Retrofit Flightplan – Our AI Challenge Journey

When we first came together for Challenge 13 of the TechIreland AI Hackathon, we knew we had a big task ahead of us: two weeks to take an idea, shape it into something useful, and build an MVP.

What made this team a little different from the start was how we came together. Each of us had our own separate relationship with Inishowen Innovation in Buncrana (the ii) — some regulars, some occasional visitors, some connected through other projects entirely. When Anne Marie put the call out to join the TechIreland AI Challenge, we jumped at the chance. Several of us had never actually met before that first call. Getting to work alongside people we might never have crossed paths with in day-to-day personal or work life turned out to be one of the best parts of the whole experience.

Challenge #13 was a great fit for our team. We wanted to explore how AI could help both BER assessors and homeowners navigate the retrofit journey — understanding what work might be needed, what order it could be carried out in, what supports might be available, and ultimately helping people make more informed decisions about retrofitting their homes.

The mix of people who answered that call was a big part of why it worked. Industry expertise on retrofit came from Claire and Shane, alongside AI consultants, project managers, architects, one-stop-shop owners, business owners and homeowners. Different backgrounds, different experience, different day jobs: one shared goal! Most of us were based locally too an Inishowen and Derry team, which made the in-person sessions in Buncrana all the easier to pull together.

Getting Started

Our first meetings were virtual. We spent time understanding the user needs, discussing the problems homeowners and BER assessors face, and mapping out how we could build a solution that would make a genuinely complicated process easier to understand.

We looked at what information and services were already available and considered how we could bring those together with the knowledge and experience of our subject matter experts. There was a lot to work out: the user journey, the technology, the data, the AI, the front end, the back end and, importantly, the boundaries of what an AI tool should and shouldn't try to do.

Two Weeks. One MVP.

It took a huge range of skills to bring Retrofit Flightplan to life. Within just two weeks, we:

And somehow, in amongst all of that, we also managed to have lives outside the hackathon! Some of us were able to meet in person at the ii in Buncrana, where Anne Marie provided us with a fantastic space to work together — complete with all the facilities we needed, a screen for those joining virtually, and, importantly, plenty of coffee to keep us going.

The Final Weekend

Then came the busy weekend. We had seven minutes to present the Retrofit Flightplan, followed by three minutes of questions from the judges.

Every second mattered. We had to align the slides with the speech, make sure the demo fitted into the presentation, rehearse the transitions, and anticipate the questions the judges might ask. All of this was happening alongside running businesses, family commitments and day jobs, with everyone giving their time because they believed in the idea and wanted to see what we could create together.

Pitch Day

On presentation day, we all gathered at the CoLab space at ATU Letterkenny. There were 11 teams from Donegal and the Northwest, and it was fantastic to see so many people getting involved. The atmosphere was brilliant — everyone was excited, enthusiastic and eager to see what could be achieved. We were also lucky to have access to facilities where we could do some last-minute preparation (thanks to ERNACT) and, naturally, some final behind-the-scenes coding (thanks to Piaras)!

Then it was time to watch the other teams present. There were some genuinely amazing and innovative ideas, brilliant presentations, and a real sense of just how much can be achieved in two weeks when you bring together AI, technology, industry knowledge and the talent that exists across the Northwest.

Retrofit Flightplan Takes the Stage

Then it was our turn. The Retrofit Flightplan team gathered together, with Piaras driving the demo and me delivering the presentation.

Seven minutes. Slides aligned. Demo ready. And thankfully no technical hitches! The presentation went well and was timed to perfection. The judges had some questions for us afterwards, and the whole team contributed to answering them. Then came the applause, and we could finally sit back and take a breath.

Although we weren't successful in progressing to the next stage in Galway, we weren't disappointed about the project itself. In fact, the experience gave us something more valuable: a prototype, a great team, new knowledge and an idea that we believe is worth continuing to explore.

What's Next?

Retrofit Flightplan isn't finished. We plan to continue developing the project, meeting virtually and hopefully getting together again at the fantastic facilities on offer at the ii in Buncrana. The hackathon may have finished, but the conversations around how AI can support homeowners, BER assessors and the wider retrofit industry are only beginning.

For me, one of the best parts of the whole experience was the people. We brought together AI-curious people, AI consultants, project managers, architects, one-stop-shop owners, business owners and homeowners — people who, in many cases, started out as strangers connected only by ii Buncrana and a shared curiosity about AI.

Different backgrounds. Different experiences. Different perspectives. But one shared goal: to see what we could build together. And that's what made Retrofit Flightplan such a pleasure to work on.

Two weeks. One ambitious challenge. A lot of AI. A lot of coffee. A lot of teamwork. And a team of people who were willing to give their time, knowledge and energy to create something that could potentially make the retrofit journey a little easier for everyone.