George Hacks is a student-led innovation organization at the George Washington University, dedicated to empowering the next generation of problem solvers in healthcare. Since our founding in 2018.

We are excited to announce that the George Hacks x United Nations Hackathon 9th annual hackathon is Saturday, April 18, to Sunday, April 19, 2025, at the Science and Engineering Hall of The George Washington University.

We’ll be awarding $3,000 in prizes across 3 problem statements from the UN and other partners, plus an additional $1,000 in spot prizes from the Global Food Institute and the Open Source Program Office! Major League Hacking will also provide spot prizes sponsored by Google, GitHub, and more!

You’ll be supported by mentors and graded by judges from across industry and academia, including startups, engineering and medical faculty, and professionals in sustainability, healthcare, and tech (even some alumni!)

Sign up at georgehacks.org!

 

Requirements

What to Build

Build a project that solves a real problem we propose.
It can be an app, AI tool, hardware project, or anything with a working prototype.

 

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$4,400+ in prizes
+ other prizes
United Nations & FAO Problem Statement Winner
$1,000 in cash
1 winner

Global Food Institute Problem Statement Winner
$1,500 in cash
1 winner

Goodwill Problem Statement Winner
$1,400 in cash
1 winner

Open Source Program Office Spot-Prize
$500 in cash
1 winner

Best Use of Gemini API
1 winner

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 Use of ElevenLabs
1 winner

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 wireless earbuds!

Best Use of MongoDB Atlas
1 winner

MongoDB Atlas takes the leading modern database and makes it accessible in the cloud! Get started with a $50 credit for students or sign up for the Atlas free forever tier (no credit card required). Along with a suite of services and functionalities, you'll have everything you need to manage all of your data, and you can get a headstart with free resources from MongoDB University! Build a hack using MongoDB Atlas for a chance to win a M5GO IoT Starter Kit for you and each member of your team.

Best Use of Solana
1 winner

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!

Best Use of Presage
1 winner

Presage is pioneering the Human Sensing Layer, enabling any application to understand a person’s real-time physical and emotional state. With Presage, you can leverage clinically-proven vital signs, movement, emotion, and/or focus tracking to build a project that gives the standard camera super powers.

With any of the Presage SDKs, you can integrate capabilities like real-time heart rate, breathing rate, engagement levels, and facial expressions into your hack with just a few lines of code.

Imagine the possibilities!

Immersive Gaming & Entertainment: Dynamically change game difficulty, music, or story elements based on a player's real-time excitement or focus levels.

Contactless Wellness & Fitness: Build a non-invasive app that monitors stress, recovery, or fitness performance without requiring a specialized wearable device.

Accessibility & Security: Utilize vital signs for advanced, effortless authentication, or to enhance accessibility for specific user groups.

Productivity: Design a tool that tracks focus or stress in real-time, providing feedback or environmental adjustments to optimize remote work or study sessions.
Build your next hack with Presage and show us the future of human-computer interaction! Best Use of Presage winners will receive SenseCAP Watchers for each team member, along with the following perks from the Presage team:

Free refills for Presage Development credits to accelerate you through your next three months

30% off all Presage usage charges for your first year after going live

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Patrick Corr

Patrick Corr
GW Medicine

Judging Criteria

  • Problem Fit & Impact (25%)
    Does the solution address the problem statement clearly and effectively? Does the solution create real-world impact?
  • User & Customer Understanding (15%)
    Is there a clear target user/customer? Did the team demonstrate customer discovery or needs analysis? Does the solution effectively serve its users?
  • Innovation & Technical Creativity (15%)
    Is the solution novel or uniquely applied? Does it use technology or methods in a meaningful way?
  • Design Process & Execution (15%)
    Did the team follow a clear design process (ideation → iteration → implementation)? Did they adapt, pivot, or respond to challenges?
  • Feasibility & Business Viability (15%)
    Can this realistically be implemented or scaled? Is there a clear value proposition, market understanding, or path to real-world use?
  • Presentation & Overall Clarity (15%)
    Did the team clearly communicate their idea and solution? Was the demo/pitch easy to understand and compelling?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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Hackathon sponsors

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