What to Build

The mission of GatewayHacks 2026 is to create solutions that open doors to a better, more equitable future.

For this hackathon, you are tasked with building a working software, hardware, or AI prototype that aligns with one of our core Social Good Cause Tracks. Your goal is to solve a real, documented problem faced by a community, nonprofit, or educational institution.

You have the freedom to build with whatever technology you choose, but we strongly encourage you to leverage the specific tools offered in our Partner-Driven Dynamic Tracks (listed in the Prizes section) to qualify for additional awards.

Step 1: Choose Your Tracks

Every submission must select one of these three primary tracks to address:

🌐 Track 1: Accessibility & Health Empower individuals with disabilities, improve mental health access, or democratize healthcare information. (Example projects: A neurodivergent-friendly UI overlay, an ambient listening device for therapy, or a tool that helps patients easily read and understand medical bills.)

[This track is open for sponsorship! Own this pillar and set the criteria.]

📚 Track 2: Equity in Education Create tools that bridge the digital divide, personalize learning, or connect students with mentors and resources. (Example projects: An AI tutor that adapts to unique learning styles, a platform that gamifies coding for local students, or an app connecting high schoolers with specialized college prep mentorship.)

[This track is open for sponsorship! Own this pillar and set the criteria.]

🌍 Track 3: Open Impact & Sustainability Build solutions focusing on climate action, community building, or broad social impact that doesn't fit the first two. (Example projects: A carbon footprint tracker for local businesses, a platform to organize neighborhood cleanups, or a financial literacy app tailored for first-time homebuyers.)

[This track is open for sponsorship! Own this pillar and set the criteria.]

What to Submit

To be eligible for judging, you only need to submit:

• A Devpost Project Page: Include a title, a short description of the problem you are solving, and at least one visual (like a screenshot, photograph, or sketch).

• A Video Pitch (Max 5 mins): Provide a link (YouTube, etc.) explaining your idea. You can show a working prototype, a no-code app, or just a presentation of your design.

• (Optional): A link to a code repository (GitHub) or a live website, if you have one.