THE ONE RULE: BUILD SOMETHING USEFUL2025.global_build

CREATE FOR
STUDENTS

ONLINE

One mission: build a tool that makes student life measurably better.

We've removed all the categories. Whether it's helping students study, eat, commute, or connect—if it's a useful tool, you're on the right path.

JOIN

Any Time

Feb 15th

Deadline

Utility is the only metric.

THE OBJECTIVE

REAL TOOLS FOR
REAL STUDENTS.

Build4Students is a global online hackathon where the objective is to create a tool to make life easier for students. It can be tailored for any aspect of a students life, from academics to transit and beyond.

Identify the Friction

Find the daily tasks that are broken. Whether it's managing campus life, high-cost existing platforms, or complex academic schedules, focus on the problem first.

Build for Utility

Decide what form the tool will take on, mobile app, web app, you name it, then build it. Submissions will require a video demo of the final product.

Academic Focus

✦ Note-taking & research optimization
✦ Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing
✦ Accessibility & adaptive learning tools

Campus Living

✦ Sustainable campus navigation
✦ Local community organization
✦ Student-run marketplaces & swaps

Student Wellness

✦ Financial management for students
✦ Mental health & balance trackers
✦ Nutrition & meal planning on a budget

Idea Generator

The Project Forge

Jump start your project with the Forge. Generate blueprints for your ideas by entering your idea and what frameworks you're comfortable with.

⚡

Awaiting parameters to begin forging...

FAQ

If you are a student, you are in. This includes high schoolers, undergrads, grad students, and even those in professional bootcamps. As long as you are actively learning, you are a builder.

Whenever you want! This is a month-long build-off. Whether you join on Day 1 or Day 20, you're welcome to submit a project as long as you meet the final deadline.

Completely online. Our global community lives on Discord, and all workshops and ceremonies are streamed live. Build from your dorm, your library, or your local coffee shop.

$0. Admission is free, the knowledge is free, and the support is 24/7. We are student-funded and sponsor-backed to ensure zero barriers to entry.

The rubric is posted on the Devpost. If you have any further questions, feel free to clarify with staff in the Discord server.

The theme is simple: Build for Students. Whether it's a better way to annotate research papers, a social hub for local commuters, or a tool for sustainable campus living—if it helps students, it belongs here.