Hack to the Future

Overview

Hack to the Future is an online hackathon provided by HackathonForEveryone, inviting participants to develop a missing feature for their favorite existing application. The competition emphasizes enhancing current software rather than creating new ones from scratch. Teams are encouraged to identify a user-requested feature, a solution to a common frustration, or a visionary idea that an app might adopt in the future. Participants are not required to have access to the original app's code. Instead, they can build an add-on, extension, integration, a clone of a relevant screen, or an interactive prototype to demonstrate their proposed feature. The judging process will prioritize ideas that integrate seamlessly with the original app's design and demonstrate feasibility for implementation. This event is open to a wide range of participants, including developers, designers, product thinkers, and first-time hackers. Both individual participants and teams are welcome to join. The hackathon aims to be beginner-friendly, providing an accessible entry point for those new to hackathons. Submissions must include a project name, the upgraded app's name, a problem statement, before-and-after comparisons, a demo video (maximum 3 minutes), source code (GitHub repo or shared design file), a list of tools used, and team member details. Optional additions include a live link and a suggestion for how the feature could be rolled out by the app's company.

What to build

A missing feature for an existing app. This could be a user-requested feature, a fix for a common frustration, or a bold future idea. Participants can build an add-on, extension, integration, clone of a screen, or an interactive prototype.

Prizes

Key dates

• DeadlineOct 27, 2026 @ 5:00pm EDT

Eligibility

Above legal age of majority in country of residence. All countries/territories, excluding standard exceptions.

Submission requirements

• Project name and the app you upgraded (e.g., "Spotify" or "Google Calendar" and your new feature).
• Problem statement (2 to 3 sentences): What's missing or frustrating in the app today, and who it affects.
• Before and after: A screenshot or short description of how the app works now, next to your version with the new feature.
• Demo video (3 minutes max): Show the feature working. Upload to YouTube, Vimeo, or Loom as public or unlisted.
• Source code: A link to a public GitHub repo (or a shared design file for prototype-only projects), with a README explaining how to run or view it.
• How it works: A short list of the tools, APIs, languages, and AI models you used.
• Team members: Every member's name and email, matching their registration.
• Optional but encouraged: A live link people can try, and a sentence on how the app's company could roll the feature out.

Judging criteria

• Usefulness: Does it solve a real problem for the app's users?
• Fit: Does it feel like it belongs in the original app? Could the company actually ship it?
• Creativity: Is it a fresh, forward-looking idea, not an obvious tweak?
• Execution: Does the demo work, and is it well built and clearly presented?