Join us for the inaugural Hack the Bay Launch, a 12-hour hackathon designed to introduce you to the world of hackathons!

We built Hack the Bay Launch to make it easier for anyone to step into tech and start building. We’re creating a space where students of all backgrounds can gain hands-on experience and connect with others while bringing their ideas to life. Walk in with an idea, or none at all, and leave with something you’re proud of, in a community we’re developing to support you.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

4 non-cash prizes
1st Place Overall
1 winner

4x Nintendo Switch 2

Each team member receives 1x Nintendo Switch 2

2nd Place Overall
1 winner

4x Meta Quest 3S

Each team member receives 1x Meta Quest 3S

3rd Place Overall
1 winner

4x Aula F75 Pro Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

Each team member receives 1x Aula F75 Pro Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

MLH: Best Use of Gemini API
1 winner

Google Swag

It’s time to push the boundaries...

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?

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Hack the Bay Launch 2026 Judges

Hack the Bay Launch 2026 Judges

Judging Criteria

  • Completion
    Does the hack work? Did the team achieve everything they wanted?
  • Design
    Did the team put thought into the user experience? How well designed is the interface?
  • Technology
    How technically impressive was the hack? Was the technical problem the team tackled difficult? Did it use a particularly clever technique or did it use many different components? Did the technology involved make you go "Wow"?
  • Learning
    Did the team stretch themselves? Did they try to learn something new? What kind of projects have they worked on before?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Tell your friends

Hackathon sponsors

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