Your next what-if starts here.

That tiny annoyance you keep noticing. The game you wish existed. The experiment you cannot stop thinking about. IdeaLab Hacks is a place to try it.

Choose your own problem, audience, and tools. Build an app, website, game, useful automation, hardware prototype, creative experience, or something that does not fit a category yet. AI is welcome, but never required.

Small experiments. Real possibilities.

You do not need a polished startup pitch to begin. Start with one interesting question, test a possible answer, and show what you learned. A focused prototype that does one thing well can tell a great story.

• Make an everyday task easier.
• Create a new way to learn, play, connect, or express yourself.
• Explore an unusual use for a familiar technology.
• Build something simply because you are curious.

Bring your curiosity

Beginners and experienced builders are welcome. Work solo or with a team of up to five. Code, low-code, and no-code projects are welcome; be clear about your own contribution and the tools you use.

Submissions close November 30, 2026. Judging runs December 1–5, with results on December 7. Check the event timeline for exact times in Eastern Time.

• Creativity & Originality (25%)
  How fresh, thoughtful, or inventive is the idea? Consider the approach and the team’s own contribution.
• Execution & Functionality (25%)
  How well does the prototype demonstrate its main idea? Consider functionality, technical choices, and what was accomplished during the event.
• Usefulness & Experience (25%)
  How well does the project serve its intended audience? Consider usability, design, accessibility, or the quality of the creative experience.
• Clarity & Learning (25%)
  How clearly does the submission explain the idea, demonstrate the work, credit its tools, and share what the team learned?