Introduction

Empathetic Agents is a one-evening hackathon about building AI that shows up when life gets hard, a diagnosis, a loss, a layoff, a night you can't sleep. This page has everything you need to get building: the tools available, the story behind why this event exists, and where to go if something breaks.

Tools and Technologies
  • Shared AI key — an OpenAI-compatible key with a $50 budget per team, works with any OpenAI SDK (Python, JS/TS, LangChain, curl, etc.), just swap the API key and base URL. Covers a range of models from fast/cheap options for iteration up to frontier reasoning and realtime voice models. Your team's key and the full model list are in the event handbook, distributed on the day.
  • ElevenLabs — every participant gets a month of the Creator plan, useful for voice-first agents where tone matters as much as content. Get your key at the event or by emailing the EverSettled team.
  • Lovable — every team gets Pro Plan credits for building a front end fast. Redemption details are in the handbook, redeem before the event ends.
  • Wifi and on-the-day logistics — provided in the handbook and the WhatsApp group.
Inspiration

"You've built an agent, but have you built one that knows when to stay quiet?"

This event is hosted by EverSettled, an AI-native platform helping families settle a loved one's affairs after a death. Today, estate settlement takes about 18 months, costs tens of thousands of dollars, and involves up to 900 hours of unpaid admin work, often while someone is still grieving. That's exactly the kind of hard moment this hackathon is about: what does it take to build AI that actually helps in the moments that matter most, without overstepping what it should be doing?

Contact Us & Support Channels
  • Event WhatsApp group — the fastest way to reach organizers during the event, submission form link and live updates are posted here.
  • ElevenLabs keys / credit issues — reach the EverSettled team at the event or by email (details in the handbook).
  • AI budget issues — if a request fails on your shared key and you think something's wrong, find an organizer on the night.
Additional Resource links
  • elevenlabs.io — voice AI platform
  • lovable.dev — build front ends from natural language
  • eversettled.com — about the host
  • Full event handbook (schedule, AI key setup, code snippets, house rules) — shared with registered participants ahead of the event