NextSpark Hacks

Overview

NextSpark Hacks is a hackathon designed for individuals of all skill levels to come together, learn, create, and tackle real-world problems through technology. This online, public event encourages participants to bring their ideas to life, whether they are new to building projects or have extensive experience. The hackathon emphasizes creating impactful solutions. Participants are encouraged to choose a real-world problem they care about and develop a prototype, which could be a website, mobile app, game, or AI tool. The focus is on demonstrating how the project can help a specific audience. Key benefits of joining include turning ideas into working projects, learning through hands-on building, and connecting with other creators. The event welcomes diverse perspectives and acknowledges that thoughtful solutions to everyday problems are valuable. Even for first-time hackathon participants, the emphasis is on building a manageable idea, focusing on useful features, and documenting the learning process. Submissions must include a working prototype developed during the hackathon period, a project description detailing the problem, solution, and building process, public source code, a 1-3 minute demo video, at least one screenshot, and a list of all tools and credits used. Optional live demo links are also encouraged.

What to build

A working prototype that addresses a real-world problem. This can be a website, mobile app, game, AI tool, or another software solution. Projects must be created during the hackathon's submission period. Existing libraries, frameworks, APIs, and AI tools can be used but must be clearly credited with an explanation of your own contributions.

Prizes

Key dates

• Submission DeadlineOct 26, 2026 @ 10:00pm CDT

Eligibility

Ages 13+ only. All countries/territories are eligible, excluding standard exceptions.

How to enter

1. Join the hackathon through Devpost.
2. Build a working prototype during the submission period.
3. Submit your project via Devpost before the deadline.

Submission requirements

• Project description: Explain the problem, who your project helps, what it does, and how you built it. Include challenges faced and lessons learned.
• Source code: Provide a public GitHub repository or equivalent link with setup instructions.
• Demo video: Submit a 1–3 minute video showing your project in action and explaining its main features. Ensure it's viewable without access requests.
• Screenshots: Include at least one screenshot of your project.
• Tools and credits: List the technologies, external resources, and any AI assistance used.
• Optional: Include a live demo link.
• Submit everything before the deadline and verify that all links work.
• Clearly identify any features that are still planned or incomplete.

Judging criteria

• Creativity and Originality: Does the project bring a fresh idea or a thoughtful new approach to an existing problem?
• Impact: Does the project address a meaningful problem? Is it clear who would benefit and how?
• Technical Execution: Does the prototype work as demonstrated? How well are its features built and connected?
• Design and User Experience: Is the project easy to understand and use? Does its design make it accessible to its intended audience?

Resources

• Hackathon guides