Let's Get Started
SharkHack is Simmons University’s annual hackathon dedicated to empowering students—especially women and underrepresented communities—to collaborate, innovate, and build impactful projects. Whether you’re coding your first website, designing a mobile app, or developing a hardware hack, SharkHack provides a welcoming space for all experience levels to experiment, learn, and create.
This year’s theme, "Technology for a Better Tomorrow," challenges participants to leverage technology for social good, focusing on health, education, equality, and sustainability. With mentorship, workshops, and plenty of food, SharkHack is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and technology’s power to drive change. Join us this spring for an unforgettable weekend of innovation and community!
Please visit SharkHack's wesbite for more information regarding the schedule and theme: https://sharkhack.simmons.edu/
Requirements
*** Please see SharkHack's website for more information: https://sharkhack.simmons.edu/ **
What to Build
Participants should develop technology-driven solutions that contribute to a better tomorrow by prioritizing human well-being, equity, and social progress. Projects should address critical societal challenges and promote inclusivity, sustainability, and improved quality of life. Submissions can focus on areas such as:
- Health & Well-being – Innovations that improve healthcare access, mental health support, or disease prevention.
- Education & Accessibility – Tools that enhance learning opportunities, bridge digital divides, or support underserved communities.
- Equality & Social Good – Solutions that promote fairness, inclusivity, and human rights.
- Sustainability & Environment – Projects that address climate change, resource conservation, or eco-friendly living.
Participants can build web apps, mobile applications, AI/ML models, hardware prototypes, or other technology-based solutions that align with the theme.
What to Submit
- Project Name
- Submission URL (so that project can be viewed post event)
- About the Project (outlining the problem it solves, how it works, and its societal impact)
- Try it out / GitHub Link
- Did you register a domain name this weekend? If so what was the domain?
- Opt-In Prizes (any categories)
- Built With
- Share feedback about any technology you interacted with at this hackathon. Remember to mention what tech you're reviewing
- Schools of team members
- Team Member Information (separate columns for each field and each team member)
- First
- Last
Prizes
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API || Google Branded Backpack
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 Domain Name from GoDaddy Registry
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 MongoDB Atlas
MongoDB Atlas takes the leading modern database and makes it accessible in the cloud! Get started with a [$50 credit for students](https://mlh.link/mongodb) or sign up for the [Atlas free forever tier](https://mlh.link/mongodb-free) (no credit card required). Along with a suite of services and functionalities, you'll have everything you need to manage all of your data, and you can get a headstart with [free resources from MongoDB University!](https://mlh.link/mongodb-university) Build a hack using MongoDB Atlas for a chance to win a M5GO IoT Starter Kit for you and each member of your team.
The Moonshot Venture Award
Honors visionary AI ideas that contribute to a better future, solving complex challenges and improving lives through intelligent technology.
The BioHarmony Award
Recognizes innovations that enhance physical, mental, and overall well-being through technology.
The Humanity-Driven Innovation Award
Honors innovations that prioritize human well-being, equity, and societal progress, recognizing projects that address critical social challenges and enhance quality of life
The AI for Tomorrow Award
Honors visionary AI ideas that contribute to a better future, solving complex challenges and improving lives through intelligent technology.
The GreenTech Impact Award
Celebrates innovations that drive sustainability and create a measurable positive impact on the environment.
Best Entertainment
Recognizes entertainment projects that captivate audiences and push creative boundaries in media that engage and inspire.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Venkata Reddy Pasam
Senior Data engineer & Cloud Architect
Keivalya Pandya
Researcher @ PARCS Lab, Northeastern University
William Heath
Senior Software Engineer at MIT Lincoln Labs
Vishal Punjabi
Principal Data Scientist at SAP
Balajee Asish Brahmandam
Sr Manager at Charles Schwab
Venkata Thummala
Director/Technical program Manager
Aman Singh
Software Engineer at Google
Anusha Nerella
Senior Principal Software Engineer at State Street
Shikha Soneji
Data Scientist, ADP
Snehal Ladke
Garima Agarwa
Application Programmer
Sahas Chitlange
Full Stack Engineer at Energy Vault
Amanda Kwong
Software Engineer
Annie Wagner
Diganta Sengupta
Solution Director | Digital Transformation Leader | Enterprise Architect - Data, AI & Cloud Platform Technology
Judging Criteria
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Design
-
Code
-
Presentation/Demo
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On Topic
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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