LovHack is back for Season 3.
From September 26 to October 4, 2026, student developers, designers, founders, and creators will come together online to turn ideas into real projects.
Whether this is your first hackathon or you have been building for years, LovHack is designed to give you the space, tools, and community to build something you are proud of.
What is LovHack?LovHack is a student-focused hackathon community built around one simple idea: build something real.
You do not need to arrive with a startup, a polished idea, or years of coding experience. You can start with a problem you care about and build from there.
Projects can include:
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AI and machine learning
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Web and mobile applications
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Productivity tools
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Education technology
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Developer tools
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Social impact projects
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Games and creative technology
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Automation
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Accessibility
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New startup ideas
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Anything else you believe is worth building
The hackathon is intentionally open-ended so teams can focus on problems they actually care about.
Why Participate?During LovHack Season 3, participants can:
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Build and launch a new project
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Work individually or with a team
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Experiment with new AI and developer tools
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Compete for prizes and sponsor challenges
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Meet other student builders
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Receive access to sponsor tools, credits, and resources
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Add a real project to their portfolio
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Get feedback on what they build
Season 3 will also include opportunities from our sponsors and partners, including special prizes for teams that build creative projects using selected sponsor technologies.
Who Can Join?LovHack is designed for students and young builders from different backgrounds and experience levels.
Beginners are welcome.
You do not need to have participated in a hackathon before. Designers, developers, product builders, entrepreneurs, and students who simply have an idea are all encouraged to participate.
Please review the official Eligibility section on Devpost before registering.
Season 3Build Period: September 26 to October 4, 2026
Format: Online
Team Size: 1 to 4 participants recommended
Cost: Free to participate
More information about workshops, sponsor challenges, judging, prizes, and important announcements will be released throughout the event.
Season 3 is currently supported by sponsors and community partners including Purple Rain, Svara, ProjectAAL, and YRI Fellowship, with additional partners being announced.
The GoalYou have a little more than one week.
Start with an idea.
Build it.
Test it.
Improve it.
Then ship it.
We are excited to see what you create.
Welcome to LovHack Season 3.
Requirements
To be considered for judging, your project must be submitted through Devpost before the submission deadline.
Your submission should include the following:
1. Project NameGive your project a clear and recognizable name.
2. Project DescriptionExplain:
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What problem your project solves
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Who the project is designed for
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How your solution works
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What makes your project different or useful
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What your team built during LovHack Season 3
Submit a 2 to 3 minute demo video showing your project.
Your video should demonstrate the actual product or prototype and explain its main features.
You may briefly explain the problem and idea, but most of the video should focus on what you built.
The video should be accessible to judges without requesting permission.
4. Working Demo or PrototypeWhenever possible, provide a link to a working version of your project.
Examples include:
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A deployed website
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Mobile application
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Interactive prototype
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Desktop application
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AI agent
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GitHub repository
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Public demo
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Other working prototype
If your project cannot be publicly deployed, clearly explain how judges can evaluate it.
5. Technologies UsedList the major tools, frameworks, APIs, AI models, platforms, and sponsor technologies used to build your project.
6. What You Built During the HackathonClearly explain what was created between September 26 and October 4, 2026.
If you used any code, designs, libraries, templates, or other work created before the hackathon, disclose what existed before the event and what your team added during LovHack Season 3.
7. Sponsor ChallengesIf you are entering a sponsor-specific prize or challenge, explain:
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Which sponsor technology you used
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How you integrated it
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Why it was important to your project
Simply mentioning a sponsor or adding its logo does not count as a meaningful integration.
Judging AccessBefore submitting, make sure all links work and judges can access your demo.
Projects that cannot be opened, viewed, or reasonably evaluated may lose points or become ineligible for certain prizes.
Most importantly, show us what you built and why it matters.
Prizes
First Place
1500 ProjectAAL Credits
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Karthik Uppala
Founder of LovHack
Judging Criteria
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Execution & Functionality - 35%
How well was the project built? Judges should consider functionality, technical execution, completeness, and how effectively the team turned the idea into a working product. -
Problem & Impact - 25%
Does the project solve a real or meaningful problem? Judges should consider the problem, target users, usefulness, and the potential impact of the solution. -
Innovation & Creativity - 20%
How original or creative is the project? Judges should consider the uniqueness of the idea, approach, features, and how creatively the team used technology. -
Presentation & User Experience - 20%
How clearly is the project presented? Judges should consider the demo, design, usability, Devpost submission, and how easy it is to understand what the project does and why it matters.
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Invite others to compete
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