About the Challenge

DataHacks is a 36-hour, MLH-certified hackathon hosted by the Data Science Student Society (DS3) at UC San Diego, bringing together 400+ students to build impactful solutions at the intersection of AI, data, and real-world challenges.

This year’s theme centers on [X], and all projects must align with it. Teams will also be required to incorporate at least one provided dataset (excluding Hardware & IoT and Mechanical Design & Biotechnology tracks). The theme and datasets will be revealed at the Opening Ceremony.

Participants may compete in up to two tracks:

AI & Machine Learning
Data Analytics
Cloud Development
Hardware & IoT
Mechanical Design & Biotechnology
Economics
UI/UX Design & Web Development
Product & Entrepreneurship

What to Expect

DataHacks is designed to support builders of all levels with hands-on workshops across AI, cloud, hardware, and product development, mentorship from industry professionals and researchers, a collaborative, high-energy environment with peers from across the country, direct access to sponsors and recruiting opportunities

Getting Started

Before the event, form a team (or participate solo), select your track(s), come ready to build.

During the event: attend workshops to learn tools like CAD, AWS, and GCP, work with mentors to refine your idea, overcome blockers, and strengthen your pitch.

Final Presentation

At the end of the hackathon, teams will present their projects in an expo-style judging session, showcasing their solutions to judges, sponsors, and the broader community. Each track and challenge has its own judging critera! The rubrics will not be released, but you will

Requirements

What to Build

During DataHacks, teams will build a project from scratch over the 36-hour hacking period. Your project should address a meaningful problem using data, AI, hardware, or related technologies, while aligning with the overall hackathon theme and one or two selected tracks. Strong projects will demonstrate clear technical depth, originality, and thoughtful execution.

Projects may take many forms, including web or mobile applications, machine learning models or pipelines (with a user-facing interface such as Streamlit), data analysis or visualization tools, hardware or mechanical prototypes, or any creative solution that reflects the spirit of the hackathon.

What to Submit

Each team is required to submit their project on Devpost with a clear and complete overview of their work. Submissions must include a project name and description that explains the problem being addressed and why it matters. A 3-minute demo video is required, showcasing the project in action and highlighting the use of sponsor-products for their respective challenges.

For code-based tracks, teams must provide a public GitHub repository containing their implementation, along with an online deployed demo. For hardware or non-deployed projects, teams should include images or visuals that clearly demonstrate their system. All submissions should also list the full tech stack, including tools, frameworks, APIs, and hardware used.

In addition, teams are expected to prepare presentation materials for judging, such as a slide deck, pitch, web page, and/or architecture diagram to support their final expo presentation.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$29,800+ in prizes

+ other prizes