Who are we?

We are HackUMass, a 36-hour event
where students bring their craziest ideas to life.

Watch a recap of HackUMass VII, where 1,000 students
came together to learn and build some incredible projects

Why HackUMass?

What Makes Us Unique

Hardware from A to Z

At HackUMass we not only focus on creating a collaborative environment for developers/engineers to create awesome software projects, but also give all the tools that you will need to create awesome hardware hacks! With Arduinos, Raspberry Pis, circuit components, quadcopters, Oculus Rifts, and more, we have the hardware, you have the ideas, so come bring them to life at HackUMass.

Creative Hackers

Our hackers come from all around the country and from many diverse backgrounds. Veteran hackers, first-timers, developers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and even non-tech majors -- this is who we are. Our goal is to bring together and inspire hackers from every background and provide opportunities like Ladies Storm Hackathons to continue growing in diversity. Come with friends, make new friends, join 800 other participants in one of the biggest and best hackathons in New England.

Incredible Venue

Tired of hacking in some old gym? Say no more! HackUMass is hosted in the Integrative Learning Center (ILC), one of the newest state-of-the-art academic buildings at UMass Amherst. Within the walls of the four-story 173,000 sq. ft. structure, the ILC provides 2,000 seats and plenty of spaces for hacking, sleeping, yoga, Super Smash Bros, and much more! As one of the largest research universities in New England, we take our hacking spaces seriously, and we hope you like it.

#1 Dining

Soylent not cutting it for you? Don’t worry. We have the #1 dining service in the nation! And as a participant of HackUMass you will get access to all of our top-rated dining halls and other dining facilities. Have any special dietary restrictions? Not to worry! We accommodate all dietary restrictions.

Generous Sponsors

HackUMass wouldn't happen without the support of our awesome sponsors. From startups to big-name brands, we work with the innovators and the makers. Workshops, tech talks, sweet prizes, swag, mini-competitions, hardware/APIs -- we partner with the best in the industry to make this event come to life. Check out some of this year's sponsors below (and make sure to say thanks if you see them!). Note: If you are a company interested in sponsoring our event send us an e-mail at sponsors@hackumass.com and we can get you connected with one of our sponsorship team members.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Drop us an email if you can't find an answer to your question in this list

What is a hackathon?

A hackathon is where students bring their cool ideas to life. Over the course of 36 hours, participants can use software and/or hardware to build their idea and win prizes, whether as a team or as an individual.

Where is it?

HackUmass IX will be hybrid this year with both in-person and virtual components. In-person components include check-in, hardware checkout, swag pickup, and judging (students must be in person to participate in projects). Mentoring and most workshops will take place virtually. More details regarding the career fair, opening and closing ceremonies, and catering will be given closer to the hackathon.

Who's coming?

We expect over 1000 hackers from across the U.S. to attend our hackathon either virtually or in-person.

Who can attend?

Due to safety concerns, only UMass Amherst students will be able to participate in hacking. However, workshops are open to all college students! If you're under 18, we will need a signed parental consent form. In order to attend, you just need to apply beforehand on our website.

Do I need experience?

We welcome hackers of all experience levels to HackUMass! Our beginner track will help hackers who want to learn more about software and hardware hacking get started. We will also have mentors willing to help if you run into any problems during the event.

Should I be in a team?

We encourage everyone to work in a team of up to 4 people. Larger teams are allowed, but we are unable to guarantee that every member of your team will be able to receive prizes if you win. There will be plenty of opportunities to form your team online and at the event -- so don't worry if you haven't yet planned it out.