OCBC launches AI hackathon

Singapore bank receives thousands of submissions for inaugural competition, with nearly three-quarters of ideas coming from non-technology staff. OCBC has held what it describes as the banking industry's first One-Person Company (OPC) Hackathon, challenging employees to use artificial intelligence to rethink how work is done and develop solutions with potential business impact. The event took place on October 22, 2026, at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), as part of the bank's Next Frontier strategy, which places artificial intelligence, digital capabilities and data at its core. The hackathon draws on the emerging concept of one-person companies, in which entrepreneurs use AI agents to launch and operate businesses. OCBC adapted the model for its workforce by allowing teams of up to three employees to participate, aiming to lower barriers to experimentation and help staff become more comfortable using AI agents. The initiative attracted thousands of submissions within weeks. Nearly three-quarters of the entries were developed by employees outside technology functions, highlighting the growing interest in applying AI across different areas of the business, according to the bank. Narrowing the field to 10 finalists OCBC used internally developed AI agents to screen the submissions and identify promising ideas. The bank's AI Champions then evaluated more than 400 prototypes, narrowing the field to 10 finalists presented at SIT's Ho Bee Auditorium. A six-member judging panel, led by OCBC Group CEO Tan Teck Long, selected four winners: the top three teams in the team category and the winner of the individual category. Entries were assessed on innovation, business impact and alignment with the bank's strategic priorities. The bank said the competition was designed to foster an AI, digital and data-first mindset and establish a stronger test-and-learn culture across the organization. "At the core of our Next Frontier strategy is AI, Digital and Data (ADD), and the best way to build these skills is by doing," Tan said. He added that the ability of one person or a small team to use AI, digital tools and data to accomplish work that previously required an entire department demonstrated that innovation could come from anywhere within the bank. Tan said the grand final marked the beginning of a broader effort to turn promising concepts into practical applications, with SIT helping develop selected ideas further. The collaboration will build on OCBC's existing partnership with SIT in Singapore's Punggol Digital District. SIT plans to select promising prototypes for further development at the SIT x NVIDIA AI Technology Centre, where researchers, faculty members and students will work to refine the concepts and bring them closer to real-world implementation. Professor Susanna Leong, SIT's deputy president (academic) and provost, said the initiative offered students an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real business challenges while helping advance solutions toward implementation. The partnership also reflects SIT's broader ambition to strengthen ties between industry and academia, Leong said. For OCBC, the hackathon comes as companies increasingly explore how AI agents can automate tasks, support decision-making and enable smaller teams to perform work traditionally handled by larger departments. Tan said organizations needed to give employees the freedom to experiment, learn quickly and accept setbacks as part of the innovation process. "Technology is moving rapidly," he said. "Organisations must build a strong test-and-learn culture that empowers employees to experiment boldly, push boundaries, learn quickly and fail fast."