We are HackUMass, a 36-hour event
where students bring their craziest ideas to life.

Requirements

Click on 'Start Project' or go to 'My Projects' and click on 'Create project' to get started.

Choose your relevant prize categories on Devpost. You may only choose up to three prizes with the [HACKUMASS] tag. All projects will be automatically considered for Best Software, Best Hardware, and the top three prizes.

Sponsor prizes must also be opted-in, but these prizes will not count towards your limit.

All prizes without the [HACKUMASS] tag are sponsor prizes.

Prizes

$4,754 in prizes
Prizes paid in cryptocurrency

[HACKUMASS] Grand Prize

AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) has been re-engineered for even richer audio experiences, with next-level Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency reducing more external noise. Spatial Audio takes immersion to a remarkably personal level. Touch control now lets you adjust the volume with a swipe. And a leap in power delivers 6 hours of battery life from a single charge.

[HACKUMASS] Second Prize

Featuring Ducky's all-new QUACK Mechanics design philosophy, the Ducky One 3 Mini Classic sports a dual-layer hot-swap PCB with exclusive Kailh yellow hot-swap sockets, with a low-profile case design equipped with dual-layer high-grade silicone and EVA foam sound dampeners.

[HACKUMASS] Third Prize

A portable Bluetooth speaker with Powerful 360°, bass-driven audio. Dual drivers and passive radiators combine with BassUp™ technology to generate a portable party with 20W of intense sound.

[HACKUMASS] Best Hack That Doesn't Work

Kawaii table light shaped like a toaster, features a retro style and high-grade quality. A soothing glow, a sweet light, used well as a night light, table lamp, or ambiance lamp, blending naturally with your furniture and decor.

[HACKUMASS] Best Healthcare Hack

An RGB extended gaming mouse pad featuring 10 lighting modes, powered by a discreet braided cable that can be detached. It also features a low-profile button that allows you to cycle through effects on the fly.

[HACKUMASS] Funnest Hack

A cute stuffed plush dog toy, with a soft touch and a plump Corgi dog style, to accompany you warmly.

[HACKUMASS] Best Software Hack

The V08 smart projector features a native 720P resolution (1280x720) with 1080P Full HD support. The latest 3LCD color calibrating and adjusting technology works to reproduce more intricate color details than other mini projectors.

[HACKUMASS] Best Beginner Software Hack

LED light strip with music sync function, built-in sensitivity adjustable mic, with colors changing to the rhythm of the music, making your parties rock.

[HACKUMASS] Best Web Hack

UMass Gift Cards can be used at the UMass Store to get UMass-themed fits or technology products!

[HACKUMASS] Best AI/ML Hack

Plug and play recording USB microphone for PC, with a 5.9-foot USB cable included, connected directly to devices for recording songs, podcasts, and other audio.

[HACKUMASS] Best Mobile Hack

One of the slimmest and lightest 10,000mAh portable chargers on the market. Provides 2.25 charges for iPhone 12, 1.6 charges for Galaxy S20, and 1.2 charges for iPad mini 5.

[HACKUMASS] Best Hardware Hack

This tank robot car kit is compatible with Arduino and Mixly (block programming platform), ideal for Arduino beginners and professionals to learn robotics, electronics, and programming.

[HACKUMASS] Best Beginner Hardware Hack

The SparkFun LED Project Kit is a great way to get started with programming and hardware interaction with the Arduino programming language. Each SparkFun LED Project Kit includes everything you need to complete seven projects that will teach you how to blink an LED, create a night light, make a Simon Says game, and more.

[HACKUMASS] Cheapest Hardware Hack

Besign laptop stand compatible with all laptops from 10''-15.6'', such as Air 13, Pro 13"/15", Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell, HP, Chromebook, and other notebooks, with an adjustable height and angle for better ergonomics - minimizing neck fatigue.

[HACKUMASS] Best Circuit Hack

21.6"-by-16.9" soldering mat with 48 built-in screw parts storage positions, ensuring the removed small parts are easy to classify and obtain. No worries about losing small screws or precision parts repair tools during the repair process, improving work efficiency and keeping the repair platform tidy.

