Hoobit Hacks 2026 🌍

An hackathon catered for students, by students, of students.

Check out our site: hacks.hoobit.org
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/ZdZhurPz2b

What is Hoobit Hacks 2026?
Last year, Hoobit, a nonprofit focused on peer-to-peer mentorship, organized Hoobit Ideathon 2025 which garnered over 500+ participants. This year we are taking a step further organizing a Hackathon open to every student out there. If you are a highschool (or even younger), university, or bootcamp student you are at the right place!

Hoobit Hacks 2026 is a 4-week event, where your goal is to create an AI-Powered tool or platform centered around a very specific problem we all face. The theme of the hackathon will be revealed on opening day. Your mission is to ideally create a working prototype that anyone could have access to and can use. If an accessible prototype is not possible, we expect a short Youtube Video showcasing your demo.

Again just to make it clear not a proof of concept. Not a pitch deck. A working prototype. 

Theme 🔒

This section will be revealed at the start of the hackathon!

Why should you participate?

Well the real question is why shouldn't you? This is a free hackathon, where if you work hard enough you can win a buttload of prizes. Even if you don't win it's an incredible opportunity for you to learn about programming, new AI technologies, and just think for yourself! It is chance for you to interact with the vast Hoobit network of students, and just have fun along the way. That being said their are obviously some perks to joining the event:

• Certificates (even for participating) and loads of awards
• Partnerperks to all participants
• A little something to add to your portfolio
• Recognition within the Hoobit Community and beyond
• And amazing prizes for the winners ofcourse
• Support for your projects after the event

Use of AI & Guidelines

The Hoobit team strongly suggests to not use AI during brainstorming and presentation of your project. Here is why.

• LLMs are meant to give general answers, that means when you brainstorm with them you are very very likely to produce some generic idea. We have seen within our previous events tens of similar ideas and its very easy to spot and just straight up decentivize those generic ideas. We have to be creative ourself, AI can't do that as of writing.
• Using AI for your demo scripts or document writeup is one of the worst things you can do. It pure slop and can be seen from a mile away, the writing is boring and generic. We wan't your authentic voice, even if it makes a few mistakes along the way. (this post is written without AI for example)

At the end of the day you could use AI in those areas, but just remember to not expect a lot!
But there are a few places where using AI is a no brainer:

• During prototyping, coding, or designing do use AI it does an amazing job if you prompt it right.
• There are many other usecases, but just keep in mind use AI with very specific instructions, your instructions, so it continues to have your ideas and voice within whatever it designs!

Dates and Deadlines

Not released yet. Expect everything from announcement to submissions under a month.

• Impact & Relevance — 25%
  How meaningful is the problem and how well does it align with the theme?
• User Understanding & Problem Clarity — 20%
  How well does the team understand the users and the problem they face?
• Feasibility & MVP Path — 20%
  Can this realistically be built, and is there a clear path from idea to MVP?
• Originality & Insight — 15%
  How self thought is the idea or perspective?
• Clarity & Structure — 10%
  How clearly is the idea communicated?
• Evidence, Citations & Ethics — 10%
  Is the idea grounded in reality and ethically considered?