About the challenge

What if you could reimagine tomorrow through technology and design?

AdaHacks 2027 returns for its second edition as Alberta’s first student-led hackathon dedicated to empowering women and gender-diverse individuals in technology! Organized by Ada’s Team at the University of Alberta, this 48-hour, in-person event brings together postsecondary students from across Canada to tackle real-world challenges, explore innovative ideas, and create meaningful solutions.

Featuring two competition streams, Software Development and UI/UX Design, AdaHacks welcomes students of all genders, backgrounds, disciplines, and experience levels. Whether you're a developer, designer, or simply passionate about solving problems, AdaHacks offers a space to collaborate, learn from industry mentors, build new skills, and bring your ideas to life.

Join us February 26–28, 2027, and help reimagine a better tomorrow!

Get started

  1. Register for AdaHacks 2027 through the event registration process.

  2. Choose your stream: Software Development or UI/UX Design.

  3. Form a team and collaborate on a project.

  4. Develop your solution using creativity, technical skills, and problem-solving.

  5. Submit your project through Devpost.

  6. Present your work during the final project demonstrations and judging.

Note: Registering on the DevPost does not grant access to the event. You must have been accepted through our application process and registered on the luma to attend.

Requirements

What to Build

Theme: Reimagine Tomorrow 🌎

How can technology and design help us reimagine a better tomorrow?

AdaHacks 2027 challenges participants to explore real-world problems, rethink existing solutions, and develop innovative ideas that can make a meaningful difference.

Whether you're passionate about improving everyday experiences, addressing community needs, advancing sustainability, or transforming industries, we encourage you to think creatively and build solutions that shape the future.

Participants can create a project in one of two competition streams:

Software Development: Build an innovative software-based solution that addresses a real-world challenge, improves an existing process, or introduces a new approach to solving a problem.

UI/UX Design: Design an intuitive, accessible, and user-centered digital experience that addresses a real-world challenge, improves an existing product or service, or reimagines how people interact with technology.

Project Challenges (TBD)

Details regarding the challenges are coming soon. Stay tuned for further details!

What to Submit

Submit your completed project through Devpost, including:

  • Project Name: The name of your project.

  • Project Description: An overview of your idea, the real-world problem or opportunity it addresses, who it is intended to benefit, and how your solution connects to Reimagine Tomorrow.

  • Project Features: A description of the key features, functionality, or user experiences that make your solution innovative and impactful.

  • Technologies and Tools: The programming languages, frameworks, design tools, or other technologies used.

  • Project Demonstration: Screenshots, a working prototype, an interactive design, or a demonstration showcasing your project.

  • Team Members: The names of everyone who contributed to the project.

Prizes

1 non-cash prize
TBD
1 winner

AdaHacks 2027 will recognize outstanding projects across the Software Development and UI/UX Design streams. Prize categories, awards, and values will be announced closer to the event.

Prize details to be announced.

Judges

Ada's Team

Ada's Team

TBD

TBD
Judges to be announced

Judging Criteria

  • Creativity & Innovation (20%)
    Evaluates the originality of the project, creativity of the approach, and how effectively the team explores new ideas or improves existing solutions.
  • Problem-Solving & Impact (15%)
    Evaluates how clearly the problem is defined, how effectively the solution addresses it, and its potential value to users.
  • Technical Implementation & Design Execution (20%)
    Software Development: Evaluate technical complexity, code quality, and implementation. UI/UX Design: Evaluate visual design, information architecture, consistency, and design principles.
  • Functionality, Usability & Accessibility (20%)
    Software Development: Evaluate working features, reliability, and usability. UI/UX Design: Evaluate user flows, navigation, accessibility, and prototype effectiveness.
  • Learning & Exploration (15%)
    Evaluates new skills acquired, unfamiliar tools explored, challenges overcome, and learning demonstrated during the hackathon.
  • Demonstration & Communication (10%)
    Evaluates how clearly the team explains its project, demonstrates its solution, communicates key decisions, and answers judges' questions.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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