Overview
ZerveHack is an online AI powered hackathon organized by Devpost that invites participants to explore data science challenges using Zerve, an AI-native platform. The event runs online from February 26 to April 29, 2026, with a final deadline on April 29 at 2:00 pm EDT. A total of $10,000 in cash prizes are up for grabs, and the competition welcomes individual hackers as well as teams. The format emphasizes rapid iteration, autonomous code generation by AI, and end-to-end deployment of a solution that can be used as an API or an application. Submissions should be complete, reproducible, and shareable, with emphasis on producing real value rather than merely analyzing data.
Getting Started
Participants are encouraged to sign up and begin work via the resources tab on Devpost. The page highlights a straightforward process to join the challenge, access resources, and start building. There are recommended submission guidelines and a clear set of deliverables to help teams plan their project from concept to deployment. The event page also points to practical calendars and reminders for deadlines, including an explicit deadline and date information that helps teams coordinate across time zones.
The Challenge
The challenge asks entrants to build something original using Zerve, choosing a question or problem to tackle rather than starting from a blank script. The emphasis is on an end-to-end workflow where AI assists in data analysis, code generation, and iterative improvements, with participants steering the project toward a deployable outcome. There is no topic constraint, encouraging creativity and experimentation. Submissions should demonstrate how AI can accelerate the journey from question to insight to production, highlighting the value of the platform in producing deployable results.
Getting Started & Submission Details
Getting started involves joining the hackathon, exploring resources, and signing up to participate. The page outlines what to submit: a public Zerve project that runs without errors, a concise Project Summary (up to 300 words) describing the question, findings, and significance, a short demo video (up to 3 minutes), and a plan to share the project on social media. Bonus emphasis is placed on deployment as an API or app to showcase production readiness. The judging criteria emphasize analytical depth, end-to-end workflow, storytelling, creativity, and the ambition of the project.
Prizes & Judges
Prizes total $10,000 in cash, with a structured prize distribution across first, second, and third place, including the number of winners per prize tier. Judges include industry professionals, with brief bios such as Growth and GTM leadership, Co-founders, and other executives associated with Zerve AI. The judging criteria focus on depth of analysis, the completeness of the workflow from question to deployment, and the clarity and impact of the final submission.
Who should attend
ZerveHack targets data scientists, AI enthusiasts, software developers, and product builders who want to demonstrate how AI can accelerate data-driven projects. It is suitable for individuals and teams who are prepared to deliver a public project with a strong narrative, a working solution, and a compelling deployment story. The event also invites participants to share results publicly, promoting a culture of open data and collaborative learning.
FAQ
The page provides general guidance on eligibility, how to submit, and where to access resources. For specific rules, deadlines, or eligibility restrictions, participants should refer to the official rules page and the challenge details on Devpost.
