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Open Innovation Challenge: AI for Real-World Impact The main theme of the hackathon will be Artificial Intelligence, focused on the development of innovative solutions that use AI to solve real problems, optimize processes and create new digital experiences. Requirements The participants should provide comprehensive documentation of their project, including its purpose, objectives, and the issue it aims to address. They should offer a clear explanation of the proposed solution and how it effectively tackles the identified problem. Technical Merit: Participants must submit the source code of their project, preferably hosted in a version control repository such as GitHub. Additionally, they should include technical documentation that elucidates the system architecture, the technologies employed, and any significant technical decisions made during the development process. Implementation Progress: Participants are required to present a functional demonstration of their project in a video lasting a maximum of 4 minutes. This video should showcase the project's functionality and how it addresses the identified problem. Furthermore, participants should detail the tests conducted to validate the functionality of the project and provide evidence of its effectiveness. Hackathon Sponsors Prizes 12 non-cash prizes Monitor Gamer LG UltraGear 27” (144Hz) 1 winner A 27” Full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth and responsive visuals. Perfect for both development work and gaming. Teclado Gamer MSI Forge GK600 TKL Wireless RGB 1 winner A compact tenkeyless wireless keyboard with RGB lighting. Built for speed, comfort, and a clean setup. Mochila ASUS ROG BP1800 para laptop 1 winner A durable and spacious backpack designed for laptops up to 18”. Ideal for safely carrying your gear in style. Mouse Gamer Corsair Katar Pro Wireless 1 winner A lightweight wireless mouse with high-precision tracking (up to 10,000 DPI). Great for productivity, coding, and competitive gaming. Best Use of Gemini API 1 winner Google Swag Kits It’s time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project? Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend? Silla Gamer Acteck Flux Lite 1 winner An ergonomic chair with breathable mesh back support, designed for comfort during long work or coding sessions. Best Use of ElevenLabs 1 winner Wireless Earbuds Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI. Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win some wireless earbuds! Cargador UGREEN GaN 30W USB-C 1 winner A compact and powerful charger with GaN technology, perfect for fast and efficient charging of modern devices. Best Use of Solana 1 winner Ledger Nano S Plus The world of development is evolving fast and Solana is leading the charge with a network built to handle all of your infrastructure needs. Forget high fees and slow confirmations, it’s time to build applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable. Harness Solana's core advantages like blazing fast execution and near-zero transaction costs to make your hackathon ideas become real world projects. With Solana, the possibilities are endless. Create a game, social app, or consumer product that relies on instant, high-frequency transactions. Design a sophisticated trading, lending, or decentralized exchange (DEX). Build a prototype for supply chain, identity, or payments that can handle massive, real-world volume. Show us how you can innovate with Solana for a chance to win some cool prizes for you and each member of your team! Best Use of Vultr 1 winner Portable Screens Vultr empowers hackers to bring their high-performance projects to life instantly; providing everything from the speed of one-click deployment and scalable