Project NANDA DMV Hacks @ George Mason University

Building the Agentic Web
Originated at MIT

Build network-native AI agents and explore the future of the Agentic Web

📅 February 21, 2026 | ⏰ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

🎓 Open to all AI enthusiasts across VA / DC / MD

📍 George Mason University, Mason Square (Arlington)

nanda-logo-
WhatsApp Image 2026-01-24 at 17.52.47
College_Engineering_Computing
WE-2021-Logo_cmyk_

What is the Project NANDA Hackathon?

The Hackathon

This hackathon brings together students and developers to build AI agents that can discover, communicate, and collaborate over the internet.

Participants will use NEST, an open platform from Project NANDA, to design multi-agent systems and showcase real working demos.

The Challenge

Design and build multi-agent systems where autonomous AI agents can discover, communicate, and collaborate all visualized on the NEST platform.

Teams will focus on agent-to-agent interaction, coordination, and real-time behavior rather than single-model applications.

Architecting the Internet of Agents

Explore how autonomous AI agents can work together at internet scale.

HOW IT WORKS

onboard

Onboard

Set up your environment, review starter docs, and deploy a “Hello World” agent

build

Build

Create multi-agent systems and visualize their interactions on NEST

showcase

Showcase

Pitch what you built and demonstrate how your agents collaborate

What Can You Build?

  • 📰 Automated News Verification

    Build a system of collaborating agents that automatically collect news articles, verify facts using trusted sources, and summarize reliable information for readers.

    Example agents:
    • Scraper agent – collects news articles
    • Fact-checker agent – validates claims
    • Editor agent – produces final summaries

  • 🚚 Supply Chain Simulations

    Design autonomous agents that simulate suppliers, warehouses, and delivery systems to model how goods move through a supply chain.

    Example agents:
    • Supplier agent – manages inventory
    • Logistics agent – routes deliveries
    • Monitor agent – tracks delays and bottlenecks

  • 🤖 Task Coordination Between Agents

    Create specialized AI agents that coordinate tasks, delegate responsibilities, and adapt to changing requirements in real time.

    Example agents:
    • Planner agent – assigns tasks
    • Executor agent – performs actions
    • Observer agent – monitors progress

  • 🌐 Build the Infrastructure of Tomorrow

    Imagine and prototype entirely new ways AI agents could communicate, coordinate, and operate at internet scale.

    You could explore:
    • New agent communication patterns
    • Decentralized coordination models
    • Trust, identity, or discovery mechanisms for agents
    • Visual dashboards for agent interactions

Powered by NEST

NEST (NANDA Sandbox and Testbed) is an open platform that originated at MIT by Project NANDA, used for deploying and orchestrating network-native AI agents.

  • Agent discovery and registration

  • Secure agent-to-agent communication

  • Real-time monitoring and visualization

  • Open source and reusable after the event

Screenshot 2026-01-22 at 8.39.45 AM

Tentative DMV Hack Schedule

  • 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
    Feb 21, 2026

    Pizza & Networking

  • 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
    Feb 21, 2026

    Opening Ceremony

  • 1:30 PM - 3:15 PM
    Feb 21, 2026

    Hacking

  • 3:15 PM - 3:55 PM
    Feb 21, 2026

    Demo Showcase

  • 3:55 PM - 4:00 PM
    Feb 21, 2026

    Closing

Who Should Attend?

Government officials & federal technologists
​University students (VA, DC, MD schools welcome!)
​IT professionals & software engineers
​AI/ML practitioners & researchers
​Anyone curious about the Agentic Web

Event Details

📅 Date: February 21, 2026
📍 Location: George Mason University, Mason Square (Arlington), Fuse Building, Room 1327
👥 Format: Team-based, hands-on

Ready to build the future of AI agents?

RSVP required · Limited spots available

Parking & Transportation

Driving & Parking:
• Visitor parking is available at Van Metre Hall, Vernon Smith Hall, and Fuse garages
• Parking is self-paid by participants and requires the Metropolis app

Public Transportation:
• Nearest Metro Station: Ballston–MU
• Approximately 14-minute walk to Mason Square campus

Mason Shuttle:
• Free GMU shuttle services are available between Mason campuses
• Shuttle details: https://transportation.gmu.edu/shuttle-services/#FairfaxArlington

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate?
Do I need prior experience in AI?
Is registration mandatory?
Can I participate individually?
What should I bring?
Is parking available?
How do I connect to the WiFi?