LA HACKS

Pauley Pavilion

Mid-April 2027

501(c)(3) Educational Non-ProfitEIN 81-4540041

LA Hacks

LA Hacks is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit that organizes a free, student-focused technology hackathon at UCLA. Our mission is to make hands-on technology education accessible—so students can learn, build, collaborate, and connect with industry professionals.

Our flagship program is the annual 36-hour hackathon at Pauley Pavilion (next: Mid-April 2027), where 1,000+ students build projects with workshops, mentorship, and industry support. We are funded by sponsorships—not donations—and run by student volunteers.

What we do

Our hackathon

Students spend 36 hours developing technology projects while learning new skills, collaborating with teammates, and receiving guidance from mentors and industry professionals—at every experience level.

Workshops

Technical and educational sessions during the hackathon cover software, AI, design, hardware, and more. We also occasionally host workshops and educational events outside the annual weekend.

Mentorship & industry

Mentors help with ideas, debugging, and learning. Companies and professionals join through mentorship, workshops, talks, and judging—connecting classroom skills to real-world practice.

Learn About LA Hacks Our Impact Apply to Hack

$60,000

in Prizes

1000+

Participants

200

Projects

Tracks

Sustain the Spark

Our planet's future hangs in the balance, and one bold idea can tip the scales. This track welcomes grassroots innovation and is your space to cultivate projects combating climate change, reducing waste, or accelerating the transition to clean energy. Your project can help the world sustain its spark for years to come.

Catalyst for Care

The pulse of progress beats strongest where it matters the most: human health. This track challenges you to develop solutions that revolutionize the patient-provider experience. From optimizing hospital logistics and streamlining diagnostics to building tools that enhance wellness, your creation will be the catalyst for a healthier world.

Light the Way

A single idea can unlock a universe of knowledge. This track invites you to transform the future of education by making learning accessible to all. You can create projects with accessibility features or interactive learning platforms. How will your spark light up the classrooms of tomorrow?

Flicker to Flow

With all the chaos of the world, how can we turn the flickers into a flowstate? Use this track to focus on enhancing how we work, play, and connect. Whether you automate mundane chores, organize a chaotic schedule, or create a platform that promotes better work-life balance, show us how you can transform friction into function.

Agentverse - Search & Discovery of Agents

Build and Register AI Agents on Agentverse, discoverable via ASI:One, that turn user intent into real, executable outcomes.

Past Projects

Proud Puangmaha

LA Hacks 2025 3rd place winner

"LA Hacks was the perfect launchpad for OpenSesame.Work, our AI agent co-pilot for job applications. In just 36 hours, we went from a vague idea to a working product with real users testing it live, thanks to mentors who pushed our thinking on both tech and UX. It was the first time we saw how quickly a hackathon can turn a scrappy concept into something people actually want to use."

OpenSesame.Work

Rahut and Proud, LA Hacks 2025

Say "Open Sesame" to Your Next Job Opportunity!

View on Devpost

Puneet Bajaj

LA Hacks 2025 2nd place winner

"LAHacks wasn’t just a hackathon — it was a launchpad. From incredible mentors to on-stage pitching in front of 300+ people, everything was thoughtfully organised and inspiring. It was truly an unforgettable weekend."

Lumos

Chayan, Puneet, Kalpesh and Rutuja, LA Hacks 2025

An AI-powered glasses help Alzheimer's patients recognize loved ones, remember routines, and stay safe - giving families more moments of connection and dignity amid the darkness of memory loss.

View on Devpost

Daniel Odicho

LA Hacks 2025 1st place winner

"To think is to ideate, to do is to build, to speak is to pitch. Hackathons encapsulate the beauty of life."

Alto

Neel and Daniel, LA Hacks 2025

Find, Fix, and Deploy Mobile Bug Fixes - Autonomously, in Minutes.

View on Devpost

Explore our history

Devpost Archive

2023

2024

2025

Gallery

Opening ceremony getting underway!

Hackers upping their knowledge at workshops

Judges repping some LA Hacks following their briefing

Snack time! 🍪

Puppy Corner?!? 🐶🐶🐶

Some yummy meals!

Hackers hard at work in Pauley Pavilion

Lettuce Eating Contest 🥬

Happy hackers with their food!

Spotlight

Evan Spiegel

Evan Spiegel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Snap. He gave a keynote speech at LA Hacks 2014 and also spoke at LA Hacks 2025 for a fireside chat about building a global consumer tech platform and leading Snap's growth, product vision, and user-centered innovation.