Get ready for an exhilarating hacking experience as Hack the Valley from UTSC returns from October 3rd to October 5th, 2025. This year, we're bringing together a dynamic community of 500 innovative and creative developers, designers, and creators for an intense 36-hour hackathon.
During this thrilling event, you'll have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of workshops, engage in awesome activities, and even score some fantastic swag giveaways. But that's not all – the main highlight is your chance to conceive and build an innovative project that will leave our esteemed judges in awe.
For detailed information on prize category descriptions and the event schedule, please refer to the hacker package sent to your email.
We can't wait to witness the incredible projects you create and the remarkable talents you bring to the table. Join us for an unforgettable weekend of innovation, collaboration, and endless possibilities at Hack the Valley from UTSC!
Requirements
What to Build
Build a project you're passionate about or solve a current issue, every team will be considered for the Top 3 Category. If you'd like to submit for any other prize category, please indicate in your submission.
Prize category descriptions are listed in your hacker package or below under Prizes.
What to Submit
- Write Up: Explain why you built your project, your tech stack and a summary of what your product does.
-
Code: Provide a link to your Github project code in your submission. Your project will not be judged if you do not submit this.
What to Present
-
Pitch + Presentation: It's time to showcase your product! You will have 4 minutes to pitch your product to the judges, show them the best parts of it!
-
Q&A: The judges will get 1 minute to ask you both technical and non-technical questions about your product.
Prizes
1st Place Prize
MetaQuest 3s VR Set
+ NordVPN, NordPass, NordProtect and Incogni Subscriptons
+ 1GB Saily data
+ €200 nexos.ai credit
+ Savi Finance Pro License
+ NORM Skin Reset Moisturizer
+ MLH Winner Pins
2nd Place Prize
Apple Watch SE
+ NordVPN, NordPass, NordProtect and Incogni Subscriptons
+ 1GB Saily data
+ MLH Winner Pins
3rd Place Prize
Samsung Galaxy Buds
MLH Winner Pins
JT Award for Future Impact
JT Award for Future Impact, generously created and funded by one of our judges. This award recognizes teams whose projects showcased a strong vision and the potential to create meaningful, real-world impact through their innovation.
$500 distributed amongst three teams
Best Smart Economies Hack
Black & Decker 4-Slice Toaster Oven
Best Future of our Planet Hack
SONY PS5 DualSense Controller
Best Inclusive Innovation Hack (Dell Technologies)
Alienware Wireless Gaming Headset
Best Revolutionizing Learning Hack
HUION HS64 Drawing Tablet
Best Beginner Hack
>=50% of team must be first-time hackers
Pokémon 18” sleeping plush
Best Solo Hack
SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker sponsored by Johnson Jiang
Best UI Hack Sponsored By Conrad Mo
Mystery Prize
EY Data Integration Challenge
Participants are tasked with creating a software solution that takes in two different forms of data, accurately mapping one dataset to the other while retaining all data to preserve its integrity and context.
Solutions will be evaluated on the following dimensions:
• Functionality
• Usability
• Innovation
• Documentation
Prizes:
• Direct Interview Opportunity with the EY Canada Core Banking Team.
• EY Branded Swag & Merchandise to showcase your achievement and participation.
Details in Hacker Package.
SDGs@UofT AI for Inclusive Futures Challenge
How might AI be designed to ensure marginalized voices and communities are central in
shaping sustainable futures?
Winning teams will be selected based on:
• Most Innovative Solution
• Most Production-Ready Solution
*Winners may be eligible for prizes, subject to certain terms and conditions.
We will evaluate submissions based on the following key aspects:
• Creativity
• Depth & accuracy
• Production Readiness
• Presentation
Details in Hacker Package.
CSE CI/CD Pipeline Challenge
Using new or existing application code, demonstrate a complete CI/CD pipeline that builds and deploys an application while incorporating tools and best practices such as:
• GitHub pre-commit / pre-push hooks, branch protection rules, automated security and secret scanning (e.g. GitHub Advanced Security, Dependabot)
• Automated static or dynamic security tests
• Automated test suites with code coverage reports
• Pipeline secret management
• Anything that improves the security, velocity, or reliability of the software process
Prize: CSE Swag Bag
Best Finance AI Eval
Savi Finance Pro Licenses
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API
Google Branded Backpacks || 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 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 Snowflake API
Arduino Tiny ML Kit || Play with industry-leading LLMs on a single account using the Snowflake APIs. Adding AI capabilities into your application can be as simple as a single CURL command to Snowflake’s REST API.
Build customized applications, RAG powered chat bots, or embed AI-powered features into your app in half the time with half the hassle. Get started for free with a special, student 120-day Snowflake trial and check out this repository for an example of the Snowflake REST API in action.
[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? 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
Swapna Samuel
Head, Central Cloud FinOps & CBM / BMO
Vivek Bagmar
POC Engineer / Arista Networks
Daniela Aldave-Garza
Full Stack Developer / RBC
Samit Khalsa
Founder / Penseum
Katina Papulkas
Senior Education Strategist / Dell Technologies
Peter Morgan
Senior Consultant / CGI
Jason Haddad
CSE
Nicole Jeffreys
Enterprise Account Manager / Dell Technologies
Ralph Maamari
Founder / Savi Finance
Hayden Wolff
Senior Consultant / EY
Juda Marto
Founder / Martologic
Judging Criteria
-
Technicality and Quality
The level of technical skill demonstrated, quality code, working prototype. -
Design
Attention to aesthetics, interaction and user interface. -
Solves a Current Issue
Meets a customer need, potential to be a business. -
Presentation
Clarity of written and oral presentation. -
Inspiration
How excited we are for this project, is it unique and creative? -
Authenticity
Is this project original? Have you seen similar idea/project before?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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