PoliHacks is a 36-hour in-person hackathon happening on November 22–23, 2025, where creativity, technology, and collaboration come together to empower students to build innovative projects. Organized by CIS-UPIITA, the event welcomes participants from all skill levels to learn, experiment, and create in an energizing and supportive environment.
This year’s themes include Robotics, Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence, and Mathematical Simulation, giving participants a wide range of fields to explore. Throughout the event, attendees will enjoy workshops, talks, mentor support, food, activities, surprises, and the opportunity to connect with a passionate tech community.
PoliHacks features an opening ceremony, team formation, technical workshops, project development sessions, mentorship rounds, submission deadlines, judging, and a closing ceremony with awards for the top three projects—along with a participation certificate for all attendees.
Requirements
Participants must submit a functioning project built during the hackathon that aligns with at least one of the event’s themes. All submissions must be uploaded to Devpost before the deadline, including a clear description of the project, the technologies used, and the problem it solves.
Each project must include:
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A short video demo (1–3 minutes) explaining what the project does and showing it in action.
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A project description on Devpost, including features, inspiration, and technical details.
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A list of team members and the specific contributions of each participant.
Optional but recommended: screenshots, diagrams, or additional documentation that helps judges understand the project.
Teams must ensure all work is created within the 36-hour hackathon period. Pre-existing code, assets, or models must be clearly declared and cannot represent the main functionality of the project.
Prizes
Primer Lugar
Merch CIS, Trofeo y efectivo
Segundo Lugar
Tercer Lugar
Trofeo y efectivo
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API
Google Swag Kits
It’s time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project?
Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice
Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers
Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more
Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend?
[MLH] Best Use of Solana
SenseCAP Card Tracker
The world of development is evolving fast and Solana is leading the charge with a network built to handle all of your infrastructure needs. Forget high fees and slow confirmations, it’s time to build applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable.
Harness Solana's core advantages like blazing fast execution and near-zero transaction costs to make your hackathon ideas become real world projects. With Solana, the possibilities are endless.
Create a game, social app, or consumer product that relies on instant, high-frequency transactions.
Design a sophisticated trading, lending, or decentralized exchange (DEX).
Build a prototype for supply chain, identity, or payments that can handle massive, real-world volume.
Show us how you can innovate with Solana for a chance to win some cool prizes for you and each member of your team!
[MLH] Best Domain Name from GoDaddy Registry
Digital Gift Card
GoDaddy Registry is giving you everything you need to be the best hacker no matter where you are. Register your domain name with GoDaddy Registry for a chance to win some amazing prizes!
[MLH] Best Use of ElevenLabs
Wireless Earbuds
Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI.
Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win some wireless earbuds!
[MLH] Best Use of Vultr
Portable Screens
Vultr empowers hackers to bring their high-performance projects to life instantly; providing everything from the speed of one-click deployment and scalable cloud compute, to specialized Vultr Cloud GPUs that can power AI-driven applications. We want you to push the limits of what can be built when infrastructure is no longer the bottleneck!
Sign up for a Vultr account today and claim your free cloud credits! Take your next hack to the cloud with Vultr for a chance to win some awesome portable screens for you and your team!
[MLH] Best Use of Presage
SenseCAP Watcher & Presage Perks
Presage is pioneering the Human Sensing Layer, enabling any application to understand a person’s real-time physical and emotional state. With Presage, you can leverage clinically-proven vital signs, movement, emotion, and/or focus tracking to build a project that gives the standard camera super powers.
Use any of the Presage SDKs to integrate capabilities like real-time heart rate, breathing rate, engagement levels, and facial expressions into your hack with just a few lines of code.
Wolfram Award
To be described
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Aquiles Piña Olvera
UPIICSA IPN
Fernanda Osorio
AWS
Ivan Yesse Ramírez Uriarte
Guayaba Devs
Ilse Judith Pérez Jiménez
Guayaba Devs
Jocelyn Velarde
MLH
Jesús Adrián Montesinos Correa
Wolfram
Marcos Guillermo Castrejón Ramírez
Escudería Fenix UPIITA
Judging Criteria
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Creativity and Innovation
How original and inventive the project is. This includes the uniqueness of the idea, the approach taken, and the innovative elements that make the project stand out. -
Technical Complexity
The level of technical challenge involved in the project. Judges will consider the technologies used, the complexity of the implementation, the quality of the code, and how difficult the problem was to solve. -
Functionality and Execution
How well the project works at the time of submission. This includes stability, completeness of features, the user experience, and the amount achieved during the 36-hour hackathon. -
Impact and Usefulness
The relevance and practicality of the solution. Judges will evaluate the real-world applicability, the value it provides, and the potential for further development or impact. -
Presentation and Clarity
How clearly the team communicates their project. This includes the project description on Devpost, the video demo, and the team’s ability to explain their purpose, process, and results.
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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