Hack4Hope is a one-day Cancer Justice Policy Hackathon where students, creators, clinicians, and community advocates collaborate to design innovative tools that make cancer policy more understandable, accessible, and actionable. Hosted at USC as part of the Day of Play Series: Cancer Justice, Hack4Hope challenges participants to build rapid prototypes—apps, games, campaigns, simulations, or navigation tools—that help communities overcome barriers caused by insurance rules, environmental inequities, screening access gaps, and survivorship protections. This event transforms creativity into advocacy by mobilizing youth to generate real solutions that support ACS CAN’s mission for equitable cancer policy. Hosted by KiraKira Institute, American Cancer Society at University of Southern California, and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Requirements

The Project Submission

 

You will submit your project on our DevPost page. Your submission should include a comprehensive Project Description and a compelling Demo.

  • Project Description: Your description should be a brief but complete overview of your project, including the following:

    • Project Overview: Which problem statement did you tackle? What programming languages and tools did you use, and how did you use them? What cancer resources or other information did you take into account when creating your solution?

    • Purpose: What problem were you tackling in the context of cancer? Detail your team’s motivation and explain why you believe your project matters. What is the future of your project, and how does it make some aspect of life better for individuals impacted by cancer or those involved in their care?

    • How it works: What can a user do with your project? What are your user stories? What data sets did you use to make meaningful conclusions?

 

The Demo & Presentation

 

Your demo is your chance to shine and show the judges what you built. This is the primary source judges will use to evaluate your project, so give it the attention it deserves.

You have the flexibility to present your project in a way that best highlights your work. You can choose to:

  • Live Demo: A live, interactive demonstration of your tool or application, with a team member speaking and showing its features.

  • Presentation & Walkthrough: A presentation deck (e.g., in Google Slides or PowerPoint) that explains your project, your process, and what inspired your team, followed by a live walkthrough or pre-recorded video of your project in action.

  • Video-Only: A pre-recorded video (2 to 5 minutes) showcasing your project with a voice-over explanation.

Regardless of your chosen format, your presentation should be 2-5 minutes total.

 

The Codebase

 

We highly encourage using GitHub as a shared repository of code for your team. It allows for efficient code sharing and timestamps individual commits. All relevant code and information in your project must be developed after hacking starts at 8 am PT. Breaking this rule will result in immediate disqualification. The codebase is where judges will be able to evaluate the quality of your code and ensure the work you turn in is your own.

 

Our Community Guidelines

 

This event is founded on the principles of respect, collaboration, and community. Hack4Hope is an event to raise funds for cancer advocacy, and we expect all participants to embody these values. We have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or inappropriate behavior. Please use appropriate language, treat everyone with kindness and respect, and help us maintain a safe and supportive environment for all.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$100 in prizes
Prize TBD
$100 in cash
1 winner

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Judge TBD

Judge TBD

Judging Criteria

  • Impact & Real Life Application
    Does the project clearly and plausibly solve the chosen cancer problem, with a real application that positively affects patients or caregivers?
  • Innovation
    How innovative is the project in addressing cancer challenges? Is its technical idea, data insight, or overall approach new and original, bringing a fresh perspective to cancer care?
  • User Experience
    Is it easy to use, polished, and user-oriented? For this 12-hour event, we value clear interfaces and strong usability that considers patients, families, or medical professionals, even if not fully complete.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Invite others to compete

Hackathon sponsors

Bronze Sponsor

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