cloud compute, to specialized Vultr Cloud GPUs that can power AI-driven applications. We want you to push the limits of what can be built when infrastructure is no longer the bottleneck! Sign up for a Vultr account today and claim your free cloud credits! Take your next hack to the cloud with Vultr for a chance to win some awesome portable screens for you and your team! Amazon Echo Pop (asistente de voz) 1 winner A smart speaker with Alexa built-in. Control your smart home, play music, or get information using voice commands. Best Use of MongoDB Atlas 1 winner M5Stack IoT Kit MongoDB Atlas takes the leading modern database and makes it accessible in the cloud! Get started with a $50 credit for students or sign up for the Atlas free forever tier (no credit card required). Along with a suite of services and functionalities, you'll have everything you need to manage all of your data, and you can get a headstart with free resources from MongoDB University! Build a hack using MongoDB Atlas for a chance to win a M5Stack IoT Kit for you and each member of your group. Devpost Achievements Submitting to this hackathon could earn you: <%= name %> <% if (has_levels) { %> level <%= next_level %> <% } %> Judges Alberto Camarena MLH Judging Criteria Criteria General Importance and relevance of the problem to be solved Creativity, originality, and innovation Project implementation progress Technical merit

Schedule: April 17th, 2026 Time Event 2:00 - 4:00pm Registration 4:15pm Opening Ceremony 5:15 - 6:00pm Dinner and networking social 6:00pm Code until dawn! April 18th, 2026 Time Event 12:00am-4:59pm Code Until Dawn! 5:00pm Deadline for submission 5:15pm Judging Begins 6:30pm-7:00pm Dinner 7:00pm Judging Period Ends 7:30pm Closing Ceremony 9:30pm-12:00am Post-Hackathon Celebration Gala Hosted by Luddy Student Government. Gala RSVP Requirements What to Submit All teams should submit their codebase and a video presentation for their teams to present. Certain cases may have additional materials required for submission. Hackathon Sponsors Prizes $9,000 in prizes 1st Place Team - Case 1 Undergrad $1,000 in cash 1 winner 1st Place Team - Case 1 Grad $1,000 in cash 1 winner 1st Place Team - Case 2 Undergrad $1,000 in cash 1 winner 1st Place Team - Case 2 Grad $1,000 in cash 1 winner 1st Place Team - Case 3 Undergrad $1,000 in cash 1 winner 1st Place Team - Case 3 Grad $1,000 in cash 1 winner 2nd Place Team - Case 1 Undergrad $500 in cash 1 winner 2nd Place Team - Case 1 Grad $500 in cash 1 winner 2nd Place Team - Case 2 Undergrad $500 in cash 1 winner 2nd Place Team - Case 2 Grad $500 in cash 1 winner 2nd Place Team - Case 3 Undergrad $500 in cash 1 winner 2nd Place Team - Case 3 Grad $500 in cash 1 winner Devpost Achievements Submitting to this hackathon could earn you: <%= name %> <% if (has_levels) { %> level <%= next_level %> <% } %> Judges Mandya Ramesh, Akhilesh Gowda Senior Full Stack Engineer Nakul Havaldar Applied Machine Learning Scientist 2 @ The Washington Post Shubham Kulkarni Product Designer at QVC Suchi H Founding Engineer @ AIR Health Co. Aditya Mistry Echai Host & Rev-ops Associate Vishal Paul Senior Software Engineer, Risk Platforms, PayPal Brij Mohan Vice President – Principal Software Development Dishant Shahani Tech Lead, AI/ML Infrastructure, Meta Navaneeth Mourya Naveed Uddin Mohammed Network Security Engineer | Researcher in AI, Cybersecurity, and Networking Faizel Khan Lead AI Engineer Judging Criteria Innovation and Creativity How unique and novel is the solution? Technical Feasibility and Execution Quality of code, functionality of the prototype, and use of technology. Impact and Viability Potential real-world impact and sustainability of the solution. Presentation and Communication Clarity of the pitch, demonstration, and documentation.

