2nd Washington Hackathon 2026

2nd Washington Hackathon - An online Hackathon

Presenting the 2nd Washington Hackathon 2026, an exciting online innovation marathon organized by Washington University of Science and Technology, USA, on 19-20 September 2026.

This hackathon is a dynamic platform where students, professionals, and tech enthusiasts come together to brainstorm, build, and showcase cutting-edge solutions to real-world challenges. Whether you're a seasoned coder, a design prodigy, or a curious beginner, the event offers a collaborative space to learn new skills, experiment with emerging technologies, and network with like-minded innovators.

This is your chance to turn your bold ideas into impactful prototypes. Guided by mentors and industry experts, you will tackle significant problems, push the boundaries of technology, and help pave the way for the next generation of problem-solvers. Join us to innovate, build, and make a difference!

Hackathon Themes:

Participants are challenged to build innovative solutions in one of the following domains. You are free to identify a specific problem within your chosen theme.

• Climate Monitoring & Prediction
• Water Resource Management
• Urban Intelligence: Smart and Sustainable Cities
• Renewable Energy Solutions
• AI & Robotics for Disaster Management
• AI for Energy Efficiency and Smart Grids
• Intelligent Healthcare & Medical Robotics and many more

Eligibility:

• This competition is open to all university students (undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral), working professionals, and technology enthusiasts.
• There are no age or educational background restrictions. We welcome participants from Engineering, Design, Business, Sciences, and all other fields.

Team Formation:

• Participants must form teams of 2 - 4 members.
• Inter-college/Inter-organization team members are allowed and highly encouraged.
• Inter-specialization team members are highly encouraged. A diverse team with developers, designers, and business strategists often creates the most well-rounded solutions.
• Lone wolves are not allowed; participation is strictly team-based.

Competition Structure & Rounds:

Round 1 – Idea Submission

• Teams submit a concept proposal document (PDF/PPT) including:
• Problem statement & chosen theme
• Proposed solution and unique features
• Target users and impact
• Technology stack
• Development plan or architecture
• Evaluation criteria: Novelty, clarity, feasibility, and potential impact.
• Based on submissions, teams are shortlisted for the development round.

Round 2 – Prototype Development & Final Pitch

• Finalists present their solution in a live virtual demo & pitch session to the judging panel.
• Presentations will include a demo of the prototype, a Q&A, and discussion of future scope.

Timeline & Duration:

• Hackathon Dates: 19-20, September, 2026 (2 days)
• Registration Deadline: 13 September 2026
• Round 1: Idea submission phase
• Round 2: Development & final presentation

Rules & Regulations:

• Code of Conduct: All participants must maintain a professional and respectful environment. Harassment or any form of misconduct will result in immediate disqualification.
• Originality: All work must be the original creation of the team. Ideas and code should be developed during the hackathon. Using pre-existing projects is strictly prohibited.
• Open Source: The use of open-source libraries, frameworks, and public APIs is permitted and encouraged. You must declare all such components in your final submission.
• Intellectual Property (IP): Your team will retain full ownership of what you build. By participating, you grant the organizers the right to showcase your project for promotional and non-commercial purposes.
• Submission Deadlines: All deadlines are final. Late submissions will not be considered for evaluation.
• Judging: The decision of the judging panel is final and binding. The judging criteria will include:
• Innovation & Creativity: How original and novel is the solution?
• Impact & Relevance: How effectively does it address a real-world problem?
• Technical Implementation: The quality, functionality, and elegance of the code.
• User Experience (UX/UI): How intuitive and well-designed is the final product?
• Presentation: Clarity and persuasiveness of your final pitch.
• The organizers reserve the right to modify any rules or timelines. All changes will be communicated clearly to the participants.

Please Note: "The event is conducted entirely in online mode, including registration, idea submission, mentoring, and final presentations."