STEM2Connect AI Hackathon

Overview

The STEM2Connect AI Hackathon 2026 is a global, multi-week program designed for students aged 13 and older, spanning middle school, high school, college, and university levels. This event emphasizes learning, mentorship, and real-world impact over high-pressure competition, making it suitable for participants with no prior coding experience. Over several weeks, participants will develop AI-powered solutions to problems within predefined tracks. Participants can work individually or in teams of up to six members to transform an idea into a functional project. The hackathon includes live AI sessions covering problem validation, AI tools and APIs, design principles, and pitching techniques; all sessions are recorded for accessibility. Mentors from industry, research, and engineering backgrounds are available to provide support, helping teams scope ideas, overcome technical challenges, gather user feedback, and prepare for Demo Day. The hackathon focuses on five key tracks: Education (learning, accessibility, tutoring), Healthcare (health education, patient resources, public health), Sustainability (climate, resource efficiency, environmental challenges), Scientific Research (tools for analysis, organization, collaboration), and Community Impact (accessibility, inclusion, volunteering, information sharing). While an integrated AI feature in the project is strongly recommended, it is not mandatory, especially for participants lacking API credits. After Demo Day, high-performing and committed teams may receive continued mentorship and opportunities to evolve their projects into research initiatives, leadership roles, or community-based programs. The program aims to foster practical AI skills and provide pathways for continued development and impact.

What to build

Build a simple, functional project that addresses a real problem in one of the five tracks: Education, Healthcare, Sustainability, Scientific Research, or Community Impact. The project can be a website, an app, a chatbot, a data tool, or something else. It needs to work and solve the chosen problem. AI coding assistants are allowed with disclosure and attribution in the README and Devpost description. An AI feature in the working project is strongly recommended but not mandatory.

Prizes

Key dates

• First live session2026-10-11
• Submission Deadline2026-10-28
• Demo Day (live or prerecorded presentation)2026-10-30

Eligibility

Ages 13+ only. Students only (currently enrolled in middle school, high school, college, or university, including adult university students). Companies/professional organizations are excluded from participation. All countries/territories, excluding standard exceptions.

How to enter

1. Step 1: Register. Join this hackathon on Devpost to create and submit your project. Completing the STEM2Connect registration form is optional but strongly recommended.
2. Step 2: Find your team. Bring friends, meet collaborators in the STEM2Connect AI Hackathon Discord, or build on your own (up to 6 members).
3. Step 3: Pick a track and a problem. Start small. A focused idea you can finish is better than a big one you can’t.
4. Step 4: Join the live sessions. Visit the hackathon Discord for workshop times, joining instructions, recordings, and slides.
5. Step 5: Build with your mentor. Request mentor support through the hackathon Discord. Share your project goal and the question you need help with.
6. Step 6: Submit and present. Submit on Devpost by October 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT with your GitHub repository (source code and documentation) and a short demo video showing your project working. Then present your problem, solution, and what you learned on Demo Day, October 30, 2026 (live or prerecorded presentation).

Submission requirements

• GitHub repository: A public repository with your source code and a README that explains what your project does, how to run it, and which AI tools or APIs you used.
• Demo video: A video of 6 minutes or less showing your project working. Upload it to YouTube or Vimeo and paste the link in your submission. Show the project in action, not just slides.
• Project description: Fill out the Devpost submission form with the problem you chose, how your project solves it, how you used AI, what you learned, and what you would build next.
• Track: Select the track your project fits best.
• Team members: Make sure every team member has joined the submission on Devpost.

Judging criteria

• Problem and Impact (20%): Does the project address a real, clearly defined problem? Could it make a meaningful difference for the people it is built for?
• Use of AI (20%): Does AI meaningfully support the solution? An integrated AI feature is strongly recommended; projects without one remain eligible when API credits are unavailable. Disclose and attribute AI coding assistance.
• Functionality (20%): Does the project work as shown? Is it a real, usable solution rather than a concept?
• Learning and Growth (20%): Did the team stretch beyond what they knew before? Can they explain what they learned and what they would do differently?
• Presentation (20%): Does the team clearly explain the problem, the solution, and their next steps in their live or prerecorded Demo Day presentation and demo video?