HACKMESA 2026 unites 16 community colleges across Southern California for a 24-hour hackathon in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Our mission is simple: prove that groundbreaking tech isn't just built at four-year universities. With workshops, mentorship, and thousands in prizes, HACKMESA empowers community college students to build real projects, gain industry experience, and launch their tech careers. Requirements 🔥 HACKMESA Project Submission Outline 1. Project Name A short, catchy title that reflects your project. 2. Reason for Making the Project (Inspiration/Problem Statement) What inspired your team to build this? What problem are you trying to solve? Who does it help and how? 3. Project Description What does your project do? How do users interact with it? Any special features, unique innovations, or standout aspects? 4. Tech Stack List of tools, languages, and frameworks used. Examples: Frontend: React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS Backend: Node.js, Express, Supabase, Firebase Database: PostgreSQL, MongoDB Other Tools: Docker, OpenAI API, Figma 5. Source Code / Devpost Link GitHub or GitLab repository (include frontend/backend links if separate) Any deployment/hosted links (demo video, live site, etc.) 6. (Optional) Challenges & Future Plans What were the biggest challenges your team faced? What do you plan to improve if given more time? Hackathon Sponsors Prizes $4,700+ in prizes + other prizes 1st Place $2,000 in cash 1 winner 2nd Place $1,500 in cash 1 winner 3rd Place $1,000 in cash 1 winner Best Beginner Hack 1 winner Awarded to the best project created entirely by first-time hackers (all team members must be first-time participants). Best Technical Implementation 1 winner Recognizes the project with the most impressive technical execution. Best UI/UX 1 winner Awarded for excellence in user interface design and overall user experience. Most Innovative 1 winner Given to the project that demonstrates the highest level of creativity and originality. Best Game Development 1 winner Must be in the Gaming / Entertainment Track and must be related to games. 4 Tickets to LA Dodgers Game Best Use of Eleven Labs 1 winner Prize: Wireless Earbuds Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI. Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win some wireless earbuds! Best Use of Gemini API 1 winner It’s time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project? Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend? Best Use of Snowflake API 1 winner Prize: Raspberry Pi 4 Play with industry-leading LLMs on a single account using the Snowflake APIs. Adding AI capabilities into your application can be as simple as a single CURL command to Snowflake’s REST API. Build customized applications, RAG powered chat bots, or embed AI-powered features into your app in half the time with half the hassle. Get started for free with a special, student 120-day Snowflake trial and check out this repository for an example of the Snowflake REST API in action. Best Use of Solana 1 winner Prize: Ledger Nano S Plus The world of development is evolving fast and Solana is leading the charge with a network built to handle all of your infrastructure needs. Forget high fees and slow confirmations, it’s time to build applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable. Harness Solana's core advantages like blazing fast execution and near-zero transaction costs to make your hackathon ideas become real world projects. With Solana, the possibilities are endless. Create a game, social app, or consumer product that relies on instant, high-frequency transactions. Design a sophisticated trading, lending, or decentralized exchange (DEX). Build a prototype for supply chain, identity, or payments that can handle massive, real-world volume. Show us how you can innovate with Solana for a chance to win some cool prizes for you and each member of your team! Best Use of Vultr 1 winner Prize: Portable Screens Vultr empowers hackers to bring their high-performance projects to life instantly; providing everything from the speed of one-click deployment and scalable cloud compute, to specialized Vultr Cloud GPUs that can power AI-driven applications. We want you to push the limits of what can be built when infrastructure is no longer the bottleneck! Sign up for a Vultr account today and claim your free cloud credits! Take your next hack to the cloud with Vultr for a chance to win some awesome portable screens for you and your team! Hologram Lab - AI UGC Ad Research Agent $200 in cash 1 winner Build an AI agent that generates high-performing ad ideas by analyzing top UGC content in your industry. Given a brand description and style preferences, the agent researches winning ads, extracts patterns, and outputs tailored creative directions. Devpost Achievements Submitting to this hackathon could earn you: <%= name %> <% if (has_levels) { %> level <%= next_level %> <% } %> Judges Stephen Cropper Judging Criteria Presentation

AI For Good Join us for an exciting AI Hackathon where innovation meets real-world impact. This event challenges participants to design and build intelligent solutions that tackle everyday problems using the power of Artificial Intelligence. From simplifying daily tasks to improving accessibility, healthcare, education, and productivity — your ideas can make a difference. Work in teams, brainstorm creative solutions, and develop prototypes using cutting-edge AI tools and technologies. Whether it’s automating routines, enhancing decision-making, or creating smart assistants, the goal is simple: solve real problems that people face every day. Code. Build. Impact. Requirements What to Build Build an AI-powered solution that solves a real-world, everyday problem. Your project should focus on practical impact — something people can actually use in their daily lives. You can explore areas like: Productivity & time management Health & wellness Education & learning Accessibility & inclusion Smart automation Personal assistants or recommendation systems Use AI technologies such as machine learning, NLP, computer vision, or generative AI to create a working prototype or proof of concept. What to Submit Please submit the following: Project Title & Description – Clearly explain the problem and your solution Demo Video (2–3 mins) – Show how your project works GitHub Repository – Source code with proper README Live Demo Link (optional but recommended) Tech Stack – Tools, frameworks, and APIs used Presentation (optional) – Slides explaining your idea and impact Make sure your submission clearly demonstrates how your solution solves an everyday problem using AI. Hackathon Sponsors Prizes 1 non-cash prize Vercel Monthly Plan 1 winner Vercel Membership for three months will be awarded. Devpost Achievements Submitting to this hackathon could earn you: <%= name %> <% if (has_levels) { %> level <%= next_level %> <% } %> Judges Zaina Mariyam Judging Criteria Authenticity Authenticity will play a crucial role in the judging process. Use of AI tools is allowed, but projects should demonstrate genuine understanding and meaningful contribution. Any form of plagiarism or pre-built solutions may lead to disqualification.

