About the challenge

Hack Without Borders is a beginner-friendly hackathon designed to give students the chance to break barriers in technology and society through creative, impactful solutions.

Our mission is to empower students to engineer with purpose, encouraging participants to harness the power of technology to make meaningful change in their communities

Theme: Breaking Barriers in Technology

This year’s theme focuses on making technology more inclusive and accessible, especially for underrepresented communities

Get started

Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re a programmer, artist, engineer, activist, or first-time hacker, this is your space to collaborate, innovate, and make an impact.

Come with an idea or just with your curiosity and leave with a project that can make a difference.

Requirements

What to Build

At Hack Without Borders, we believe that anyone can contribute—whether you’re a coder, designer, researcher, activist, or creative thinker. Your project can take any form:

  • Apps or websites that address social issues
  • Assistive technologies for people with disabilities
  • Educational tools to bridge learning gaps
  • Community platforms to empower marginalized voices

Or any innovative idea that breaks down barriers

Be Creative :)

What to Submit

To complete your submission for Hack Without Borders, please make sure to include all of the following:

1. Project Name & Tagline

A clear and creative name for your project.

A one-sentence tagline that summarizes what your project does.

2. Project Description

** Please also attach slides as a link with sharing permissions on**

A brief overview of your project, including:

  • What is the inspiration behind your project?
  • What it does - What is the impact or relevance?
  • The problem it solves
  • How you developed your solution?
  • Who benefits from your solution?
  • Explain how your solution addresses the theme "Breaking Barriers in Technology".

3. Demo Video (Optional)

A short video (YouTube, Vimeo, Loom, etc.) that:

Demonstrates your project in action.

Walks us through the key features and how it works.

Shares what inspired you and what you achieved.

Make sure the video is public or shareable.

4. GitHub or Code Repository (Optional)

If you used code to build your project attach a link to your code repository

Can be GitHub, GitLab, or another platform.

If you worked on designs, research, or other non-code solutions, share files, slides, or documents.

5. Screenshots or Images

At least one screenshot or image that shows your project (e.g., interface, prototype, diagram).

You can upload multiple images to give judges a better sense of your work.

6. Team Members

List of all team members' names and their roles (e.g., developer, designer, researcher).

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

3 non-cash prizes
Amazon Echo + Vintage EWB merch
1 winner

The Echo Dot is powered by Alexa, Amazon's voice-controlled virtual assistant. With just your voice, you can ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, and more.

Four Echo Dots are available, along with exclusive vintage EWB merch!

Anker Power Bank
1 winner

Anker Portable Charger, Power Bank, 20,000 mAh Battery Pack with PowerIQ Technology and USB-C. 4 powerbanks are available

Disposable cameras
1 winner

Disposable one-time-use camera in compact body. 4 cameras are available

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Mithun Vanniasinghe

Mithun Vanniasinghe
ML Engineer @Testorrent

Sydney Quach

Sydney Quach
SWE @KPMG

Aarya Jha

Aarya Jha
Process Engineering Analyst @CIBC

Matthew Grech

Matthew Grech
SWE @Nuclear Promise X

Naim Suleman

Naim Suleman
Data Science @ Sport Chek, Prev @ RBC, Loblaw

Tanmay Sethi

Tanmay Sethi
Data Science @Scotiabank

Sophia Hutchison

Sophia Hutchison
R&D @ Toronto Blue Jays, Prev @ CPP

Tanishka Gupta

Tanishka Gupta
Data Science @ Ryan, ML Associate @ Vector Institute, Prev @ Goldman Sachs

Meghu Dash

Meghu Dash
Data Science @ Staples, Prev @ Deloitte

Judging Criteria

  • Impact and relevance
    Does the project address a real-world barrier in technology or society? How meaningful is the problem being tackled, and who benefits from the solution?
  • Creativity and innovation
    Does the project bring a fresh perspective or unique approach? Whether through tech, policy, design, or community initiatives, does it challenge the norm and push boundaries?
  • Execution and feasibility
    How well is the idea developed? Does the team present a clear plan or prototype? (This can include a technical demo, a community initiative, a policy framework, or other formats.)
  • Presentation and Communication
    Is the idea explained clearly? Does the team effectively convey their thought process, impact, and next steps?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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