Como, Italy, July 6th 2026 - Como 1907 and Como Ventures will launch Data on the Lake this July, a two-day AI hackathon created in collaboration with Google DeepMind, bringing some of the brightest technical minds in sport, data and machine learning to Como.
Taking place on 24 and 25 July 2026, immediately before the second edition of Football on the Lake, the event will invite data scientists, machine learning engineers, developers and sports technology professionals to work with real football challenges and explore how frontier AI can shape the next generation of club decision-making.
Applications are now open for the invitation-only event, which will give participants access to a curated Como 1907 dataset and the opportunity to build AI tools designed for use inside a professional football club.
Under the theme The Future of Football Intelligence, teams will compete across two prize categories, technical innovation and practical utility. The hackathon will open with Como 1907’s vision for AI in football, followed by the release of the problem sets, access to tooling and focused build time. Teams will then develop and present their concepts to a judging panel made up of technical, football and business experts.
Across the two days, participants will take part in technical briefings, team build sessions, project presentations, judging and networking. The programme will include contributions from Como 1907’s data science and football operations teams, Google DeepMind representatives, Como Ventures and The Players Fund, with sessions exploring AI tooling, football data, startup innovation and the future of applied technology in sport.
Alongside the hackathon, the event will include networking sessions connecting technical talent with football industry leaders, investors and founders arriving in Como ahead of Football on the Lake.
Mo Dabbah, Chief Technology Officer of Como 1907, said, "Football produces an extraordinary amount of information, but the real opportunity lies in how clubs turn that information into better decisions. This hackathon is about bringing together people who understand technology with people who understand football, and asking them to build tools that can genuinely help. We are excited to see what happens when strong data, clear problem sets and frontier AI capability are brought together in Como."
The event builds on the momentum of Como Ventures, the startup and investment platform launched by Como 1907 and The Players Fund in September 2025. Since launch, the initiative has given early-stage companies a route to pilot and scale inside one of the most distinctive markets in world football, with Data on the Lake the latest expression of that mission.
The judging panel is expected to include representatives from Como 1907’s data science, football, commercial and technology teams, alongside Google DeepMind contributors. Prizes are being finalised and may include cloud credits, a pathway to pilot with Como 1907, or the opportunity to present work at a future Como Ventures or The Players Fund event.
Data on the Lake will take place on 24 and 25 July 2026 in Como, Italy. Places are limited and subject to approval.
Applications are now open at (luma.com/okjsu80v)