!!!!UPDATE!!!

As of 7/30, we are moving this event from in-person to virtual due to unforeseen circumstances.  Please join our Discord here for more information.

 

Ready to put your tech skills to work for a cause that truly matters? Join us for an intense, inspiring, and beginner-friendly 12 hours where you'll team up to develop innovative solutions for cancer resources and advocacy

Hack4Hope is proudly led by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) California.  Our goal is to raise $10,000 in corporate sponsorships for ACS CAN, directly supporting their life-saving work. This funding is more crucial than ever, especially with proposed massive government cuts threatening cancer research funding.

Why should you join Hack4Hope?

  • Make a Real Impact: Tackle urgent, real-world problems in cancer and help shape solutions that matter. 
  • Team Up with the BestGet mentored by ACS CAN advocates and tech pros.  Learn, network & grow your skills.
  • Fuel the Fight: Directly contribute to cancer advocacy at a time when funding for research is under threat. Be part of the solution.

Come ready to innovate, collaborate, and make your mark in the fight against cancer! 

Requirements

The Outline: The outline is (1) a brief description of your project, (2) its purpose, and (3) how it works. Paste your outline into the textbox in the DevPost project submission page. Below is more detailed information for each of the three items:

  1. Project Description:  Which problem statement did you tackle? What programming languages and tools did you use and how? What cancer resources or other information did you take into account when putting together your solution?
  2. Purpose:  What problem were you tackling with your project in the context of cancer? Try to detail your team’s motivation, and explain in detail why you believe your project matters. What is the future of your project and how does it make some aspect of life better for individuals impacted by cancer or those involved in their care?
  3. How it works: What can a user do with your project?  What are your user stories? What data sets did you use to make meaningful conclusions?

The Demo [2 to 5 minute video or presentation - or whatever platform you choose to showcase your work]: For example, you could choose to screen record someone using the different features of your app with a voice-over explanation. Be creative! This is the primary source judges will use to evaluate your project, so make sure you give the demo the attention it deserves.

The Codebase: We highly encourage GitHub as a shared repository of code for your team. A crucial aspect of GitHub is that it both enables efficient code sharing and timestamps individual commits. All relevant code and information in your project must have been developed after hacking starts at 8 am PT. Breaking this rule will result in your removal from the competition. The codebase is where judges will be able to evaluate the quality of your code and make sure that the work you turn in is in fact, yours. Although we recommend using GitHub, you may choose to deliver your codebase in a Google Drive folder or other such means.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$2,075+ in prizes
+ other prizes
First Prize Winner
$1,075 in cash
1 winner

Top team get Free 6 months of Setapp ($375), Clean Shot X ($300); PixelSnap licenses ($200), and an Amazon Gift card ($200)

Second & Third Prizes
$500 in cash
2 winners

Second and third place teams get Clean Shot X ($300 per team) & PixelSnap ($200 per team) licenses

Honorable Mention
1 winner

Shout out to this team who came in very close!

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Sahil Deshpande

Sahil Deshpande
Software Engineer, Meta

 Haoyuan He

Haoyuan He
Software Engineer, Netflix

Amanda Szuck, MPH

Amanda Szuck, MPH
Associate Director, Cancer Center Partnerships at American Cancer Society

Shoabe Shariff

Shoabe Shariff
Head of Engineering, Finch

Judging Criteria

  • Impact & Real-Life Application (50%)
    Does the project clearly and plausibly solve the chosen cancer problem, with a real application that positively affects patients or caregivers?
  • Innovation (30%)
    How innovative is the project in addressing cancer challenges? Is its technical idea, data insight, or overall approach new and original, bringing a fresh perspective to cancer care?
  • User Experience (20%)
    Is it easy to use, polished, and user-oriented? For this 12-hour event, we value clear interfaces and strong usability that considers patients, families, or medical professionals, even if not fully complete.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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Hackathon sponsors

Bronze Sponsors
Prize Sponsors

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