About the challenge
Thunder Hacks is a 24-hour student-led hackathon hosted at Algoma University. Our mission is to provide a platform where creativity meets technology. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a first-time hacker, this weekend is about pushing your limits, learning new frameworks, and building projects that make an impact.
Get started
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Join the Discord: This is where we’ll post live announcements and where you can find mentors.
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Form a Team: You can work solo or in teams of up to 4. Use the #team-finding channel if you’re looking for collaborators.
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Review the Rubric: Check the "Judging Criteria" section below to see how projects will be scored.
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Start Hacking: Coding officially begins on Saturday at 11:00 AM!
Requirements
What to Build
Participants are challenged to build a software project from scratch that addresses a real-world problem. Whether it's a mobile app, a web platform, or a hardware hack, your project should demonstrate technical creativity and a clear purpose. Projects started before March 14 are not eligible.
What to Submit
To be eligible for prizes, you must submit:
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A Project Name & Catchy Tagline.
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A Brief Description: What does it do? Why did you build it?
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A Demo Video: A 2-minute max video showing the project in action.
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Link to Code: A public GitHub repository link (required for technical judging).
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The "Secret Sauce": What was the hardest part of building this in 24 hours?
Prizes
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Sunny Atwal
Industry Professional
Shah Shakibai
Industry Professional
Prof. Arghavan Asad
Algoma Faculty
Prof. Christopher Brogly
Algoma Faculty
Judging Criteria
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Innovation & Originality
Novel use of AI/MR, beyond basic API wrappers -
Impact & Feasibility
Real improvement life, realistic deployment -
Technical Execution
Clean code, reliable AI/logic, smooth demo -
User Experience (UX)
Intuitive interface that would be used daily -
Pitch & Presentation
Clear problem articulation, compelling vision
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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