Hack for Social Impact (HSI), in partnership with leading Bay Area nonprofits and supported by sponsors including Google and Bild AI, is a two-day hackathon bringing together talented engineers and data scientists to develop technical solutions for pressing social challenges.
Held on October 24–25, 2026 at Wefunder, San Francisco, the event mobilizes Silicon Valley’s technical community to build deployable data and software solutions for mission-oriented organizations. This year’s hackathon features five partner organizations: Transformative Programming Works, Boundless Freedom Project, the East Bay Permaculture Guild, BRIDGEGOOD, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Together, they work across critical areas such as criminal justice reform, reentry, community regeneration, design education, and land restoration.
In addition to cash prizes and project grants, participants have the opportunity to continue collaborating with partner organizations to bring their solutions to impact. Previous HSI winners have presented at the UN Climate Conference and launched startups accepted into Y Combinator.
Requirements
What to Build
A solution to one of the four problem statements supplied in your hackpack. A simplified version of the problem statements is available here: https://www.hackforsocialimpact.com/
What to Submit
Submit link to your repo any associated documentation. Be ready to present the running app.
Prizes
Hack for Social Impact Prizes
Total prizes awarded $5000 for five winning teams
We will award the first place winner for each of the Problem Statements voiced by our non profit partners a project grant* of $1000.
First place: $1000 project grant
Crowd Favorite: Cash prize
*Project grant = collaborate with the non-profit to complete the project to a deployable state, best faith effort.
And...
A Crowd Favorite Prize nominated by your fellow hackers!
Technology Credits
The winning teams from each problem statement will split $3500 of Gemini API credits and OpenAI 1K credits in prizes.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Mehrdad Khanzadeh
Atinderpal Singh Saini
Serena Tang
Aishwariya Rao
Ulyana Tkachenko
Ashwin Murthy
Judging Criteria
-
Impact and Problem Solving
Impact and Problem Solving (potential to make a impact for chosen problem statement) (30%) -
Technical Execution
Technical Execution (live demo) (35%) -
Innovation
Innovation (use of new technology/algorithms/methods) (20%) -
Demo & storytelling (15%)
Demo & storytelling (15%) *Above rubrics are the general judging rubrics for both (preliminary and final) rounds; refer to specific problem statements for things to consider
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Invite others to compete
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