[HACKUMASS] Best Mechanical Hack

The iFixit Moray Driver Kit offers maximum utility in a small package sized to keep on hand in a kitchen drawer, a car glovebox, or a toolbox. Included in the case is the 4 mm precision bit driver handle with an integrated SIM eject pin, magnetic bit socket, knurled grip, and swivel top—plus 32 precision driver bits with 4 mm hex shank and extended-reach long necks.

Most Creative Use of Twillio

Twilio allows you to incorporate mobile messaging, phone calls and a ton of other awesome communication features right into your hackathon project using a web service API. Are you building an e-commerce website and want to send text notifications or email confirmations once an order is completed? Or maybe you'd like to verify users based on their mobile numbers? Twilio makes all this possible and more. Build a hack that simplifies your life using any Twilio API for a chance to win a Twilio Swag Box & GameGo Console ! Get started with $50 in free credit.

Best Domain Name from Domain.com

Register a .tech domain name using Domain.com during the weekend. Each team may submit one entry per person on the team. Each winning team member will receive a Domain.com Branded Backpack.

Best Sustainability Hack by Avanade

Avanade has put sustainable tech at the forefront of their ongoing mission! Sustainability is about conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources and focusing efforts to reduce and improve the environmental impact of technology, processes, and operations on our planet and society. For your hackathon project, we want you to make a genuine human impact using your ingenuity to address sustainability through an innovative use of technology. Demonstrate how you can create a more sustainable future and help the environment. As an added bonus, the team with the best sustainability hack will be rewarded with awesome lego sets!

Best Use of Appwrite

Building a full-stack application can be time consuming, especially if you’re more of a frontend developer or lack experience with things like databases or authentication. At hackathons you want to make every minute count, which is why Appwrite is the missing ingredient to your recipe for a successful hack. With all the core backend functionalities you need already pre built and ready for customization, all you’ll need to do is make an API call to take advantage of an Appwrite database, media storage, user auth, and even custom compute functions. Use Appwrite in your hack this weekend for a chance to take home some Fitbits for you and your team.

Best Use of DeSo

DeSo is the Official Web3 Sponsor of the MLH Hackathon League! DeSo is short for Decentralized Social
It is the first blockchain custom built to scale up Social Media applications! Best Use of DeSo prize category winners will receive $100 worth of $DESO Coin plus a DeSo branded tumbler for each team member!

Best BlockChain Project Using Hedera

Hedera is a next generation blockchain technology that’s accessible from familiar programming languages like Java and JavaScript. Their goal? To make Web3 development even more accessible to hackers like you! Build a project on Hedera's test network for a chance to win amazing Glorious Modular Compact Mechanical Keyboards for you and your team!

Best Hardware Hack presented by Digi-Key

Using your preferred hardware or hardware emulator, build a hack for your chance to win a Grove Beginner Kit, with embedded Arduino Uno compatible board. Each winning team member will receive a prize!

Best Use of AWS

Hackathon projects that use AWS in a creative or innovative way are eligible for this category and will win various Amazon tech products. The prizes are an Echo Dot, Echo Buds, Fire HD10 Tablet, and a Luna Controller.

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Cameron Musco
Assistant Professor, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Heather Conboy
Postdoctoral Researcher, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Matthew Rattigan
Senior Teaching Faculty, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Christopher Caron
Graduate Research Assistant, College of Engineering

Baird Soules
Senior Lecturer, College of Engineering

Virginia Partridge
Data Scientist, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Parviz Kermani
Senior Teaching Faculty, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Hia Ghosh
PhD Candidate, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Christopher V. Hollot
Professor & Department Head, College of Engineering

Marius Minea
CS Undergraduate Program Associate Director & Senior Teaching Faculty, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

Marvin Cable
Part-time Lecturer & Practicing Attorney, Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences

Judging Criteria

Originality
Creativity
User-Friendly
Challenging
"Wow" Factor
Relevancy

Integrative Learning Center	Public
$4,754 in prizes	205 participants

HackUMass X

HackUMass X allows students to collaborate on projects, win awards, network with companies and sponsors, and attend workshops.

Who can participate