Welcome to Webster Hackfest 2026!

Webster Hackfest is a high-intensity, 48-hour innovation marathon where the brightest minds in Computer Science, Game Design, and Business collide. Our mission is simple: to bridge the gap between classroom theory and industry-level execution.

We aren't just looking for cool code—we're looking for market-ready prototypes. Whether you are building a disruptive SaaS platform, an immersive game, or a tech-driven business solution, this is your platform to build from the ground up and prove your concept's viability.

Why Join Webster Hackfest?

  • Massive Prize Pool: Compete for your share of $1,200 in total prizes.

  • The Hybrid Rubric: Your work is evaluated on a professional 300-point scale across Technical, Creative, and Strategic pillars.

  • Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Partner with designers and business strategists to ensure your tech has a real-market "hook."

  • Industry Insight: Receive direct feedback from a panel of expert judges during our live demo session.

 

Event Timeline
  • Friday, March 27th (Evening): Kickoff & Team Formation.

  • The Grind: 48 hours of continuous building.

  • Sunday, March 29th (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM): Judging Window in Sverdrup Hall.

  • Sunday, March 29th (5:00 PM+): Closing Ceremony, Dinner, and Awards.

 

Requirements

To qualify for the $1,200 prize pool, teams must submit their project on Devpost by the Sunday deadline. Your submission will be judged on our 3-Pillar Evaluation Framework:

  1. Technical Execution: Show us your code quality and architectural complexity. Include a link to your GitHub/GitLab repository.

  2. Creative Design: We value narrative depth and UX/UI. 

  3. Strategic Excellence: How does this make it to market? Include a brief summary of your business model and market-entry strategy in your project description.

  4. The Pitch: A concise write-up explaining what problem you are solving and how your prototype functions.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

4 non-cash prizes
Grand Prix
1 winner

$525 worth of prizes

Technical Excellence
1 winner

$225 worth of prizes

Narrative and Art
1 winner

$225 worth of prizes

Business Innovation
1 winner

$225 worth of prizes

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Vikram Lakhwara

Vikram Lakhwara
Stakehouse

Dan Conner

Dan Conner
Ascend Venture Capital

Connie Bowen

Connie Bowen
Farmhand Ventures

Karo Ahmadi Dehrashid

Karo Ahmadi Dehrashid
Webster University

Scott Granneman

Scott Granneman
Websanity

Christian Johnson

Christian Johnson
Metis Analytics

Ajay Iyer

Ajay Iyer
Microsoft

Lasanthi Gamage

Lasanthi Gamage
Webster University

James Ashford

James Ashford
Webster University

Erik Palmore

Erik Palmore
Webster University

Ed Cory

Ed Cory
Schnuck Markets, Inc.

Judging Criteria

  • .

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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