The garage is wherever you build.
Silicon Valley Buildathon takes its cue from the workbench. Start with a rough idea, build the part you’re most curious about, and get it working well enough that someone else can try it.
Maybe it’s a browser tool that saves ten clicks, a game with a mechanic you’ve never seen, or a device that makes an ordinary task easier. An app, an AI experiment, a hardware prototype, and an interactive story all have a place here. Use whatever tools make sense for your idea.
Show us the moment the project comes to life. Let us see someone use it, walk us through a choice you made, and tell us what changed after your first test.
Build and submit November 8–December 15, 2026. Judging is planned for December 16–20, with results on December 21.
Requirements
Build a demo someone can follow
Submit an original prototype in any category. Include a description of the problem or creative goal, a demo or visual walkthrough of the core feature, and a short explanation of what you built and tested. Share accessible project links where available, credit reused tools and assets, and explain what each team member contributed.
Prizes
1st Place — $500
2nd Place
Recognizes the project ranked 2nd by the judges.
3rd Place
Recognizes the project ranked 3rd by the judges.
4th Place
Recognizes the project ranked 4th by the judges.
5th Place
Recognizes the project ranked 5th by the judges.
6th Place
Recognizes the project ranked 6th by the judges.
7th Place
Recognizes the project ranked 7th by the judges.
8th Place
Recognizes the project ranked 8th by the judges.
9th Place
Recognizes the project ranked 9th by the judges.
10th Place
Recognizes the project ranked 10th by the judges.
Judges
SV Team
Judging Criteria
-
Execution
Does the demo show a working core feature? -
Originality
What makes the approach distinctive? -
Value to users
How well does it serve the people it was built for? -
Demo and iteration
Does the team show how testing shaped the build?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager