Grape, Ceren Ademoğlu, Rasmus Adolfsson, Agnes Gustafsson, Oscar Andersson, and Andrea Fält Pedreira.
ImageEvelinn AppelkvistFirst place: Salvage – Rasmus Adolfsson and Ceren Ademoğlu
Salvage addresses a common problem with a user-friendly solution that has the potential to scale to a broad customer base. The solution saves users both time and money in a simple way. The idea stands out thanks to a well-thought-out approach to a source of frustration that many of us encounter in our daily lives.
Second place: Avante Garde – Agnes Gustafsson, Ellen Strid, Oscar Andersson, and Andrea Fält Pedreira
Avante Garde is a cutting-edge niche product with business opportunities that go beyond the original concept and a groundbreaking approach to using personalized data. The jury was particularly impressed by the compelling and creative pitch.
Third place: Ready to Build – Enzo Marcani, Patric Grape, and Henrik Bjelkstål.
Byggklar had an engaging pitch, a clear problem statement, and a compelling prototype. It’s a smart service that simplifies the building permit process and makes it easier to navigate a complex and time-consuming system.
After an intense weekend, participants left the event with new knowledge, valuable connections, and opportunities to take their business ideas further.
“I mostly thought I’d come here, do some coding, and see what happens. But now we really feel excited and motivated to keep going. We don’t quite know what’s possible with the idea yet, but we really want to take it further,” says Andrea Fält Pedreira. '
Vibe Code Boot Camp 2026 was organized by us at the Innovation Office, powered by Umeå University, and carried out with valuable support from Umeå kommun, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and A Working Lab.
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