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:
-
Technical Execution: Show us your code quality and architectural complexity. Include a link to your GitHub/GitLab repository.
-
Creative Design: We value narrative depth and UX/UI.
-
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.
-
The Pitch: A concise write-up explaining what problem you are solving and how your prototype functions.
Prizes
Grand Prix
$525 worth of prizes
Technical Excellence
$225 worth of prizes
Narrative and Art
$225 worth of prizes
Business Innovation
$225 worth of prizes
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Vikram Lakhwara
Stakehouse
Dan Conner
Ascend Venture Capital
Connie Bowen
Farmhand Ventures
Karo Ahmadi Dehrashid
Webster University
Scott Granneman
Websanity
Christian Johnson
Metis Analytics
Ajay Iyer
Microsoft
Lasanthi Gamage
Webster University
James Ashford
Webster University
Erik Palmore
Webster University
Ed Cory
Schnuck Markets, Inc.
Judging Criteria
-
.
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Tell your friends
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
