REGISTRATIONS DEADLINE: April 06, 2026 - 11:59PM CT. Late registrants may not able to access all available credits and resources.

WashU's Build with AI Hackathon is WashU's premier in-person hackathon for undergraduate students in the Midwest to tackle the most challenging problems in AI and technology. This event is proud to be part of the global Google Developer Build with AI Hackathon series, a worldwide initiative that challenges participants to build innovative projects. Your objective is:

Build a generative AI application using Google Gemini or other generative applications on Google Cloud. We encourage submissions that reflect one of the four focus areas listed below. You are free to use your preferred frameworks like LangChain or Firebase. 

  • Agentic AI, build solutions where agents use reasoning capabilities to solve complex problems. These agents should go beyond simple chat. They should use tool-calling, Vertex AI Agent Builder, MCP, lab-native SDKs, or RAG pipelines to take real-world actions.

  • Healthcare, create applications that improve healthcare providers or patient's lives. 

  • FinTech + Trading, develop AI-driven tools for the financial sector. This could include automated trading bots and personalized financial advisors. 

  • Innovation, submit your project here if it does not fit into the other categories. This track is for experimental ideas that push the boundaries of what Gemini can do. We want to see unique use cases that surprise us.



If you're interested in being a judge, please fill out this interest form and we'll reach out.

Join our Hackathon Website Here: 

Requirements

What to Submit

  • A working application: Your project must be a functional piece of software.

  • A video demo: Provide a link to a video (2 minutes max) hosted on YouTube or Loom. Show the application in action.

  • Project description: Explain the problem you are solving in a one-sentence elevator pitch. Include how AI is integrated into the project.

  • GitHub Repository: Include a link to your public code repository. Ensure the README explains how to run the project locally.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$8,000+ in prizes
+ other prizes
Best in Innovation Track Award (DI2)
$2,000 in cash
1 winner

Best Use of Featherless API
3 winners

1st place: $300 of Featherless API credits;
2nd place: $150 of Featherless API credits;
3rd place: $70 of Featherless API credits;

Best in Healthcare Track Award
$2,000 in cash
1 winner

Best in Agentic AI Track Award (WWT)
$2,000 in cash
1 winner

Best Project Built with ElevenLabs
1 winner

Each team member receives 6 months of ElevenLab's Scale tier ($1,980 value per person)

Audience Vote Award
1 winner

$100 gift card to Colleen's Cafe

Best Design Award using v0
1 winner

$100 of v0 credits per person
Vercel merch per person

Best in FinTech + Trading Award
$2,000 in cash
1 winner

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

DevFest WashU Team

DevFest WashU Team

Judging Criteria

  • Functional and Technical Execution (30%)
    How robust is the underlying codebase? Does the application utilize the reasoning or multimodal capabilities of Gemini? Does the application work without frequent crashes or significant bugs?
  • Track Applicability (30%)
    How well does the solution address the challenges of the chosen track? Is the solution tailored to needs of the end-users within the specific track?
  • Creativity and Originality (30%)
    Does this project offer a fresh perspective or a new solution to an existing problems? How does this compare to existing solutions?
  • Design & User Experience (10%)
    Is the interface intuitive and great to look at? Is the user journey of the application clear?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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Hackathon sponsors

Partners

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