CHALLENGE
Think Globally, Act Locally 🌍➡️🏙️
At JEWEL CITY HACKS 3.0, we’re challenging you to design technology that empowers your city, neighborhoods, and local business communities.
YOUR OBJECTIVE: Create technology that makes cities smarter, more connected, and more inclusive.
Imagine if your code could help solve everyday civic challenges:
- Could a live transit tracker help residents navigate public transportation more efficiently?
- Could a secure online voting tool make it easier for neighbors to shape local decisions?
- Could an intuitive service request platform cut down wait times for permits and city assistance?
Whether you build a mobile app, web solution, or hardware prototype, your innovation should help people and small businesses engage with their communities—and their governments—in smarter, faster, and more meaningful ways.
Remember: The best hacks not only solve problems—they inspire lasting change.
THIS HACKATHON IS OPEN TO STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS.
SCHEDULE
November 15, 2025
- 8:00 AM - Check-in (San Gabriel Building)
- 8:30 AM - Team Building Breakfast
- 9:30 AM - Keynote (Math Discovery Center)
- 10:15 AM - Workshop 1
- 11:30 AM - Workshop 2
- 12:30 PM - Lunch
- 1:00 PM - Workshop 3
- 2:15 PM - Workshop 4
- 5:15 PM - Dinner
- 6:15 PM - Project Submissions Due
- 6:30 PM - Demo Expo
- 7:30 PM - Closing Ceremony
- 8:00 PM - Check-out
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. Snacks will be provided throughout the day.
WORKSHOPS
- Ideation for Inventors - B2B & B2C
- Software Hacking 101 - AI Tools & Vibe Coding
- Hardware Hacking 101 - Microcontrollers & Sensors
- Demo Skills for Founders
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
This will be announced soon!
MENTORSHIP & HARDWARE
Throughout the day, you’ll have access to powerhouse mentors from Hacker Fund—think leaders from Apple, Google, Tesla, SpaceX, and more—ready to share their wisdom and help you level up your ideas.
You will have access to hardware for the hackathon that includes:
- VR headsets for demo
- Microcontrollers (arduinos) and sensors
- Desktop computers (PC)
If you do not have a machine, you will be able to access one in the Math Discovery Center.
You are allowed to bring your own hardware which is limited to VR headsets, microcontrollers, sensors and laptop computers.
Requirements
Submissions
Where: Submit here on Devpost!
Deadline: 6:15PM PT, Sat November 15th, 2025
What to Prepare
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Project name + 1–2 sentence elevator pitch
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Description: what it does, how you built it, and what’s next
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Repo link (ie. GitHub) with run/setup instructions
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Team members (use the “Join team” feature on Devpost)
IMPORTANT:
It is highly recommended that all participants create a Devpost account BEFORE beginning working on a project. Note that submissions will NOT be judged via Devpost, so everything besides team members and team/project name are optional. You must submit your project on Devpost before 6:15 PM on November 15th to be eligible to win prizes.
Rules & tips
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One submission per team on Devpost.
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Edits allowed until 6:00 PM. After the deadline, submissions lock.
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No late submissions (this keeps judging fair).
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If you are worried about conectivity issues during your presentation, you may prerecord your demo.
Judging Format
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Each team will present one-by-one in front of the judges
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Plan for a 3 minute presentation + quick Q&A.
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Judges look for clarity, impact, feasibility, and craftsmanship. Be sure to adhere to the judging criteria
Team size
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Teams of 1–4 are welcome. Solo is okay; collaboration is encouraged.
Need help?
Ask in Discord #find-a-mentor or find an organizer on site.
Prizes
Grand Winner
JCH 3.0 Grand Champion Trophy
Best Software Hack
Trophy for Best Software Hack
Best Hardware Hack
Trophy for Best Hardware Hack
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Tatiana EL-Khouri
Founder & Executive Director / Road to Artdom Foundation
Jyoti Shah
Director of Application Development / ADP
Ngoc Doan
Software Engineer / Doordash
Oliver Belanger
COO / CitizenAI
Yeyen Ong
Alum / Glendale Community College
Salina Mendoza
Tenant, Inc.
Jeff Harris
Former CEO / The Junior Statesmen Foundation
Sean Goodrich
Former Software Engineer / Google
Rahul Mohan Kumar
Founding Engineer / MindFort AI (YC X25)
Justin Brezhnev
Founder & Executive Director / Hacker Fund
Judging Criteria
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Technical Execution - 30%
Does the prototype function as intended? -
Social/Local Impact - 25%
How does this solution benefit the local community? -
Presentation Skills - 15%
Is there clarity in storytelling and visual design? -
Creativity & Innovation - 15%
Is the idea original or novel? -
Feasibility - 15%
Could this idea realistically be implemented?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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