STEMinate Wildcard Hack

Overview

The STEMinate Wildcard Hack, organized by STEMinate Texas, is an online, beginner-friendly design and open-ended hackathon. Unlike traditional hackathons that provide a single prompt, this event empowers teams to generate their own unique challenge. Participants select 3 to 4 words from a provided Word Bank across categories like Objects, Technology, Nature, Transportation, and Random, which then form their specific project brief. The core objective is not to build the most complex project but to showcase creative thinking, effective problem-solving, and the ability to cohesively integrate the chosen words into a single, compelling idea. Projects can take various forms, including websites, mobile apps, games, CAD designs, hardware prototypes, Arduino projects, IoT devices, data visualization tools, or browser extensions. The emphasis is on telling a complete story where every selected word is naturally incorporated and plays a meaningful role. Participants are encouraged to think about how their chosen words connect and contribute to a solution, rather than simply mentioning them. For instance, if words like 'Water', 'Rubik's Cube', 'Drone', and 'Car' are selected, a project could involve a drone system monitoring flooded roads, with the Rubik's Cube inspiring an algorithm for efficient pathfinding for emergency vehicles. A working prototype demonstrating the idea is acceptable, and a finished product is not required. The hackathon is open to students aged 13 to 18 in the US only, with companies and professional organizations explicitly excluded from participation. The event offers 4 non-cash prizes, including CodeCrafters VIP Memberships, Momen AI credits, and a scholarship toward the YRI Fellowship Research Program.

What to build

Participants are required to build anything that fits their chosen challenge, which is created by selecting 3 to 4 words from the provided Word Bank. Examples of acceptable projects include websites, mobile apps, games, desktop applications, CAD designs, hardware prototypes, Arduino projects, IoT devices, data visualization tools, and browser extensions. The project must clearly relate to the selected words, and a working prototype demonstrating the idea is sufficient.

Prizes

Key dates

• Deadline2026-09-19T23:45:00-04:00

Eligibility

Ages 13 to 18 only. Students only. US only. Companies/professional organizations are excluded from participation.

How to enter

1. Form your team or participate solo.
2. Choose 3-4 words from the Word Bank. Your project should solve a problem while following your chosen constraint. Recommended challenge sets are available if needed.
3. Build your project. Remember to note the selected words for inclusion in your submission.

Submission requirements

• Project name
• Team members
• A short description of your project
• The three or four words you selected from the Word Bank
• What problem you solved
• A short explanation of how your project relates to your chosen words
• A GitHub repository
• A demo video (3 minutes max)
• A link to your project if it’s hosted online
• Screenshots or photos of your project

Judging criteria

• Creativity & Innovation (30%): How original is the idea? Does the project present a unique solution or an interesting way of approaching the challenge? We’re looking for projects that think outside the box.
• Wildcard Integration (30%): How well were the chosen words incorporated? Each selected word should play a meaningful role in the project’s story, purpose, or functionality. The strongest projects make every word feel naturally connected.
• Technical Execution (25%): How well was the project built? Consider functionality, design, usability, and the overall quality of the implementation. A polished prototype is perfectly acceptable.
• Presentation & Impact (15%): How effectively was the project communicated? Teams should clearly explain their idea, demonstrate their project, and show how it addresses a meaningful problem or creates value.

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