Submit your personal project here! Hackathon Sponsors Prizes $0 in cash TBD $0 in cash 3 winners TBD very cool 10 chars needed Devpost Achievements Submitting to this hackathon could earn you: <%= name %> <% if (has_levels) { %> level <%= next_level %> <% } %> Judges neeharika Judging Criteria good

CU Design-a-thon is a three-day, virtual event that brings student designers together to build innovative, user-centered solutions. Students will create a prototype of an app or website (no coding required!) that addresses a specific problem. During the design-a-thon, students will have the opportunity to attend beginner-friendly workshops from industry professionals and meet student designers from all across the country. We hope to help designers grow both soft and hard skills in empathizing with users, defining a set of goals and needs, developing products, and improving confidence and creativity as a designer. Requirements What to Build Students will create a prototype of an app or website that addresses the prompt. What to Submit Please include the following in your submission: A 2-minute video demo Showcase your final prototype and walk us through the user experience and key features. This should be a playable walkthrough, not just a slideshow or static design. Link to your playable prototype Share a link to your interactive prototype. Make sure it’s publicly accessible and not just a Figma file unless it has interaction flows built in. Project overview (max 150 words) Briefly explain what your project is, who it's for, and the problem it solves. Research process & findings (max 300 words) Describe how you approached your research. If you ran surveys or interviews, include links to the forms/questions. If you used secondary sources, link those too. Key design decisions (max 300 words) What were the most impactful decisions you made and why? Explain how your research or testing led to these choices. Hackathon Sponsors Prizes 5 non-cash prizes 1st Place 1 winner Victrola Vinyl Player + 1 Year Framer Pro 2nd Place 1 winner Nami Matcha + Hojicha Set + 1 Year Framer Pro 3nd Place 1 winner Kodak Charmera Keychain Blind Box + 1 Year Framer Pro Newbie Track 1 winner Framer Merchandise + 1 Year Framer Pro Accessibility Track 1 winner Framer Merchandise + 1 Year Framer Pro Devpost Achievements Submitting to this hackathon could earn you: <%= name %> <% if (has_levels) { %> level <%= next_level %> <% } %> Judges Adeola Kukoyi UX Designer @ IBM Cristie Huang Product Design @ LinkedIn Samir Patki UX Designer @ IBM Dennis Quizhpi Product Design @ Nowadays YC S23 (Prev. Lawnstack) Lydia Shan Product Design @ Shopify Diana Diakité Product Design @ Github Sara Clayton Product Design @ Dropbox Bhroovi Gupta Product Design @ Roku Judging Criteria Problem-Solving & Impact Does the design effectively address the challenge and provide real value? Innovation Does the design introduce a unique or creative solution? Visual Design Is the interface aesthetically pleasing and well-structured? User Research Did the team conduct research to understand user needs and validate their solution? Prototype/Execution Is there a working prototype or mockup that demonstrates the idea?

