Empowering students in technology through innovation, ethical AI, and blockchain solutions.
Join us for a week of coding, collaboration, and creating positive change!
🌐 Open worldwide — all universities, all majors, and high school students (16+).
We especially encourage women and non-binary participants to join, and welcome allies from all backgrounds.
Building technology that empowers, includes, and creates positive impact for communities worldwide.
Join as a participant to build innovative solutions, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, learn cutting-edge technologies, and compete for prizes. Perfect for students from all majors who want to shape the future through technology!
Hacker - Student
🌐 Open Worldwide — All Universities | All Majors | All High School (16+)
Especially welcoming women, non-binary individuals, and allies from all backgrounds!
Exception: If you're under 18, you must have parent/guardian permission. For in-person activities, a parent/guardian must be present. For online sessions, a signed permission form is required.
View Under-18 Participation Policy
📝 Registration
Step 1
Register with OneStopForm → go to Hack University →
Hackathons and complete the One Stop Form.
[ HackUniversity.vercel.app]
Open Hack University
Step 2
Once Register at HackUniversity.vercel.app Redeem Subscriptions/Apis, etc..
[ EmpowHERhack2025-Redeem.vercel.app ]
Hack Participant Subscriptions/Apis
Step 3
Get your ticket on the Bevy calendar.
[ EmpowHERhack2025-bevy.vercel.app ]
Open Bevy Calendar
Register on Devpost(Project Submission Portal).
[ EmpowHERhack2025-devpost.vercel.app ]
Open Devpost Portal
After registering, create a GitHub repository and submit your first commit to Devpost.
If you don’t have an app name or team yet, make your own initial commit and update it later.
You will still be allowed to continue making edits until the closing ceremony.
This step is required to be completed before mid-hackathon to confirm your participation and access participant benefits.
Join our hackathon community! Whether you're an industry Professional, student volunteer, fundraiser, or sponsor, your support drives innovation and empowers the next generation of tech leaders.
Create systems for transparent financial transactions
🌍 Inclusive Digital Solutions
Build accessible and inclusive technology that serves diverse communities.
Details unlock at 11:00 PM EST on Oct 13
Challenge Details:
Design accessible web applications following WCAG standards
Build multilingual platforms for global communities
Create assistive technologies for people with disabilities
Develop tools that bridge the digital divide
Design inclusive user experiences for all ages and abilities
💼 Track 2: Tech Unicorn Challenge
Startup Pitch Competition – Present your innovative startup idea just like raising seed funding
🚀 No coding required! Focus on your vision and business strategy
🏆 Winner
Best Pitch
Winner receives certificate and recognition
📋 What to Submit:
1. Pitch Deck or Interactive Prototype
• Professional pitch deck (10-15 slides) in PowerPoint, Google Slides, or PDF format
• May include: business model canvas, market analysis, financial projections, mockups
• Must be uploaded to your GitHub repository with a working preview link
2. Executive Summary
• Brief description of your startup vision and value proposition
• No more than one page in length (single-spaced, Word/PDF format)
• Explain what makes your idea innovative and market-ready
• Must be uploaded to GitHub repository
3. Pitch Video Presentation
• Present your startup pitch just like you're raising seed funding
• Maximum length: 10 minutes or less
• Upload video to GitHub repository (or provide YouTube/Loom link in README)
• URL must have authorization for judges to view
• Teams may decide which member(s) will present in the video
⚠️ Important: All materials (pitch deck, executive summary, video file or link, and any supporting documents) MUST be uploaded to your GitHub repository. NO CODE is required or allowed for this challenge.
💡 Recommended Tools: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, Figma, Pitch.com, Notion, Loom (for video), or any no-code/low-code platform
📁 GitHub Repository Structure Example:
• README.md (project overview & links)
• pitch-deck.pptx or pitch-deck.pdf
• executive-summary.pdf
• pitch-video.mp4 (or link in README)
• /supporting-docs/ (any additional materials)
Full challenge details unlock at 11:00 PM EST on Oct 13
🎉 Challenge Now Active!
🎯 Challenge Focus Areas:
Women in Tech: Solutions that empower women entrepreneurs and close gender gaps in startup funding
Ethical AI: AI-powered startups focused on fairness, transparency, and social good
Social Impact: Technologies addressing community needs and creating positive change
Inclusive Innovation: Accessible products/services for diverse and underserved markets
⚖️ Judging Criteria:
Technical Difficulty: Complexity and technical sophistication of the proposed solution
Functionality: How well the startup concept solves the identified problem
Innovation & Creativity: Originality and uniqueness of the business idea
Design & User Experience: Quality of pitch deck design and presentation clarity
Impact & Usefulness: Potential positive impact on target market and society
Presentation & Demo: Quality and persuasiveness of video pitch delivery
💡 Pitch Tips:
Start with a compelling problem statement that resonates with judges
Clearly articulate your unique value proposition and competitive advantage
Include realistic financial projections and funding requirements
Demonstrate deep understanding of your target market and customers
Show passion, confidence, and preparedness in your video presentation
Address potential risks and your mitigation strategies
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about EmpowHER Hackathon 2025
EmpowHER is a week-long virtual hackathon focused on Women in Tech, Ethical AI, and Blockchain for social good. It's designed to create an inclusive space where participants build technology that empowers communities and promotes positive change.
Everyone is welcome! While we especially encourage women and non-binary individuals to participate, allies from all backgrounds are invited. Students from all universities, high school students (16+), and participants from all majors are welcome.
No prior experience required! We'll provide comprehensive resources, tutorials, and mentorship focused on ethical AI and blockchain for social good. Many successful projects come from teams learning these technologies during the hackathon.
No! EmpowHER Hackathon is completely free for all participants. We are committed to making technology accessible and creating an inclusive environment for everyone.
Focus on projects that empower communities, promote inclusion, and create positive social impact. This could include solutions for women in tech mentorship, ethical AI applications, blockchain for transparency, or accessible technology for diverse communities.
You can register solo or with a team of up to 4 members. Solo participants can join our Discord team formation channels to connect with others. We encourage diverse teams and provide mentorship to support collaborative learning.
Participants get access to mentors via Discord, workshops on ethical AI and blockchain, starter templates, API keys, comprehensive documentation, and 24/7 support. We also provide resources specifically focused on women in tech initiatives.
Projects are evaluated on innovation, social impact, technical implementation, inclusivity, and presentation quality. Our diverse panel of judges includes women leaders in tech, AI ethics experts, and blockchain specialists.
Hackathon Resources
Access comprehensive resources to help you succeed in EmpowHER Hackathon 2025!
🧰 Complete Resource Library
For tutorials, starter code, tool recommendations, and more, visit our resources page: