Help in building a collaborative and innovative community without boundaries!

Desert Hacks was founded at Arizona State University with the goal of building a collaborative and innovative community without boundaries. This year, Desert Hacks will be welcoming students from around the country to participate in a weekend of learning new concepts, building new projects, meeting new people, and being a part of a new, exciting experience. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, a web developer or a hardware enthusiast, you have a place in the community here at Desert Hacks.

View full rules

Prizes

$9,330 in prizes

First Place - Overall

First place winners will each get a $50 Amazon gift card and a Samsung Gear S2 Smartwatch.

Second Place - Overall

Second place winners will each get a $50 Amazon gift card and an Amazon Tap Bluetooth Speaker.

Third Place - Overall

Second place winners will each get a $50 Amazon gift card and a Wacom Small Drawing Tablet.

#HackHarassment

Use your tech skills for good and hack online harassment! Build a software solution that can help reduce the frequency and/or severity of online harassment. Members of the winning team receive Hack Harassment Battery Packs!

Amazon Web Services - Best Use of AWS

$250 AWS credit

Best Domain Name from Domain.com

Domain.com Swag Bags

Intel - Best Use of Intel Edison

Winners will each get a Dell Venue 8 Tablet.

GoDaddy - Social Impact Prize

Winners will each get a $100 Amazon gift card.

Amazon - Best Alexa Skill

Winners will each get an Amazon Echo.

StateFarm - Best Use of Audio Commands

Winners will each get an Amazon Echo.

Workiva - Best Use of Cloud Computing

Winners will each get a Workiva Swag Backpacks!

Silicon Valley Bank - Diversity and Inclusion Challenge

This prize will be awarded to the group that creates the best hack for promoting inclusion in any industry or unifying people around the world will receive free tuition for one member to one of Galvanize’s Part-Time courses, as well as a 50% discount on tuition for all of group members.

Best Beginner Hack

Awarded to the overall best hack created by first-time hackers. Winners will each get an Amazon Fire Tablet.

Most Humorous Hack

Sometimes the most important creations are the ones that make us laugh. Winners will get a special prize!

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Eligibility

You are eligible if to participate if:

- You applied to Desert Hacks,

- You were accepted,

- and you attended and created your project at Desert Hacks. 

Requirements

You must submit your hack by February 26th at 12:00PM. You and your team will then present and demo your project in an expo!

Judges

A Fantastic Panel of Judges

A Fantastic Panel of Judges

Judging Criteria

  • Originality
    Is the hack original, or is it an idea that has been done before? How creative is the concept and approach of the project?
  • Complexity
    Is the hack technically complex or difficult? Is there any interesting or complicated use of technology involved?
  • Functionality
    Does the hack work? Is it an idea put into practice or just a concept?
  • Usefulness
    Is the purpose of the hack relevant? Does it contribute to individuals or society in a meaningful way?