About the challenge
SummerBuild 2026 is DevHub@iLab’s flagship guided hackathon for NTU students.
Over 4 weeks, participants will work in teams to design, build, and pitch a portfolio-ready software project. Unlike a short 24-hour or 48-hour hackathon, SummerBuild gives teams more time to learn, prototype, receive mentorship, attend workshops, and improve their ideas before the final showcase.
Participants may build projects across any meaningful software domain, including web applications, mobile applications, AI-powered tools, computer vision systems, smart city solutions, productivity platforms, data dashboards, or other real-world software ideas.
The main goal is simple: build something useful, learn by doing, and walk away with a project you are proud to show.
Requirements
What to Build
In SummerBuild, you can build any software project as long as it solves a clear problem and has a working prototype by the final submission.
Your project may include, but is not limited to:
- Web or mobile applications
- AI-powered tools or workflows
- Smart city or sustainability solutions
- Computer vision or data-driven systems
- Productivity, education, healthcare, finance, or community-focused platforms
- Dashboards, automation tools, or API-based applications
AI usage is encouraged, especially for teams aiming for AI-related or special partner awards, but it is not compulsory. The main expectation is that your team builds a meaningful software project with clear functionality, thoughtful design, and a real use case.
What to Submit
Your final Devpost submission should include:
- Public GitHub repository link
Include your source code, README, setup instructions, and any relevant documentation. - System architecture diagram
Show how the major parts of your system connect, such as frontend, backend, database, APIs, AI models, cloud services, or external integrations. - Demo video
A short video showing your product in action. Focus on the problem, key features, user flow, and what your team built. - Project writeup
Explain what your product does, who it is for, what problem it solves, and how your team used relevant technologies to implement the features.
Final submissions are due on 18 June 2026, 12:00 PM.
Prizes
Champion
To be announced
1st Runner-up
To be announced
2nd Runner-up
To be announced
Best AI Integration
To be announced
Most Innovative Solution
To be announced
Best Freshman Team
To be announced
People's Choice
To be announced
Best Use of Reka AI
To be announced
Best Smart Cities Solution
To be announced
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Innovation Lab @ NTU CCDS
Reka
Judging Criteria
-
Problem & Target Audience (15%)
Problem clarity, user understanding, pain point relevance -
Practical Impact (20%)
Real-world usefulness and user benefit -
Technical Innovation (20%)
Fresh idea or creative approach -
Product Experience (UI/UX) (15%)
User flow, interface clarity, design fit for target users -
Prototype Execution (15%)
Working core flow and smooth demo -
Presentation Pitch (15%)
Clear pitch, convincing narrative, strong Q and A
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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