WELCOME TO COLOR HACKS + NORTHWESTERN EQUITECH

Color Hacks is a free hackathon putting students of color at the forefront of tech. We're creating a space where beginners and experienced coders alike can build projects, learn new skills, and connect with mentors who understand their journey.

No coding experience? No problem. Color Hacks is designed to be beginner-friendly. Whether you've never written a line of code or you're a seasoned developer, you'll find your place here.

Event Details:

Dates: February 27 - March 1, 2025

Format: Online/Hybrid workshops (Fri & Sat) + In-person Awards Ceremony at Northwestern University (Sun)

Cost: FREE

Team Size: 1-5 members

 

Thanks to our sponsors Google, Major League Hacking (MLH), Reach Capital, and Opennote, participants will compete for prizes including Logitech webcams, Google swag bags, and more.

Partnering with Northwestern University NSBE

Register: mlh.link/colorhacks

Requirements

WHAT TO SUBMIT

All projects must be submitted via Devpost by [DEADLINE - Sunday, March 1 at 9:30am CT].

Your submission should include:

  • Project Title & Description: What does your project do? What problem does it solve?
  • Demo: A video walkthrough (2minute) or live demo link showing your project in action
  • How We Built It: Tech stack, tools, and any APIs you used
  • Challenges & Learnings: What did you struggle with? What did you learn?
  • GitHub Link (Required): Share your code so we can verify API usage

Judging Criteria:

  • Creativity & Innovation: How unique is your idea?
  • Execution: Does it work? How polished is it?
  • Impact: Does it solve a real problem or create value?
  • Presentation: How clearly did you communicate your project?

 

Remember: judges care more about what you learned and how you problem-solved than perfect code. Beginners are encouraged to submit — we want to see your growth!

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

9 non-cash prizes
Best Use of AI Powered by Reach Capital
1 winner

Logitech Webcam

AI has upended what we can accomplish with technology. Reach Capital invests in the next generation of founders and technical talent, and they want you to use AI to support the future of work and uplevel the labor force.

While the frontline economy, made up of industries like construction, retail, healthcare, and more, represents 70% of the global workforce, these workers often have the least access to cutting-edge tools. Your challenge is to build an AI-powered solution for these frontline workers that meets them where they are — on the job, on the go, and in the flow of their daily work.

The winning team will receive a Logitech webcam for each member, and you’ll also be one of ten winning teams across MLH events considered for a grand prize of discussing your creation with Reach Capital’s team of expert investors.

Best Use of Gemini API
1 winner

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?

Best Major Application
1 winner

$20 gift card. Projects that creatively bridge technology with your major, showing how coding can amplify your field—whether it's healthcare, business, education, or beyond.

Best UI/UX
1 winner

This award recognizes the team that delivers the most intuitive, elegant, and user-centered product experience. It honors solutions that go beyond functionality to create a seamless interaction between user and system where every screen, flow, and micro-interaction is purposeful, efficient, and thoughtfully designed.

Most Creative Solution
1 winner

This award celebrates the team that demonstrates exceptional originality in both concept and execution. It recognizes solutions that challenge conventional thinking, reframe the problem in a novel way, or introduce an unexpected yet effective approach.

Best Social Good
1 winner

This award recognizes the solution that creates the greatest positive impact on communities, particularly those historically underserved or excluded from systems of access, participation, and opportunity.

Best Financial Empowerment
1 winner

This award honors the solution that most effectively improves individuals’ or communities’ ability to build, protect, and sustain financial well-being.

Most Sustainable
1 winner

This award recognizes the solution that most effectively contributes to environmental sustainability while accounting for real-world systems, constraints, and equity.

Best Health Equity
1 winner

This award honors the solution that most effectively improves equitable access to healthcare, health outcomes, or health-related information.

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

TBD

TBD

Judging Criteria

  • Creativity & Innovation
    How original is your idea? Does it approach problems from a fresh perspective or offer a new solution?
  • Execution & Functionality
    Does your project work? How well is it built? Is it polished and functional?
  • Impact & Purpose
    Who benefits from this project? Does it solve a real problem or create meaningful value for users or communities?
  • Presentation & Communication
    How clearly did you explain your project? Was your demo engaging and easy to understand?
  • Beginners
    Note for beginners: We prioritize learning, problem-solving, and effort over technical perfection. Show us what you learned and how you grew!

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Tell your friends

Hackathon sponsors

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