Like scoring the golden ticket to the biggest prize at the carnival, this prize goes to the team whose project unlocks the ultimate experience. With an amazing idea, flawless execution, and lasting impact, they have earned their place at the very top, winning big and shining bright.

For the teams who dared to walk the wire. Just like the wildest ride at the carnival, full of twists, turns, and upside-down moments, these projects tackled big problems, complex features, or numerous lines of code. Was it easy? Definitely not. But they kept their balance, navigated the loops and leaps, and pulled it off with style.

Step right up for the projects that make a real-world impact! Inspired by a clean, well-run carnival that gives more than it takes, this category celebrates projects that aim to make a positive difference in the world. Whether it’s protecting the planet, supporting communities, or encouraging better habits, this is for the hackers who build with purpose and leave the world better than they found it.

This goes to the hackers who fully embraced the carnival chaos in the most whimsical, silly, and unexpected way. Whether it’s a rollercoaster of an idea, a project with an unexpected twist, or the kind of thing you’d only find at the weirdest booth at the carnival, this is your moment to let your imagination run wild and embrace the carnival spirit.

What makes a great carnival memorable? Bright lights, smooth lines, and eye-catching appeal. This prize goes to the teams whose projects are not only easy to use but also look fantastic doing it. From color choices to user flow, everything comes together seamlessly to create a naturally delightful experience.

New hackers, welcome to the show! Your first ride at the carnival can be exciting, nerve-wracking, and full of surprises, just like your first hackathon. This award celebrates hackers who dove in headfirst, learned as they went, and created something real. It’s not about perfection; it’s about courage, growth, and sticking with the ride all the way through.

Prize: Google Swag Kits

It's time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project?
• Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice
• Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers
• Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more

Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend?

Links:
* https://mlh.link/gemini-quickstart

Prize: Ledger Nano S Plus

The world of development is evolving fast and Solana is leading the charge with a network built to handle all of your infrastructure needs. Forget high fees and slow confirmations, it's time to build applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable.
Harness Solana's core advantages like blazing fast execution and near-zero transaction costs to make your hackathon ideas become real world projects. With Solana, the possibilities are endless.
• Create a game, social app, or consumer product that relies on instant, high-frequency transactions.
• Design a sophisticated trading, lending, or decentralized exchange (DEX).
• Build a prototype for supply chain, identity, or payments that can handle massive, real-world volume.

Show us how you can innovate with Solana for a chance to win some cool prizes for you and each member of your team!

Links:
* https://mlh.link/solana

Prize: Wireless Earbuds

Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI.
Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win some wireless earbuds!

Links:
* https://mlh.link/elevenlabs

Prize: Arduino Tiny ML Kit

Play with industry-leading LLMs on a single account using the Snowflake APIs. Adding AI capabilities into your application can be as simple as a single CURL command to Snowflake's REST API.
Build customized applications, RAG powered chat bots, or embed AI-powered features into your app in half the time with half the hassle. Get started for free with a special, student 120-day Snowflake trial and check out this repository for an example of the Snowflake REST API in action.

Links:
* https://mlh.link/snowflake-signup
* https://mlh.link/snowflake-tutorial
* https://mlh.link/snowflake

Prize: Wireless Headphones

Auth0 wants your applications to be secure! Why spend hours building features like social sign-in, Multi-Factor Authentication, and passwordless log-in when you can enable them through Auth0 straight out of the box? You can also secure your AI applications with Auth0 for AI Agents.
Auth0 is free to try, doesn't require a credit card, and allows for up to 7,000 free active users and unlimited log-ins. Make your new account today and use any of the Auth0 APIs for a chance to win a pair of wireless headphones for you and each member of your team!

Links:
* https://mlh.link/auth0-ai-agents
* https://mlh.link/auth0-signup
* https://mlh.link/auth0-docs
* https://mlh.link/auth0-MLH-guides