Meeting builders online is cool.
But you know what's cooler?
Meeting them IRL.
Especially when you're from another country.
What I mean by builders: People who want to have a real impact in the world by solving problems using technology. Usually through software or hardware.
Why meet builders in real life?
Because nothing beats physical experiences.
You get to see that the people behind the screens are real. Not bots.
And you'll remember those interactions way better than any DM or group chat.
How I did it
My favorite way to meet builders IRL? Hackathons.
You get 36-48 hours to build something from scratch and pitch it in front of judges - often VCs or industry professionals.
It’s fast, intense, and focused entirely on building.
My first international hackathon
I just finished my first hackathon abroad.
Was it perfect? No. (What is?)
But what blew me away was the quality of the people.
Where else can you see an 11-year-old building a robotics project in the same room as a 26-year-old ML engineer working on AI agents?
What stood out for me:
The builders were cracked. From the best universities in China to interns in FAANG.
My teammates were insanely talented.
None of them were on X so I would’ve never met them online.
So if you’re serious about building, get out there.
Especially if you’re a college student like me.
It opens opportunities you would never expect.
The internet is great. But real relationships happen in the real world.
Question of the week:
Have you ever participated in a hackathon?
Until next week,
Rémy
