MCP server

The HackathonRadar MCP server lets an AI assistant search hackathons, find judging opportunities and look up sponsors for you, from inside the chat. You add one URL to your client and sign in once with your HackathonRadar account. The setup guide with copy buttons lives at /connect.

Server details

Always use the www form of the URL. The bare domain redirects, and some clients drop the redirect.

There is no API key to paste. Your client registers itself, opens a browser sign-in, and from then on every tool call runs as your account.

Connect your client

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http hackathon-radar https://www.hackathonradar.com/mcp

Start Claude Code, run /mcp, pick hackathon-radar, and complete the browser sign-in.

Claude Desktop and claude.ai

1. Open Settings

   Click your name, then Settings, then Connectors.

2. Add a custom connector

   Choose Add custom connector and paste https://www.hackathonradar.com/mcp.

3. Sign in

   Claude opens a one-time sign-in with your HackathonRadar account. The tools then appear in chat.

ChatGPT

1. Turn on Developer mode

   On chatgpt.com, open Settings and turn on Developer mode (under Security and login). This needs a paid ChatGPT plan, and on work accounts your admin may need to allow it.

2. Create the app

   Open Plugins (Apps on some accounts), choose Add, then Create MCP App. Name it Hackathon Radar, paste the server URL and keep Authentication on OAuth.

3. Sign in and use it

   ChatGPT opens a one-time sign-in. In a new chat, pick Hackathon Radar from the + menu.

Cursor

Open Cursor Settings, then Tools & Integrations (MCP), then Add New MCP Server. Or add this to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global) or .cursor/mcp.json (one project). Cursor runs the sign-in in your browser.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hackathon-radar": {
      "url": "https://www.hackathonradar.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

VS Code

Run MCP: Add Server from the Command Palette, choose HTTP, and paste the URL. Or add this to .vscode/mcp.json. Sign in when prompted, then switch Copilot Chat's mode dropdown to Agent to see the tools.

{
  "servers": {
    "hackathon-radar": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://www.hackathonradar.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

In Cascade, open the MCP settings (Manage plugins, then View raw config), add this entry and refresh. Windsurf runs the sign-in in your browser.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hackathon-radar": {
      "serverUrl": "https://www.hackathonradar.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Any other MCP client

Point the client at https://www.hackathonradar.com/mcp using the Streamable HTTP transport with OAuth. A client that supports dynamic client registration finds everything it needs from the metadata URLs above.

Tools and the plan each needs

Organizers with a hackathon hosted on Radar also get tools on this server for running their event.

How plan limits apply

Your plan is read from your account on every call, so upgrading takes effect on your next question. You do not need to reconnect.

• Free plan. search_hackathons and search_by_sponsor only return hackathons starting in the next 7 days (sponsor search also includes events running now). The response says "plan": "free" and includes a note about the limit.
• Dev Pro and up. Searches cover the full calendar, and the paid tools unlock.
• Judge opportunities. Dev Pro returns the events and their judge accessibility scores. Organizer contact details need Pro Plus. Quality scores need Enterprise.
• Locked tools. Calling a tool above your plan returns an upgrade_required error with a link to /pricing. Your assistant usually explains this in plain words.

Example prompts

• "Find AI hackathons in London with cash prizes."
• "What online hackathons start this week?"
• "Which hackathons in Europe are looking for judges?"
• "Who else sponsors the events we sponsor?"
• "Show my favorites and star the first result."

Troubleshooting

The sign-in keeps looping or never finishes. Check the URL is exactly https://www.hackathonradar.com/mcp with www. Remove the server, add it again, and finish the sign-in in the browser window the client opens. If you have more than one HackathonRadar account, sign in with the one that holds your plan.

The tools do not show up. In Claude Code, run /mcp and confirm hackathon-radar is connected. In ChatGPT, pick Hackathon Radar from the + menu in a new chat. In VS Code, switch Copilot Chat to Agent mode. In Windsurf, refresh after editing the config.

Results stop at 7 days out. You are on the free plan, or signed in with a different account than the one you upgraded. See Plans and billing.

A paid tool says upgrade required. The tool needs a higher plan than your account has. The table above lists the plan for each tool.