Overview
LUMA Hackathon is a multi-week virtual build competition designed for middle school and high school students across the United States. The event emphasizes creativity, technical skill, and collaborative teamwork. Participants form teams of 1 to 5 members and work to develop a project that tackles a specific technical or social challenge. The challenge is open to students only, with an emphasis on learning, experimentation, and practical problem solving in a supportive online environment. The event is fully online, allowing participants from various locations to join and submit their work remotely.
Format and Schedule
The hackathon unfolds over three weeks, featuring a two stage progression. Round 1 centers on Project Submission, where teams submit a five minute video demonstration detailing the problem, build, and demonstration of their project. Teams should address the problem statement, describe their codebase and architecture, and present a real time demonstration of the project’s functionality. Round 2 is a Live Finals, where the top projects are invited to demonstrate live before a panel of judges and participate in a Q&A session to defend their technical decisions and architecture. The overall timeline includes a final deadline in early May with the potential for live judging and public showcasing of the projects.
Eligibility and Participation
The event is targeted at middle school and high school students, with teams of 1 to 5 participants. Participation is limited to students, with certain regional and policy restrictions noted in the rules. The competition welcomes diverse ideas and emphasizes beginner-friendly, open-ended, and machine learning/AI oriented themes as part of its broaderHackathon theme set.
Prizes and Perks
Cash prizes form a central incentive, with the first place prize totaling $300 in cash. Additional prizes include subscription bundles and guaranteed opportunities such as interview cake credits for top entries, and ongoing subscriptions for all participants. The prize structure is designed to reward technical execution, innovation, and the ability to communicate the project clearly during the submission and live presentation.
What to Expect for Attendees
Participants should anticipate a rigorous but supportive environment that encourages learning and collaboration. The challenge includes judging criteria focusing on Technical Execution, Innovation and UX, Business and Finance, and Communication. Resources such as planning guides, webinars, and help desks are available to assist teams in preparing their submissions and presentations. There is an emphasis on clear demonstrations of the codebase, architecture, and user experience, as well as strong articulation of business models and potential sustainability. Attendees will have access to a project gallery to view other submissions, and organizers provide guidance on how to present a compelling pitch, including a five-minute video for Round 1 and a live demonstration in Round 2. This event is online only, and participants are encouraged to view the schedule and add events to their calendars for reminders. Questions about eligibility, submission requirements, and rules are addressed via the Hackathon information pages and support contacts.
Who Should Attend
The hackathon is designed for students who are curious about building software solutions, who want to showcase their talents, and who enjoy working on collaborative projects. It is suitable for beginners to intermediate participants who are eager to learn, iterate, and present their work to judges and a broader online community.
FAQs
For any uncertainties regarding eligibility, submission format, or rules, participants can view the full guidelines and contact the hackathon organizers for clarifications. The event emphasizes a welcoming, learning-centered environment with opportunities to gain experience, win prizes, and receive feedback from mentors and peers.
