2nd Washington Hackathon 2026

brings together students, professionals, and tech enthusiasts from around the world to brainstorm, build, and showcase cutting-edge solutions to real-world challenges. Whether you are a seasoned coder, a design prodigy, or a curious beginner, the hackathon offers a collaborative space to learn new skills, experiment with emerging technologies, and network with like-minded innovators. Who Should Apply The competition is open to all university students (undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral), working professionals, and technology enthusiasts. There are no age or educational background restrictions. Participants from Engineering, Design, Business, Sciences, and all other fields are welcome. Teams must consist of 2–4 members, and inter-college, inter-organization, and inter-specialization teams are highly encouraged. A diverse team with developers, designers, and business strategists often creates the most well-rounded solutions. Lone participants are not allowed; participation is strictly team-based. Tracks / Themes Participants are challenged to build innovative solutions in one of the following domains, and are free to identify a specific problem within their 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 Format & Timeline The hackathon is conducted entirely online, including registration, idea submission, mentoring, and final presentations. It follows a two-round structure: - Round 1 – Idea Submission: Teams submit a concept proposal document (PDF/PPT) covering the problem statement and chosen theme, proposed solution and unique features, target users and impact, technology stack, and development plan or architecture. Evaluation criteria include 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 and pitch session to the judging panel. Presentations include a demo of the prototype, a Q&A, and discussion of future scope. Judging criteria include innovation and creativity, impact and relevance, technical implementation, user experience (UX/UI), and presentation clarity. The decision of the judging panel is final and binding. Prizes - Hackathon Champion: $1,000 - 1st Runner-Up: $500 - 2nd Runner-Up: $250 All winners also receive certificates. Eligibility Open to all university students (undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral), working professionals, and technology enthusiasts worldwide. No age or educational background restrictions. Teams of 2–4 members are required. About the Organiser Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST) is a US-based institution that organizes this annual online hackathon to foster innovation and problem-solving among a global community of learners and professionals. The event is hosted on Unstop, a platform widely used for India-based student competitions, making it easily accessible to Indian participants. How to Apply Registration closes on 13 September 2026. Interested teams must register through the official Unstop event page linked above. All submissions must be original work created during the hackathon; pre-existing projects are strictly prohibited. Open-source libraries, frameworks, and public APIs are permitted and encouraged, and must be declared in the final submission.

members are required.