Featured Event • UVic Hacks x Inspire UVic

Inspire Hackathon

Team up with Inspire UVic to work on software projects for social impact in this two-day hackathon.

Hickman 105Oct 3–4, 20252-Day HackathonCompleted

What is the Inspire Hackathon?

The Inspire Hackathon is a two-day build sprint focused on creating software for social impact. You’ll work in teams to ship prototypes that support real causes, with mentors on hand for guidance on product, engineering, and pitching.

This event is open to everyone at UVic. Whether you’re brand new to hackathons or already a seasoned builder, there’s a place for you. You can come with a team or find one at kickoff.

Social impact focus

Build tools, apps, or experiences that improve life on campus or beyond.

Mentors & support

We’ll have organizers and mentors around for debugging, brainstorming, and feedback.

Beginner friendly

No experience required. We’ll help you get started and find a role that fits you.

Tentative Schedule

Day 1: Kickoff & Build

  • 5:00 PM: Doors open + snacks
  • 5:30 PM: Welcome + theme reveal
  • 6:00 PM: Team formation
  • 6:30 PM: Hacking begins
  • Evening: Mentor check-ins

Day 2: Finish & Present

  • 9:00 AM: Build continues
  • 12:00 PM: Final push
  • 12:30 PM: Project expo & demos
  • 2:00 PM: Awards + wrap-up

Schedule may shift slightly, registrants will receive the final plan closer to the event.

What to Bring

Essentials

  • Laptop + charger
  • Headphones
  • Water bottle
  • Any hardware you want to use

Teams

Teams are typically 2–4 people. If you come solo, we’ll help you find teammates at kickoff. Designers, developers, and idea-people are all valuable.

Judging Criteria

Social Impact

Does it help people in a real way?

Creativity

Originality of concept and execution.

Technical Quality

How solid and thoughtful is the build?

Presentation

Clarity, story, and demo strength.

FAQ

Do I need experience?

No. We’ll support beginners with mentors, prompts, and team matching.

Can I work on a project I already started?

We prefer new builds during the event, but using old ideas, libraries, or partial prototypes is totally fine.

What should I build?

Anything aligned with the social impact theme. We’ll share challenge prompts at kickoff.

Is there food?

There will be snacks and meals throughout the event.