About the challenge
HackOut! 2027 is a free, fully online hackathon for high school students worldwide, hosted by BranchOut! Veritas Education Leaders, a nonprofit dedicated to STEM education. From January 1 to January 31, 2027, teams of 2 to 4 students have a full month to turn an idea into a working solution to a real-world problem.
HackOut! gives you time to research a problem properly, build, test with real users, and improve your work. We hope many teams keep building after the event ends.
Use whatever technology fits the problem: coding, AI, data, hardware, or quantum computing. Beginners are welcome, and teams can combine skills in design, research, coding, data, and presentation.
Choose a problem that matters. Every project enters one of five categories:
- Finance: Build tools that expand financial access, literacy, security, or opportunity.
- Biomedical: Use technology to address challenges in health, medicine, accessibility, or care.
- Sustainability: Create technology for a healthier planet, smarter resources, and resilient communities.
- Lifestyle: Make everyday life safer, easier, more inclusive, or more connected.
- Quantum: Explore how emerging quantum technologies can tackle important problems.
What you get
- $3,000 in cash prizes: a $1,000 Grand Prize, five $300 category prizes, and a $500 Community Impact Award
- Live workshops on Zoom throughout January, led by BranchOut! and our sponsors
- A HackOut! community on Discord for announcements, finding teammates, and getting help
- A project you can keep building and show to schools, programs, and employers
Schedule (all times Eastern Standard Time, UTC−5)
- November 1, 2026: Registration opens
- December 7, 2026, 11:59 PM EST: Registration closes
- January 1, 2027, 12:00 AM EST: Hacking begins and submissions open
- [Date TBA], January 2027: Opening ceremony
- Throughout January: Sponsor workshops on Zoom (schedule posted on Discord and in Updates)
- January 31, 2027, 11:59 PM EST: Submission deadline (strict)
- February 2027: Judging, with a preliminary round followed by recorded presentations from finalists
- After judging: Winners announced on this page and by email
Get started
- Join on Devpost. Click "Join hackathon" on this page.
- Complete the BranchOut! registration form. Every team member must complete it by December 7, 2026. Use the same email address as your Devpost account. If you are under 18, a parent, legal guardian, or caregiver must complete the consent section. Only participants who complete this form are eligible for prizes.
- Join the HackOut! Discord: [Coming Soon]. All announcements, workshop links, and team-finding happen there.
- Form a team of 2 to 4. No team yet? Say so on the registration form and we will try to match you with other students.
- Pick a category and plan. You may brainstorm, research, and plan before January 1. All code, designs, and project materials must be created during the event.
- Build and submit. Submit your project on Devpost by January 31, 2027, at 11:59 PM EST. See the Submission Requirements below.
Questions? Email [email protected] or ask in the Discord.
Requirements
What to Build
Build a working project that uses technology to address a real-world problem in one of the five HackOut! categories: Finance, Biomedical, Sustainability, Lifestyle, or Quantum.
Your project can be software, a website, a mobile app, an AI or data project, a hardware-connected build, a quantum algorithm or simulation, or other technical work. A prototype is fine. It must work well enough to demonstrate, and it should clearly show the problem it addresses and who it helps.
Your project must:
- Be built during the event. Planning and research before January 1 are allowed, but all code, designs, and project materials must be created between January 1 and January 31, 2027. A project that existed before the event cannot be entered.
- Be your team's original work. You may use open-source libraries, frameworks, public APIs, and licensed assets if their licenses allow it and you credit them.
- Disclose any AI tools. AI tools, including coding assistants, are allowed. List which ones you used and what for. Every team member must understand the project and be able to explain how it works.
- Be safe and respectful. No malware, illegal content, or hateful, harassing, or sexually explicit content. Do not collect anyone's personal information without their consent.
- Be your team's only entry. Each team submits one project.
Quantum projects may run on simulators or free cloud access. Paid quantum hardware is not required.
What to Submit
Submit on Devpost by January 31, 2027, at 11:59 PM EST. Late submissions will not be judged. Your submission must include:
- Project title and tagline.
- Written description covering the problem and who it affects, how your solution works, how you built it, the challenges you faced, and what you would do next.
- Category: the one HackOut! category your project primarily addresses.
- Source code or project files: a link to a public repository (for example, GitHub) or a shared folder that judges can open without requesting access.
- Demo video (required): up to 3 minutes, uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo as public or unlisted, showing your project working and explaining the problem it solves.
- Working demo link (strongly encouraged): a link where judges can try your project themselves, such as a deployed website, a web app, or an app download page.
- Team members: every member added to the Devpost submission.
- Registration check: the email address each member used on the BranchOut! registration form.
- Credits: third-party libraries, APIs, datasets, and assets you used, and the AI tools you used and what for.
Optional: screenshots, slides, or a photo of any hardware.
All links must keep working until judging ends. Judges are not required to test your project, so make sure the video shows everything that matters.
Prizes
Grand Prize
Finance Category Winner
Biomedical Category Winner
Sustainability Category Winner
Lifestyle Category Winner
Quantum Category Winner
Community Impact Award
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Richard Y. Wang
BranchOut! Co-founder, Board of Advisors
Judging Criteria
-
Impact
How meaningfully does the project address a real-world need? -
Innovation and Creativity
Does it introduce a new idea, approach, or perspective? -
Technical execution
Does the technology work, and does the team use it effectively? -
Presentation and Clarity
How well is the idea presented and explained?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Invite others to compete
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