Nerds Like Me: The AI Agent Skills Hackathon

Less talk. More code. Let’s build.

We’re done discussing AI agents in the abstract. Following our recent OpenClaw meetup, we are pivoting hard from theory to practice. This is a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves working session entirely focused on building and deploying modular AI capabilities.

The Mental Model: The Chef & The Recipe
Think of a general-purpose AI agent as the Chef-it knows how to cook.
An AI Skill is the Recipe-a modular, reusable package of instructions, scripts, and domain expertise that tells the chef exactly how to execute a specific dish. Whether it’s analyzing a legal contract, managing cloud infrastructure, or enforcing brand guidelines, a skill turns a generic bot into a specialist.

The Logistics

Date: Tuesday, April 7th

Time: 7:15 PM to 9:30 PM

Location: Highwood, IL (Exact venue shared after RSVP)

Warning: Bring your laptop. This is an active build session, not a passive listen-and-leave meetup.

What This Session Is

This is a focused hackathon designed to move you beyond experimentation and into structured, portable implementations.

You’ll work solo or in small groups to design skills that:

• Execute discrete, well-defined tasks flawlessly
• Plug seamlessly into agent frameworks like OpenClaw and Claude
• Act as Legos-reusable across different environments and workflows
• Serve as the foundation for complex, multi-step agent systems

The Blueprint: What You Will Build

During the session, you will move through a rapid build cycle:

1. Identify a narrowly scoped, real-world problem or tedious task.
2. Design the corresponding agent skill (the “recipe”).
3. Implement & Test the capability until it works.
4. Demo your progress, approaches, and outcomes to the group.

Need inspiration? Think workflow automation, data retrieval/transformation, API-driven actions, or hyper-specific domain assistants.

Hackathon Prep Kit

To hit the ground running, familiarize yourself with the ecosystem beforehand. (No deep expertise required, but familiarity with APIs or scripting will give you an edge.)

• Day-of Materials: Nerds Like Me Github
• The Concept: Introduction to Agent Skills (Video)
• Deep Dive: Skills Master Class
• The Docs: AgentSkills Documentation
• Sandbox: CampClaw Platform
• Examples: Skills Marketplace & Anthropic Skills Repository
• Tooling: Skills.sh

Who Should Attend

You belong here if you prefer building over observing:

• Engineers and developers working with AI systems
• Product leaders architecting agent-based solutions
• Data and analytics practitioners tired of manual workflows
• Technically curious operators looking to apply AI to their daily grind

The Loot (What You Walk Away With)

By 9:30 PM, you won’t just have new ideas-you’ll have artifacts:

• At least one functional AI agent skill you built yourself
• A battle-tested mental model for structuring reusable capabilities
• Exposure to emerging patterns in agent interoperability
• Practical experience in a high-density, collaborative build environment

Sponsorship

We are looking for partners to help fuel the builders. Providing drinks, food, or space directly enhances the collaborative vibe of the event. Sponsors get acknowledged during the event and in follow-up comms.

[Interested? Reach out directly to Jonathan.]

What You Can Do Right Now

1. Secure your spot: RSVP Here
2. Share this with other builders who are tired of theoretical AI talks.
3. Bring an idea: Come with a specific problem, workflow, or annoyance you want an agent to solve.

Looking forward to seeing returning faces and new builders alike. Let’s make something work.

Jonathan Shertok
Organizer, Nerds Like Me