Hack the Habitat

About the challenge

Hack the Habitat is a global, online hackathon inviting participants to build technology that protects and understands the natural world. The challenge is centered on the theme: "Build tech that protects the planet." Rather than using code as a generic tool, participants are encouraged to build projects that directly address a real environmental problem, whether that's climate, wildlife, ecosystems, agriculture, or conservation.

Submissions may include conservation and wildlife tracking tools, climate data and modeling projects, sustainable agriculture tech, clean energy tools, environmental education platforms, or entirely new approaches to environmental monitoring. Strong projects will go beyond surface-level ideas, emphasizing systems that use real data, respond to real conditions, or create a measurable path to impact. Participants are encouraged to research the problem they are solving, think critically about feasibility, and build something that could genuinely be used.

Hack the Habitat is open to beginners and experienced builders alike. Whether you are a developer, designer, or someone who simply cares about the environment, the goal is to learn, build, and create technology that makes a difference for the planet.

Get started

1. Register for the hackathon on Devpost and join the Discord server.

2. Form a team of up to four participants or work individually.

3. Brainstorm ideas that align with the theme and explore what environmental problem you want to solve.

4. Start building during the official Build Period using any tools, frameworks, or technologies.

5. Attend optional workshops, mentorship sessions, and community events for guidance and support.

6. Submit your project before the deadline, including a demo, source code, and project description.

If you are unsure where to begin, start by thinking about what part of the natural world you care most about, whether that's a local ecosystem, a global climate problem, or a specific species, and build from there.