About the challenge

Sierra Hacks is a 12 hour Hackathon open to any High Schoolers from the Bay Area to Central Valley.  Over the course of the day, participants will ideate, develop, and present their work. This event is open to students of all skill levels and backgrounds even beginners! View more info at https://www.sierrahacks.com/

At SierraHacks 2025, we’re bringing together 175+ students for 12 hours of building, experimenting, and creating projects that tackle real-world challenges. Whether you’re brand-new to coding or already an experienced hacker, SierraHacks is your place to push boundaries, explore fresh technologies, and pioneer solutions that make a difference.

We keep the energy high with workshops, mentorship, and friendly competitions that encourage teamwork and creative problem-solving. With prizes, sponsors, and a supportive community, SierraHacks is a space where your ideas can come alive.

 

Get started

Ready to join SierraHacks 2025? Here’s how to sign up and secure your spot:

  1. Complete your registration at sierrahacks.com/register. This makes sure we have you on the official roster, can match you with mentors, and keep you updated with event details.
  2. Join our Discord community. Meet other hackers, form teams, get live announcements, and chat directly with mentors and organizers. It’s the best way to stay connected before and during the event.

That’s it! By signing up on both platforms, you’ll be all set to participate, connect with other hackers, and compete for prizes. Whether you’re coming solo or with a team, this is your first step toward an incredible 12-hour hacking experience at Sierra High School.

Requirements

What to Build

Anything from Websites to Mobile apps to Block Coding projects that relate to the prompt / tracks that will be released on the day of the hackathon.

What to Submit

  1. Pictures of your project (screenshots or pictures work)
  2. A way to access your project (Could be a website, a github or other ways)
  3. A presentation of your project for the judges
  4. A video demostration of your project for devpost

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$21,930 in prizes
1st Place
$960 in cash
1 winner

$75 Gift card for each team mate
$500 pass to Great Wolf Lodge

Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Second Place
$460 in cash
1 winner

$50 Gift card for each team mate
$100 Bowlero 2 hour pass for two x2

Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Third Place
$300 in cash
1 winner

$25 Giftcard for each team mate
$50 Bowlero 2 hour pass for two

Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Best Ui/Ux
$60 in cash
1 winner

$15 Gift card (x4, 1 per team member)

Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Most Innovative
$60 in cash
1 winner

$15 Gift card (x4, 1 per team member)

Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Best Beginner
$60 in cash
1 winner

$15 Gift card (x4, 1 per team member)

Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Best Solo
$15 in cash
1 winner

$15 Gift card

Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Best AI
$15 in cash
1 winner

$15 Gift card Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Participation
$100 in cash
200 winners

- XYZ Domains
- Sierra Hacks T-shirts
- Stickers
- Other Goodies

Note: Winners will not receive cash, only the listed award and prize; it is just the cash value of the prize.

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Gaurav Jain​

Gaurav Jain​
Product manager​

Mitthan M

Mitthan M
Board Advisor & ​ CISO-Grade Operator

Jose Martinez

Jose Martinez
Developer and Engineer

Isaiah Ferguson III

Isaiah Ferguson III
Developer and ​ Code Advocate​

Varun Gurnaney

Varun Gurnaney
Head of Enterprise ​ GRC Product at Delve​

Judging Criteria

  • Innovation & Creativity - 30%
    Uniqueness and originality of the project. How different is it from existing solutions?
  • Technical Implementation - 25%
    Complexity and efficiency of the solution. How well was it executed from a technical perspective?
  • Design & UX - 20%
    Is the project well-designed and user-friendly? Does it provide a good user experience?
  • Relavence & Impact - 15%
    How well it addresses the given problem and its potential real-world impact.
  • Presentation - 10%
    How well was the project presented? Was the demo clear and compelling?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Tell your friends

Hackathon sponsors

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