SASEhack is a hackathon for college students, undergraduate and graduate. Any major, any experience level. You do not need to know how to code to take part.
Your hacking window is Friday, September 18 at 5:00 PM PT to Sunday, September 20 at 11:59 PM PT — about 55 hours. All project code must be written inside that window.
SASEhack runs under STEM Connect, SASE’s flagship national convention, October 1-3, 2026 in Seattle, WA.
Two competitions
| Competition | When | Who takes part |
| Online competition | September 18-20, fully remote | Everyone. Every project submitted here is judged. Nobody has to travel. |
| SASEhack Pitch Competition | October 1, Seattle | A selected group of teams, invited after judging. At least one member must already hold a STEM Connect convention ticket. |
You can win without ever going to Seattle. The two competitions are judged separately.
Who can enter
- Undergraduate and graduate students
- Enrolled at a U.S. college or university — any nationality; international students studying in the U.S. are welcome
- 18 or older at the time of the hackathon
- Any major, any experience level — no coding background needed
Teams are 1 to 4 people. You can enter alone, but we recommend at least two — every winning team so far has had two or more members. Find teammates in #sasehack-team-formation in the SASE Discord.
Prizes — about $3,700 total
| Prize | Award | Who’s eligible |
| Grand Prize | $1,000 cash | Every project submitted online |
| Runner-up | $750 cash | Every project submitted online |
| SASEhack Pitch Competition | $500 cash + merch for every finalist | Teams invited to pitch live in Seattle |
| Best First Hack | $200 cash | Teams where most members are first-time hackers |
| Track prizes × 5 | About $250 of value each | Projects entered in that track |
Cash prizes are split evenly among team members. Physical prizes are duplicated so everyone on the team gets one.
Tracks
| Track | What it’s for | Prize |
| Best Hardware Hack | Build something physical. Sensors, microcontrollers, robotics, wearables. A phone sensor or a cheap board counts. | ELEGOO UNO R3 Starter Kit |
| Best Design Hack | For projects where the design does the heavy lifting. Craft counts more than technical depth here. | Wacom Intuos drawing tablet |
| Best Education, Accessibility, or Social Impact | For projects serving people badly served by what already exists. Name who you built it for. | Sony WH-CH520 headphones |
| Best Finance Hack | Anything to do with money. It doesn’t have to be bank grade, just make a financial decision easier or clearer. | $250 cash |
| Spirit of Charge Up | Carries this year’s STEM Connect theme. Build something that gives a person or a community a boost. No entry needed. | Anker Nano power bank |
You opt in to tracks and prizes when you submit, and you can enter up to two tracks. See the Submission Requirements for what to submit and how to opt in.
Schedule
All times are Pacific Time (PT).
| Day | Time | What |
| Fri, Sept 18 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Kickoff and opening ceremony |
| 5:00 PM | Hacking begins |
| 6:00-8:00 PM | Office hours |
| Sat, Sept 19 | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Office hours |
| 2:00-3:00 PM | Workshop: How to Perfect Your Pitch |
| 4:00-5:00 PM | Social / lounge |
| 6:00-8:00 PM | Office hours |
| Sun, Sept 20 | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Office hours |
| 6:00-8:00 PM | Final checks |
| 8:00-10:00 PM | Office hours |
| 10:00 PM-12:00 AM | Office hours |
| 11:59 PM | Hacking ends and submissions close |
Office hours run in the Discord — no Zoom link needed. Gaps between blocks are heads-down hacking time.
After the hackathon
- Judging runs September 21-30. Teams invited to pitch in Seattle are notified after submissions close.
- Thursday, October 1 — SASEhack Pitch Competition, Seattle
- Friday, October 2 — Winners announced
Pre-event workshops
Both ran before kickoff and were recorded. Slides and recordings are in #sasehack-resources in the Discord.
- AI Tools for Development — Wednesday, September 16
- GitHub for Collaboration — Thursday, September 17
Where everything happens
Discord is the hub — announcements, schedule, help channels, office hours, and team formation. Join the SASE Discord.
Full details
Everything is in the SASEhack 2026 Hacker Guide — schedule, judging criteria, prizes, rules, FAQ, and accessibility.
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