HACK47: OFFGRID

Overview

HACK47: OFFGRID is an online hackathon hosted by Hack47, offering a month-long period for participants to develop projects. The event is open globally to individuals and teams, welcoming a diverse range of builders including students, developers, designers, founders, researchers, and creators, without specific academic or professional prerequisites. The core philosophy encourages participants to build what they genuinely want to exist rather than conforming to perceived hackathon expectations. Participants have complete freedom regarding the technologies they employ, with no fixed theme or mandatory tech stack. This includes using any language, framework, API, AI model, open-source technology, blockchain, hardware, or other tools. The hackathon explicitly permits the use of existing libraries, APIs, open-source software, datasets, AI coding assistants, and generative AI tools, provided their usage is disclosed and the submission contains meaningful new work. Projects are expected to be original, solve a real problem, or explore an interesting idea, demonstrating strong product thinking and execution. Submissions must include a working project or functional prototype, a demo link, source code, and a demo video. Evaluation focuses on the project's originality, impact, execution quality, product thinking, technical depth, and potential for future development. There is one non-cash prize awarded to the winning team or individual, which includes $10,000 in OpenAI credits, a guaranteed spot in the next Hack47 cohort, a month's supply of Red Bull, and additional credits, tools, perks, and resources from Hack47's sponsor network.

What to build

Participants should build a working project that solves a real problem, explores an interesting idea, or creates something genuinely useful. There is no fixed theme or mandatory technology stack; any language, framework, API, AI model, open-source technology, blockchain, hardware, or other tools can be used. Projects are encouraged to solve a real problem, have a clear target user, introduce an interesting or unconventional idea, use technology meaningfully, go beyond basic applications, have a functional prototype, demonstrate strong product thinking and execution, and have the potential to become a real product, startup, or open-source project. The guiding principle is to "build what you want to exist."

Prizes

Key dates

• Hackathon StartSeptember 15, 2026
• Submission DeadlineOctober 15, 2026 @ 12:00am EDT

Eligibility

OFFGRID is open to builders from anywhere globally, excluding standard exceptions. Participants must be above the legal age of majority in their country of residence. There is no requirement to be a computer science student or professional developer; students, developers, designers, founders, researchers, and creators are all welcome. Participation can be individual or as part of a team. Companies and professional organizations are excluded.

How to enter

1. Join the hackathon through the Devpost page.
2. Develop a project during the designated hackathon period (September 15 - October 15, 2026).
3. Submit your project before the official submission deadline of October 15, 2026 @ 12:00am EDT.

Submission requirements

• Your project must be created for OFFGRID during the designated hackathon period.
• You may use existing libraries, APIs, open-source software, datasets, AI coding assistants, and generative AI tools, but clearly explain what you added or changed if building on an existing open-source project.
• Projects should contain meaningful work done by the participating team, not simply an existing project with minimal changes.
• Your submission must include a working project or functional prototype whenever reasonably possible.
• A project demo is strongly recommended.
• Source code should be provided where applicable.
• Participants must clearly disclose major third-party technologies, APIs, models, or open-source projects used.
• Submissions must include: Project Name, Short Description (1-2 sentences), Problem (what problem solved and for whom), Solution (how the project solves the problem), Demo Link (working demo whenever possible), Source Code (GitHub/GitLab link), Demo Video (showing project working and explanation), Tech Stack (list major technologies, APIs, models, tools), Build Process (brief explanation of what was built during OFFGRID and what would be improved next).

Judging criteria

• Originality: Is the idea genuinely interesting or unconventional?
• Impact: Does it solve a meaningful problem?
• Execution: How well does the project work?
• Product Thinking: Would someone actually want to use it?
• Technical Depth: Was technology used thoughtfully?
• Potential: Could this become something bigger after OFFGRID?

Sponsors & partners