From Global AI Hackathon to Venture

No. Apply for the event, and if you are accepted we email you a personal sign-in link. Open that link and continue with Google, GitHub, or a password you create yourself. If you already have an account, sign in with that. The email can land in spam, junk, or Promotions.

In your email, from noreply@hack-nation.ai. The acceptance email is titled “You’re accepted to …”. A new sign-in email is titled “Your HackOS sign-in link”. Open the link in the email. There is no numeric code to type in. Check spam, junk, and Promotions, and use the same email you applied with.

Go to https://app.hack-nation.ai. Choose “Set or reset your password”, enter the email you applied or were invited with, and click “Email me a sign-in link”. The new email is titled “Your HackOS sign-in link” and comes from noreply@hack-nation.ai. Check spam, junk, and Promotions too.

The next Hack-Nation Global AI Hackathon takes place on Saturday, February 27, 2027 and Sunday, February 28, 2027. All agenda times are Eastern Time (ET): local kick-off in your hub is approximately 11:00 AM ET on February 27, followed by the global kick-off at 12:00 PM ET. Projects must be submitted by 9:00 AM ET on February 28. Finalist pitches and the award ceremony are virtual on Saturday, March 6, 2027, from 12:00–1:00 PM ET.

On Saturday, February 27, 2027, the local kick-off in your hub starts at approximately 11:00 AM ET. Check your hub’s communications for its local program. The Global Kickoff Livestream starts at 12:00 PM ET, walks you through the hackathon, and reveals the challenges. After the stream, hacking begins. At a hub there is always someone around to answer questions. All times are Eastern Time (ET).

Yes. You are welcome to join virtually from home if there is no hub near you.

An energetic hub team welcomes you and answers questions. You meet builders from many backgrounds, get snacks and pizza, and watch the Kickoff stream together. When the stream ends, you start building.

No. Hub assignments cannot be changed after registration. In an urgent case, email questions@hack-nation.com and we will do our best to help.

No, we unfortunately can't.

Yes. Bring your laptop and, ideally, your charger.

Yes. All hubs provide free Wi-Fi.

You can join solo — around 50% of participants do. To form a team, connect with people at your hub or in the Hack-Nation Discord. A team is one to four people.

Yes. A team can be one to four people. Building alone is fine. The team submits one project together, and any member can edit it and submit it before the deadline.

Open Team & Submission, create your team, then choose Invite a teammate and enter the email they use on HackOS. They need to be accepted to the same event and signed up already. They join only after they accept the invitation. The invitation email is titled “You’ve been invited to a Hack-Nation team” and can land in spam, junk, or Promotions.

Up to four. The page shows this as “N of 4 members”. Someone who has not accepted the invitation is not on the team yet.

No. We provide a set of challenges at Kickoff. You do not need an idea in advance.

Yes. You must work on one of the official challenges from us and our sponsors. They cover a wide range of themes, so there is something for everyone.

Challenge sponsors for the February 27-28, 2027 hackathon will be announced. Check the official event page and HackOS for updates.

Pick it on your project before the deadline. We use the challenge from your latest submission that went through before the deadline.

No, you can't.

API credit providers and offers for the February 27-28, 2027 hackathon will be announced. Check the API credits and benefits section on HackOS for updates and claiming instructions.

Details and instructions for claiming API credits are on the platform.

Check the usage guide added to each API credit or benefit, and follow it exactly. If it still does not work for you, we unfortunately can't step into that process.

Some providers gave us fewer codes than there are participants. Those credits are first come, first served. Once they are gone, we can't issue another code.

One project per event. You can keep editing that project until the deadline, including the Demo Video, Tech Video, Team Video, the live Demo Link to your product, and the public GitHub link. You cannot submit a second project.

Upload three videos: the Demo Video, the Tech Video, and the Team Video. Use MP4 or MOV, up to 60 seconds and up to 1 GB each. If a file is rejected, export it as an H.264 MP4 and try again. Also add the Demo Link to your product, and it has to be live, plus a public GitHub link. A private repository does not count. The team photo is required too. Save the project first, then upload a JPG, PNG, or WebP of up to 10 MB. Saving the form does not submit the project.

The project submission deadline is Sunday, February 28, 2027 at 9:00 AM ET (Eastern Time). The submission requirements remain the same: you need the project saved, the Demo Video, the Tech Video, the Team Video, a live Demo Link to your product, a public GitHub link, and the team photo. “Save project” alone does not submit.

The page says “Your project is submitted” and the button reads “Project submitted”. Before that, the button still says “Submit project”. You need the project saved, the Demo Video, the Tech Video, the Team Video, a live Demo Link to your product, a public GitHub link, and the team photo. “Save project” alone does not submit.

It solves a real problem with measurable impact, shows creativity in technical and UI work, has meaningful technical depth, and is presented clearly and convincingly.

Creativity, communication, and technical depth. The jury watches your Demo Video, Tech Video, and Team Video, and opens your live Demo Link to the product, your public GitHub link, and your team photo.

You don’t need to track this. The organising team handles the reviews. If your team is selected, they will email you. Check spam, junk, and Promotions too.

The organising team is going to send you an email. Check your spam, junk, and Promotions folder too.

We email selected teams with next steps. If you are selected, attend the pitch session and be ready to pitch. Check spam, junk, and Promotions too. The notification date for the February 27-28, 2027 hackathon will be announced.

Finalist pitches and the award ceremony take place virtually on Saturday, March 6, 2027, from 12:00–1:00 PM ET (Eastern Time). Winners are announced at the award ceremony. Check the official event page, HackOS, and event emails for access details.

The event offers $30k+ in cash and credits. Individual prize amounts, API credit prizes, and any special trips for the February 27-28, 2027 hackathon will be announced. Check the official event page and HackOS for updates.

The prize structure for the February 27-28, 2027 hackathon, including challenge prizes and any overall award, will be announced. Check the official event page and HackOS for updates.

The prize is awarded to the team as a whole, with one designated recipient. How you split it is up to you.

Yes. 15–20 minute mentoring sessions run throughout the hackathon.

Book a mentoring call on the platform once the hackathon begins.

Mentors can help with model deployment, idea sparring, and pitch preparation.

Ask the Q&A bot on the platform first. If that does not answer it, write in the Hack-Nation Discord and we will help you.