NextStep Hacks 2026 is a week-long hackathon organized by HackAlphaX, running from August 21st to September 13th. Founded by students committed to shaping the future of STEM and making technology accessible to all, the event has previously reached over 3,000 students. This year's theme, Earth Forward, challenges participants to tackle environmental challenges with technology and bold ideas.
The competition invites hackers to build projects that protect our planet and create a more sustainable future. Themes include climate resilience, renewable energy, conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste reduction, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. Participants are encouraged to identify pressing environmental problems affecting their community or the world and develop creative solutions, potentially collaborating with local organizations, environmental groups, researchers, or community members.
Format and Activities The event features engaging workshops to expand skills, mentor sessions to guide projects, thrilling raffles and giveaways, and opportunities to connect and collaborate. The experience includes an opening ceremony, workshops, and a closing ceremony, which are streamed on YouTube.
Submission Requirements All submissions must include: - A video demonstration or pitch no longer than 5 minutes. - A link to the repository or code for viewing. - A link (if applicable) to the live website or application.
Participants may submit projects to other hackathons this month if allowed. If continuing work on an old project, teams must specify in their Devpost what was worked on before the hackathon versus during the event.
Prizes - 1st Place: $1,000 Cash, $500 worth of Claude Credits, Final Round Interview @ YC Startup, 2 AOPS Coupons, XYZ Domains, and 1 year of NordVPN, NordPass, Saily, & Incogni. - 2nd Place: $500 Cash, $250 worth of Claude Credits, 1 AOPS Coupon, XYZ Domains, and 1 year of NordVPN, NordPass, Saily, & Incogni. - 3rd Place: $250 Cash, $100 worth of Claude Credits, 1 AOPS Coupon, XYZ Domains, and 1 year of NordVPN, NordPass, Saily, & Incogni. - Participation Prizes: Includes 1000 Wolfram Alpha access (Desktop and Cloud), full access to the Wolfram Language and Knowledgebase, FreeCDF Deployment, API calls, cloud credits, installations, and storage worth $830, plus 350 XYZ Domains.
Judging Criteria Projects will be evaluated based on Originality, Adherence to Track (Earth Forward), Completion, Learning, Design, and Technology.