Opportunity brief
Hostelbird Hackathon
Build It. Break It. Ship It.
About the Hackathon
This is not your typical hackathon.
You won't be solving hypothetical problems. You'll be working on a real product used by real travelers.
Instead, you will:
- Break what doesn't work
- Fix what matters
- Build what's missing
If your solution is strong enough, it won't just win, it could go live on the product and you can get an internship opportunity with us!
What You'll Do
- Identify 3-5 bugs, UX gaps, and broken flows in the Hostelbird app.
- Think like a user, not just a developer
- Propose meaningful improvements
- Build and showcase your solution
This is about product thinking + execution, not just coding.
Download the app here:
https://hostelbird.com/app-download
Hackathon Journey
Step 01 — Explore the Product
- Download the Hostelbird app
- Understand the user journey
- Identify friction points, bugs, and missing features
Step 02 — Break It
Find real issues like bugs, UX problems, edge cases and performance gaps
Step 03 — Build It
- Fix 3-5 bugs or redesign a broken flow
- Write the optimized code for it that is designed to improve user experience
Step 04 — Submit Your Work
Your submission must include:
- Problem identified
- Why it matters
- Your solution
- Proof of implementation (code/prototype/demo)
Submission Format
Participants must submit:
- A short problem statement
- Solution explanation
- Supporting material:
- GitHub repo/prototype/Figma/demo video
You can submit directly via Unstop or email at hr@hostelbird.com
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated on:
- Problem clarity & relevance
- Depth of thinking
- Quality of solution
- Execution & feasibility
- Creativity & product sense
Rewards
- Cash prizes upto 5000 for top winners
- Exclusive Hostelbird merchandise and gadgets
- Internship opportunities with Hostelbird
- Certificate of participation
- Top solutions may be implemented in the actual product!
Timeline
- Registrations Open: 22 April, 2026
- Hackathon Starts: 24 April, 2026
- Submission Deadline: 28 April, 2026
- Result Declaration: 16 May, 2026 At 9 PM.
Rules & Guidelines
- All submissions must be original, not AI-generated.
- Low-effort or superficial bug reports will be rejected
- Focus on meaningful improvements, not quantity
This opportunity is for people who want to work on a real product, especially in the travel industry, solve practical problems, and turn strong code into a real career opportunity!