COMPTON TECH WEEK HACKATHON CHALLENGE
How can we build solutions that empower the community in the City of Compton?
At the Compton Tech Week Hackathon, we believe the best technology starts with real people, real neighborhoods, and real challenges. This is your chance to build something that creates meaningful social change by starting with the community around you.
THE MISSION
Build a project that helps the disadvantaged, educates the community, or protects the environment — and show us how innovation can empower Compton from the ground up.
THE TRACKS
(1) Helping the Disadvantaged
How can technology help remove barriers and expand opportunity for people with disadvantages in our community? Build solutions that improve access to essential resources, services, support systems, mobility, safety, or economic opportunity.
(2) Educating the Community
How can we use technology to help our community learn and grow? Create tools that expand access to education, information, digital skills, workforce knowledge, civic participation, or public awareness.
(3) Protecting the Environment
How can we make Compton more sustainable and resilient? Build solutions that help protect the environment through cleaner systems, greener neighborhoods, environmental justice, conservation, or climate action.
This hackathon is about empowering hackers to create social change by starting with their neighborhoods. We want to see bold ideas with local impact — projects that respond to real needs in Compton and help move the community forward.
Start with your neighborhood. Build for Compton.
Requirements
You must build a technology solution that empowers the community in the City of Compton!
Your project must fit into one of these three tracks:
TRACK 1 -- Helping the Disadvantaged
Build something that hels disadvantaged people in Compton overcome barriers to opportunity, safety, stability, health, or economic mobility.
TRACK 2 -- Educating the Community
Build something that helps people in Compton access knowledge, develop skills, understand resources, or become more informed and empowered.
TRACK 3 -- Protecting the Environment
Build something that helps improve environmental conditions in Compton through sustainability, conservation, environmental justice, beautification, or climate resilience.
Your solution should start with a real need in the community and show how technology can create local social impact. We are looking for projects that are practical, creative, and relevant to everyday life in Compton.
What Your Team Should Submit on Devpost
To be eligible for Demo, each team must submit its project on Devpost by 10:00 AM PT on July 31, 2026.
Your Devpost submission should include:
- Project title
- Names of team members
Teams may have up to 4 participants - Track selection
Choose one: Helping the Disadvantaged, Educating the Community, or Protecting the Environment - Project description
Explain what your project does, what problem it solves, and how it empowers the community in the City of Compton - Prototype or working demo
This can be a web app, mobile app, hardware prototype, AI tool, platform, system mockup, or other functional technology demonstration - Demo link or video
- Devpost project page materials such as screenshots, slide deck, diagrams, or images that help judges understand your solution
- How it works
- Who it is for
- Why it matters locally
Clearly explain why this solution is relevant to Compton and how it creates social impact starting with the neighborhood level
Demo Eligibility
Only teams that submit their project by 10:00 AM PT on July 31, 2026 will be eligible to present during Demo from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM PT.
Submission Guidance
Your submission should make it easy for judges to understand:
- what you built
- which track it belongs to
- what community problem it addresses
- how the technology works
- why it matters for Compton
- what makes the solution feasible and impactful
Prizes
Grand Champion
The Grand Champion of Compton Tech Week will receive a trophy in addition to receiving an invitation to apply to the Hacker Fund incubator.
Track 1 Winner
Winner will receive an invitation to apply to the Hacker Fund incubator.
Track 2 Winner
Winner will receive an invitation to apply to the Hacker Fund incubator.
Track 3 Winner
Winner will receive an invitation to apply to the Hacker Fund incubator.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
The judges will be announced at Compton Tech Week!
Judging Criteria
-
Impact Potential - 25%
How meaningful is the problem being addressed, and how strong is the project’s potential to create real benefit in Los Angeles? Judges will look for solutions that clearly identify a digital divide challenge. -
Design Thesis - 25%
How clear and compelling is the team’s core idea and reasoning behind the solution? Judges want to see that the project is built on a thoughtful point of view. -
Process Plan - 15%
How well has the team thought through implementation, execution, and next steps? Judges will consider whether the team has a realistic plan for how the project could be tested, improved, launched, or expanded beyond the hackathon. -
Technical Implementation - 15%
How effectively did the team build and demonstrate the prototype? Judges are not only evaluating technical complexity, but also whether the prototype works, communicates the concept clearly, and supports the intended user experience. -
Passion Pitch - 20%
How well does the team communicate their vision, energy, and commitment during the presentation? Judges will look for a clear, confident, and persuasive pitch that explains the problem, the solution, why it matters, and why this team cares.
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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