HOBOCON
> ./conference --mode=train
A hacker conference that moves
July 17–18, 2026 | Kansas City ↔ Chicago
Board a train with hackers, makers, and security researchers. Share knowledge while covering ground. Real talks, real demos, real community. No badges required. No bullshit.
<WTF_IS_THIS>
HOBOCON: A tech conference that happens on a moving train.
We're done with hotel ballrooms and convention center carpet. Hobocon is a rolling hacker space—board a train with other curious technologists, ride together for a weekend, share knowledge, build things, break things, and actually talk to each other.
Think lightning talks while watching the landscape scroll by. Impromptu hardware hacking sessions. Late-night security discussions in the observation car. The kind of conversations that happen when you can't just ghost to your hotel room.
This isn't a marketing stunt. Part 1 already happened. Part 2 is in the works. Real conference, real train, run by SecKC—a legit nonprofit with actual insurance and everything.
TECHNICAL_CONTENT
Lightning talks, demos, and deep dives. Security, hardware, infra, whatever you're working on. No vendor pitches.
ACTUAL_HUMANS
Meet people who build and break things. No LinkedIn small talk. Real conversations with real practitioners.
ON_THE_RAILS
Conference venue that covers 500+ miles. Captive audience. Can't get distracted—you're literally on a train.
"Learn. Share. Move forward—literally."
<HOW_IT_WORKS>
Board the Train
Friday, July 17 — Depart Kansas City at 8:40 AM. Check in, find your seat, meet fellow hackers. Departure countdown begins.
Talks & Hacking
Lightning talks, demos, and workshops as we roll. Hallway track is literally the hallway. Build, break, learn.
Chicago Overnight
Arrive in Chicago around 8:00 PM. Hotel stay. Explore the city, grab food, or keep hacking with the crew.
Journey Back
Saturday, July 18 — Board at 9:50 AM for the return. More talks, more collaboration. Back in KC around 8:51 PM.
[!] All times are scheduled Amtrak times. Amtrak is notorious for delays—plan accordingly and expect some wiggle room on arrival times.
<WHO_SHOULD_COME>
Security Researchers
Pentesters, red teamers, bug hunters, security engineers. Anyone making systems harder to break.
Engineers & Builders
Software devs, SREs, platform engineers. People who write code that ships and systems that stay up.
Hackers & Makers
Hardware hackers, reverse engineers, RF nerds, badge builders. People who take things apart.
Infrastructure Folks
Sysadmins, network engineers, cloud architects. The people keeping the internet running.
if (you.love(technology) && you.value(community)) {
return "You'll fit right in";
}
We don't care about job titles or credentials. If you're curious, build things, or want to learn—you're welcome here.
<CONDUCT_&_SAFETY>
[RULE_01] DON'T_BE_A_JERK
This is a hacker con with a social vibe, not a free-for-all. Treat people with respect. Harassment, discrimination, or being an asshole will get you kicked off—literally, at the next station.
Translation: We're here to learn and have a good time. Don't ruin it for everyone else.
[RULE_02] SOCIAL_!=_CHAOS
Yeah, there will be drinks. Yeah, it's a party vibe. But you're on a working passenger train with regular travelers. Keep it together. Be loud in the right places, quiet in others.
We want Amtrak to let us do this again. Help us not get banned.
[RULE_03] LISTEN_TO_STAFF
When Amtrak staff or Hobocon organizers give instructions, follow them. No debates, no "well actually." Safety rules and capacity limits are non-negotiable.
This is a train, not your homelab. Physics and regulations apply.
[RULE_04] CODE_OF_CONDUCT
We're writing a full Code of Conduct that will be published before tickets go on sale. It will cover expected behavior, reporting procedures, and consequences.
> contact_about_conduct_policy()[TLDR] Be cool. Listen to staff. Don't be the reason we can't do this again.
<PART_2_LOCKED>
July 17–18, 2026 — Kansas City ↔ Chicago
→ Friday, July 17: Depart KC at 8:40 AM → Arrive Chicago at 8:00 PM
→ Saturday, July 18: Depart Chicago at 9:50 AM → Arrive KC at 8:51 PM
// Amtrak is notorious for delays—expect some wiggle room on arrival times
→ Dates and route are locked in
// Interest list gets first dibs when registration opens
→ Ticket pricing and registration
→ Hotel details for the Chicago overnight
> join_interest_list()
Get notified when registration opens. No spam, just updates.
<CALL_FOR_PRESENTATIONS>
We're looking for speakers who want to present on a train. Yes, a literal train. Hobocon talks happen in the observation car, between cities, with no escape for your audience. It's intimate, it's weird, and it's the best kind of conference setting.
Talk formats are flexible—full sessions, lightning talks, live demos, interactive workshops, or something we haven't thought of yet. The train ride is long. We've got time.
Security & Hacking
Offensive research, defense strategies, bug bounty war stories, live demos that make the audience nervous. Bonus points if it involves trains.
Hardware & Making
Hardware hacking, RF shenanigans, badge building, lock picking, soldering on a moving train—whatever weird thing you're into.
Unconventional & Lightning
Got a 5-minute lightning talk? A bizarre side project? Something that doesn't fit any category? Perfect. That's the hobocon spirit.
> submit_proposal()
No 500-word abstracts. No committees of committees. Just tell us what you want to talk about and we'll figure it out.
[ SUBMIT A TALK ]→[NOTE] First-time speakers welcome. We'd rather hear a passionate beginner than a polished keynote you've given twelve times.
<FAQ>
100% real. Hobocon Part 1 already happened. Part 2 is in active planning. This is a legit conference run by SecKC, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We have insurance, contracts with Amtrak, and everything. Not a prank.
<SPONSORS>
Hobocon isn't a vendor expo. There are no booths, no badge scanners, no lead-gen funnels. What there is: a train full of security researchers, engineers, and hackers who actually care about good tools and real technology.
If you want to reach a highly engaged technical audience in the most unconventional setting possible, let's talk.
Brand Visibility
Your logo on the site, in pre-event comms, and on printed materials. A captive technical audience with nowhere to scroll past your brand.
A Seat on the Train
Some sponsorships include a ticket for the ride. You're not just writing a check. You're on board, part of the experience, riding with the community you're supporting.
Support the Community
Hobocon is community-driven, not profit-driven. Your sponsorship directly funds tickets, logistics, and keeping this weird, beautiful thing alive.
> CONTACT_ABOUT_SPONSORSHIP()
Flexible packages, no cookie-cutter tiers. Tell us what you're thinking and we'll make it work.
[ EMAIL US ]→<ABOUT_SECKC>
Hobocon is organized by SecKC (Security Meetup of Kansas City).
SecKC is a Kansas City-based technology and information security community. We're a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit—which means we're legit, have actual insurance, and file taxes like responsible adults.
We run regular meetups, workshops, and events focused on infosec, software development, and whatever tech topics people want to learn about. Hobocon is our most ambitious project: a conference that literally moves.
We're hackers building community. No corporate overlords, no VC funding, just technologists who want to make cool shit happen.
<JOIN_THE_LIST>
Get updates on dates, tickets, and planning progress
We'll notify you when registration opens and logistics are locked.
Questions? Hit us up:
>hobocon@seckc.org