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Qloo Announces Undertow as the Winner of the Global Agentic Hackathon

On November 9, 2026, Qloo, a prominent artificial intelligence company specializing in taste intelligence, declared Undertow the winner of its highly competitive Global Agentic Hackathon. This prestigious event involved nearly 3,000 developers from around the globe. Among the supporters was venture investor Jason Calacanis, who made a remarkable pledge of $25,000 to support Undertow during its presentation on the popular series This Week in Startups.

Introducing Undertow and Its Impact on Election Forecasting

The hackathon victory shines a light on Undertow's innovative capabilities, particularly in the field of election forecasting. Utilizing Qloo's extensive cultural data, Undertow provided an insightful perspective during the recent midterm elections. Prior to November 3, Undertow initially favored Republican candidate Ashley Hinson based on traditional polling methods. However, once Qloo’s localized cultural data was integrated, Undertow shifted its prediction to favor Democrat Josh Turek, who ultimately won the race.

Abdal Hassani, the engineer behind Undertow, constructed it to analyze county-level profiles and their correlation with previous voting patterns. For the 2026 midterms, Undertow created state-level forecasts by merging county estimates with public polling data. In a preliminary assessment, it accurately predicted 32 out of 33 Senate race outcomes by midday on November 4, showcasing a significant improvement over Undertow's previous polling forecasts.

Hassani noted, “I built Undertow with Qloo's taste data to test a simple question: Can cultural preferences enhance election forecast accuracy?” His assertion was validated in Iowa, where additional context dramatically altered the prediction outcome.

Election Forecasting Enhanced by Taste Intelligence

The unique characteristic of Undertow is its ability to harness Qloo's API for identifying local preferences without requiring access to personal information. This aspect was highlighted during the hackathon finals when both Calacanis and fellow judge Cedric the Entertainer deliberated about the broader implications of this technology. They recognized its utility not just in electoral contexts, but also in marketing decisions, where businesses decide on ad spending and tour locations based on audience interests.

Calacanis commented, “Abdal's insight during the Iowa race captured my attention. The potential applications for this technology beyond elections were compelling, which is why I decided to invest.” His enthusiasm underscores a growing recognition of how AI can inform decisions in diverse realms, from advertising strategies to audience engagement in entertainment.

Qloo’s Vision and Future Collaborations

Alex Elias, Qloo’s founder and CEO, emphasized the company’s mission to make AI agents understand human preferences through taste intelligence. He remarked, “As we seek to minimize our instructions to AI, the need for these systems to comprehend our desires becomes paramount. Undertow exemplifies how developers can leverage Qloo’s foundational technology in innovative and measurable ways.”

Qloo has established robust partnerships with numerous influential brands, including American Express, Netflix, and Live Nation, employing its taste intelligence to enhance recommendations, personalization, and audience insights across various industries. The success of Undertow represents a remarkable milestone in demonstrating how AI can transform traditional practices into forward-thinking solutions.

As Undertow continues to develop and improve its offerings, it stands as a beacon of innovation and a compelling case study in the capabilities of AI-driven forecasting and consumer understanding.

For more information about Qloo and its cutting-edge products, visit qloo.com.