ROWDYHACKS X
Is a free, weekend-long, overnight hackathon hosted at UTSA's San Pedro I Data Science Building! Students and recent college graduates* can join us at RowdyHacks to network, code, collaborate, and compete for a chance to win one or more of this year's amazing prizes! We welcome hackers from all disciplines, backgrounds, & technical levels!
*Recent college graduates of up to one year after their graduation date can participate as a hacker at RowdyHacks.
IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES
- Hacker Check-In will be from 9am to 2pm on October 25th, 2025.
- Hacking Begins at 12pm - October 25th, 2025 and ends at 12pm - October 26th, 2025.
- Judging will be from 1:30pm to 3:30pm on October 26th, 2025.
- Closing Ceremonies will be from 5:00pm to 6:00pm on October 26th, 2025.
Requirements
WHAT TO BUILD
A project around any of RowdyHacks X's Tracks and/or Challenges!
Tracks
Either Beginner or Overall is something everyone will submit to but only one track per project.
Challenges
Hackers can submit to any of the challenges. If you think your project fits the criteria for a challenge, submit it for that challenge!
For more information on this year's Tracks and Challenges, please refer to the Hacker Survival Guide within Hackkit!
WHAT TO SUBMIT
- Your project's code
- This can be submitted through a platform such as Github
- A description of your project, its goals and process throughout the weekend
- Your entire team needs to be added to your Devpost
For more details regarding how to and what to submit with your Devpost, visit the Hacker Survival Guide available through Hackkit!
JUDGING
Judging will happen science-fair style and you will need to be present (in-person) to present your project to this year's panel of judges! You will have a presentation time of up to 3 minutes to show off your project per judging session!
Once all projects are submitted, the organizer team will setup table numbers and assign each submitted project to a number. Numbers will typically sort submissions by Beginner and Overall tracks so be prepared to move around!
Prizes
Best Overall - 1st Place
Meta Quest 3S & MLH Winner Pins
Best Overall - 2nd Place
LEGO - The Milky Way Galaxy & MLH Winner Pins
Best Overall - 3rd Place
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) & MLH Winner Pins
Best Beginner - 1st Place
Airpods Pro 3 & MLH Winner Pins
Best Beginner - 2nd Place
Amazon Echo Show 8
Best Beginner - 3rd Place
Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Best Hardware Hack
Vilros Raspberry Pi 4
Unleash your creativity with a Hardware Hack! This challenge is all about pushing the boundaries of hardware applications, any hardware-based project is welcome. Surprise us with your ingenuity and redefine the possibilities of hardware innovation!
Best Cyber Hack
Nexode Power Bank & Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphone
Whether you're new to coding or a seasoned developer, this track is all about exploring cybersecurity in fun and creative ways. You can create anything related to keeping digital information safe, like designing a password manager, learning how encryption works, or building a basic firewall.
Best Design
Elgato Stream Deck Mini
Create a front-end design that shows off your UX/UI skills! Perfect for your web development project and more
Best Space Cowboy Theme
Vizio TV
Anything Space Cowboy related
[SWIVEL] Financial Inclusion Through Teamwork
Backpack, Rocket Notebook, Custom Hoodies, opportunity to present to SWIVEL Executives!
Build a solution that helps underserved communities (e.g., students, nonprofits, or local organizations) manage or move money securely and easily.
Twist: Your solution must include a collaboration feature. Something that enables multiple users to work together (e.g., shared budgeting, group payments, or co-signing for accountability).
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API
Google Swag Kits
It’s time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project?
Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice
Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers
Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more
Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend?
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini 2.5 Computer Use
3D Printing Pen
The Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model is a specialized model built on Gemini 2.5 Pro's capabilities that powers AI agents capable of interacting directly with user interfaces (UIs).
Essentially, it enables AI agents to perform complex digital tasks by navigating web pages and applications just as a human would, by clicking, typing, and scrolling.
Use Gemini 2.5 Computer Use in your project this weekend for a chance to win some 3D printing pens for you and your teammates!
[MLH] Best AI Application Built with Cloudflare
Arduino Kit
Cloudflare is one of the world’s largest networks enabling hackers like you to build, deploy, and deliver trusted applications, no matter where you are! With Cloudflare, you’ll have all the building blocks to create a full-stack application, from C3 (create Cloudflare command line) instance deployment to object storage. You can even run GenAI (LLMs, text to image, Voice to text, etc.) in the cloud and leverage your AI functionality via API requests using Cloudlfare’s Workers AI. Enjoy Cloudflare’s generous free tier to get started at no cost. This weekend, we want you to build an AI Application utilizing Cloudflare’s numerous services for a chance to win Arduino Kits for you and your team!
[MLH] Best Use of DigitalOcean Gradient™ AI
Retro Wireless Mouse
DigitalOcean GradientTM AI is a unified AI cloud for building, training, and deploying machine learning models and AI agents. Get access to GPU infrastructure like DigitalOcean GPU Droplets and Bare Metal servers, along with serverless inference and 1-Click Models for instant deployment of your favorite LLMs!
Sign up for DigitalOcean today and get $200 worth of free credits that you can use towards building your next Gradient-powered hack. Enable your next project with DigitalOcean GradientTM AI for a chance to win some great prizes for you and each of your team mates!
[MLH] Best Use of Vultr
Portable Screens
Vultr empowers hackers to bring their high-performance projects to life instantly; providing everything from the speed of one-click deployment and scalable cloud compute, to specialized Vultr Cloud GPUs that can power AI-driven applications. We want you to push the limits of what can be built when infrastructure is no longer the bottleneck!
Sign up for a Vultr account today and claim your free cloud credits! Take your next hack to the cloud with Vultr for a chance to win some awesome portable screens for you and your team!
[MLH] Best Use of ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs Airpods
Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI. Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win exclusive ElevenLabs branded airpods!
[MLH] Best Use of Auth0
Wireless Headphones
Auth0 wants your applications to be secure! Why spend hours building features like social sign-in, Multi-Factor Authentication, and passwordless log-in when you can enable them through Auth0 straight out of the box? You can also secure your AI applications with Auth0 for AI Agents.
Auth0 is free to try, doesn’t require a credit card, and allows for up to 7,000 free active users and unlimited log-ins. Make your new account today and use any of the Auth0 APIs for a chance to win a pair of wireless headphones for you and each member of your team!
[MLH] Best Domain Name from GoDaddy Registry
Digital Gift Card
GoDaddy Registry is giving you everything you need to be the best hacker no matter where you are. Register your domain name with GoDaddy Registry for a chance to win some amazing prizes!
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Rowdy
UTSA
Judging Criteria
-
Criteria
Check out the Hacker Survival Guide!
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Tell your friends
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