About the Challenge — HACKED GAMES Your mission is to create a pixel‑style game that can only be completed by intentionally exploiting glitches. Players must break the rules, bend the physics, and manipulate the game’s flaws to reach the end. Creativity and clever design are essential. Game Style and Theme Retro pixel art (8‑bit or 16‑bit). Simple, readable visuals with glitch effects, distortion, flicker, and broken animations. Controls should remain accessible and intuitive. Playtime Requirement A normal first‑time playthrough must take at least 15 minutes. You may design multiple short levels or one continuous world with checkpoints. Required Glitch Mechanics Your game must require glitches to beat it. Examples include: Wall‑clipping to reach hidden areas. Inventory overflow unlocking secret items. Timing exploits that allow players to bypass obstacles. Visual corruption revealing hidden paths or platforms. Physics breaks that allow unexpected movement or jumps. Glitches should be intentional, discoverable, and fun rather than random crashes. Challenge Design Expectations Each level or section should introduce a new glitch concept. Players must experiment and learn how to exploit the system. Provide subtle hints through visuals, dialogue, sound distortion, or environmental clues. The game should reward curiosity and breaking the game’s logic. Technical Requirements Recommended engines: Godot, Unity 2D, Construct 3, or any engine that supports pixel art. Suggested resolution: 320×180 px or 640×360 px for an authentic pixel feel. Keep the total game size under 50 MB. Cross‑Platform Play (Required) Your game must be playable using: Keyboard controls (WASD or arrow keys plus action buttons) iPad or touchscreen controls (virtual D‑pad and on‑screen buttons) Glitch mechanics must work on both input types. Fair Play Participants may discuss ideas with others, but may not share code, assets, or work. All participants must follow the event’s code of conduct. Requirements What to Build A pixel‑style game that: Requires glitch exploitation to complete. Takes at least 15 minutes for a first‑time player. Runs entirely in a web browser. Supports both keyboard and touchscreen/iPad controls. Demonstrates intentional, discoverable glitch mechanics. Includes at least one section where progression is impossible without using a glitch. What to Submit Participants must submit: A web‑playable version of the game (public link or HTML5/WebGL export). A README explaining: The glitch mechanics How they are triggered Any known limitations Optional: a short video demonstrating one glitch. All required materials must be submitted before the deadline. Hackathon Sponsors Prizes 1 non-cash prize GIF or picture 1 winner You will get 5 gifs and or pictures of your choice for free Devpost Achievements Submitting to this hackathon could earn you: <%= name %> <% if (has_levels) { %> level <%= next_level %> <% } %> Judges Eugene Bonney GB3-Productions Judging Criteria rules the judge will finish the game unless impossible and or game breaks or doesent start

About the challenge This is not a contest. This is a public scoreboard. Create one digital marketing asset — a viral hook, a meme ad, a short video, or a bold campaign concept — and put it in front of the internet. If it’s good, people will stop. They will react. They will share it. They will vote. If it’s not, nothing will happen. Votes decide success. So this is not about what you say you can do. It is about whether your digital marketing idea can pull real attention in the real world. No ads. No tricks. No shortcuts. Just your creativity, your reach, and your ability to make people care. Bring people in... Requirements What to Build STEP 01 Create Your Idea Come up with one digital marketing idea that can make people stop and pay attention. 🔧 STEP 02 Post It on ConnectsBlue Make your idea live for others to see. 📤 STEP 03 Put It in Front of People Think it’s good? Don’t keep it to yourself. Put it out there and see how people react. 🏆 STEP 04 Get the Most Votes If it connects, people will stop, react, and make it rise. 🚀 STEP 05 Move Up. Win. Stand Out. The strongest ideas rise to the top. Let the results speak for you. What to Submit Strong ideas Hackathon Sponsors Prizes ₹ 10,000 in prizes Cash Prize Of 10,000 Rupees ₹ 10,000 in cash 1 winner Devpost Achievements Submitting to this hackathon could earn you: <%= name %> <% if (has_levels) { %> level <%= next_level %> <% } %> Judges Om Mathur Judge Judging Criteria Creativity