Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Provider
- STEMist Education
- Deadline
- 8/2/2026
In short
STEMist Hacks IV is a free online STEM hackathon for middle and high schoolers, offering non-cash prizes for projects in software and hardware.
STEMist Hacks IV
By STEMist Education
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 8/2/2026Due today
Jul 31 – Aug 2, 2026
Dates
Online
Format
13-18 year olds
Eligibility
10 non-cash prizes
Total prizes
Hardware and Software
Project types
Beginner Friendly
Focus
Overview
Welcome to STEMist Hacks IV, an online hackathon for middle and high school students interested in STEM. Participants are encouraged to create projects in any STEM-related field, including coding, CAD, or hardware. The event aims to provide a platform for students to innovate, learn new skills, and connect with peers and industry mentors. Throughout the hackathon, attendees will have access to various workshops designed to support their learning and project development. The hackathon is open to students aged 13 to 18, allowing for solo participants or teams of up to three. It is designed to be beginner-friendly, providing resources and mentorship to help participants of all skill levels succeed. The event fosters an environment for creative problem-solving and hands-on experience in STEM fields. Qualified mentors from the industry will be available to offer support and guidance as participants work on their projects over the weekend. This mentorship aims to enhance the learning experience and help teams overcome challenges in their development process.
What to build
Participants are encouraged to make anything STEM related, whether that's code, CAD, or hardware.
Prizes
Best Overall
1-year subscriptions for NordVPN, NordPass and Incogni ($250), 1 GB of free data for Saily ($5) (up to three), +Cash Prize (tbd).
$765
Best use of Render
1st Place: $500 Render Credits, 2nd Place: $300 Render Credits, 3rd Place: $100 Render Credits. Winners must use Render Workflows to be eligible.
$900
Best Vision & Hardware Hack
OpenMV Cam, 4x N6 ($165 x 4), 4x AE3 ($120 x 4). Ships to U.S Only. Each winner of the 1st Place Prize gets one N6/AE3. Any remaining boards will be given to 2nd or 3rd, depending on availability.
$1140
Best AI/LLM Project
Tavily: 10k Credits 1st Place ($80), 5k Credits 2nd Place ($40), 3k credits 3rd Place ($24).
$144
Best Beginner Project
10x Scrimba 1 Year Subscriptions ($294*10). 1-year Scrimba subscriptions awarded to top-placing teams, while supplies last.
$2940
All Participants
Wolfram|One 30-Day Access ($25 value), n8n Cloud Pro 1 month ($60 value), Tavily 2 months free ($60), Render Building Credits ($50).
$195 per person
.xyz Domains
1 Year of Free .xyz domains ($15).
$5250
While Supplies Last
$50 Interview Cake License.
$2500
Confirmed Prizes (Categories TBD)
Whimsical 1 year Subscription ($120), TryHackMe ($488): 6 Month Premium ($63 x 4), 3 Month Premium ($42 x 4), 1 Month Premium ($17 x 4).
$608
Best Project Overall
Currently looking for a grand prize.
Key dates
- Day 1 Opening CeremonyJuly 31, 2026, 6:00 PM PST
- Submissions OpenJuly 31, 2026, 7:00 PM PST
- Skribbl.io Game NightAugust 1, 2026, 8:30 PM PST
- Submissions CloseAugust 2, 2026, 3:30 PM PST
- Judging PeriodAugust 2, 2026, 4:00 PM PST
- Closing CeremonyAugust 2, 2026, 6:30 PM PST
Eligibility
Participants must be ages 13 to 18 and currently enrolled as students. Companies and professional organizations are excluded from participation. The hackathon is open to participants from all countries/territories, excluding standard exceptions.
How to enter
- Register via the required Google Form: https://forms.gle/ZXbNghFffauXN1Wy5
- Join the required Discord server: https://discord.gg/zR5Px3uBKa
- Create a STEM-related project (code, CAD, or hardware) individually or in teams of up to 3.
- Submit your project by the deadline.
Judging criteria
- Originality: Was this project creative or was it a commonly thought of problem and solution? How was the project executed?
- Effort: Does this project appear to have taken a large portion of the given time? Does it seem a lot of thought and brainstorming went into creating the project?
- Impact: If released to the public, what changes will it cause? If this project receives funding, is it realistic that it can be effectively implemented in society? Does it solve the problem that the team points out?
- Project Condition: Does the project work? Are there any cases where the project fails/crashes? Are there a large number of bugs that drastically worsen the functionality of the project?
Sponsors & partners
Art Of Problem SolvingInterview CakeWolfram AlphaOpenMVTavilyn8nWhimsicalTryHackMeRender.xyzScrimbaNordVPNSailyIncogniNordpass