Through the Wall: MetaPhase Hackathon Ignites Mission-Driven Innovation

When MetaPhase says we’re a company built on innovation, collaboration, and purpose — we mean it. Last Friday, those values were on full display during our annual MetaPhase Hackathon, themed “Through the Wall”, where teams tackled real-world challenges in trade and customs innovation.

Our CTO, Brian Funk designed this year’s Hackathon to challenge teams to think creatively, experiment boldly, and deliver mission-driven solutions under pressure, pushing participants to break through the walls of convention — and reimagine how artificial intelligence and human ingenuity can work together to solve complex federal challenges.  

This year’s challenge, titled “Fresh Imports with JuliusAI,” goal is to improve the mission of Trade and Customs. Centered around one of MetaPhase’s in-house innovations: JuliusAI, a protoware application built to simplify and accelerate the way importers, brokers, customs professionals, and analysts navigate the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). 

Participants were tasked with building a new fruit import search experience — turning complex customs and tariff data into something dynamic, visual, and user-friendly. Using the U.S. International Trade Commission’s public API and an HTS fruit dataset, teams created features like real-time search, data filtering, and interactive visualizations, while keeping accessibility and Section 508 compliance top of mind. 

Five teams competed for top honors — each bringing their own flair, creativity, and technical skills to the JuliusAI platform. 

• Team Acai delivered a sleek, intuitive user experience that seamlessly combined visual storytelling with deep functionality. Their attention to accessibility, layout, and visual cohesion earned them First Place and the Grand Prize.
• Team Plum took Second Place with a beautifully animated interface that balanced aesthetics and technical precision. Their demo impressed the judges with its responsive design and engaging presentation.
• Team Cran secured Third Place, showcasing a data-rich dashboard and innovative integrations that turned complex information into actionable insight. 
• Team Yuzu stood out for their clean, elegant design and intuitive navigation, emphasizing accessibility and simplicity.
• Team Kiwi brought a burst of creativity and fun, infusing personality into their interface with colorful fruit icons and AI-generated content. 

Each team also presented AI-generated fruit mascots and promotional videos, bringing humor and imagination to the forefront. Their presentations and live demos reflected not just technical skill, but the collaborative spirit and storytelling that define MetaPhase culture.  

Over the course of the day, participants brainstormed, coded, iterated, and presented under tight timelines, showcasing how AI-assisted development can accelerate real-world impact. The hackathon also highlighted MetaPhase’s investment in continuous learning and innovation incubation, empowering employees to experiment with tools and technologies that directly inform the company’s federal solutions. 

As MetaPhase continues to expand the boundaries of what’s possible in federal innovation, events like this remind us that the best ideas often emerge when talented people come together with curiosity, creativity, and purpose. To all our participants, mentors, and judges — thank you for bringing your energy, ideas, and sense of fun to this year’s Hackathon. Together, we’re not just breaking through walls — we’re building what’s next.