About the Challenge

VoltHacks 2026 is a hackathon focused on building real world solutions using hardware, IoT, and AI. Participants are encouraged to go beyond traditional software projects and create systems that interact with the physical world through sensors, embedded systems, automation, and intelligent devices.

Whether you're interested in robotics, smart devices, sustainability, healthcare technology, or open innovation, VoltHacks is designed to push creativity and engineering skills toward solving meaningful problems.

Tracks could include:

  • Robotics & Embedded Systems
  • AI + Hardware Integration
  • Smart Health Technology
  • Sustainability & Smart Cities
  • Open Innovation
  • Anything Engineering based with Impact

Participants will present their projects to a panel of judges, with awards recognizing innovation, technical complexity, and real world impact.

Get Started

  1. Register individually or with a team
  2. Brainstorm a project idea related to the challenge themes
  3. Build your project during the hackathon period
  4. Submit your final project on Devpost before the deadline

All skill levels are welcome. Whether you're experienced with hardware or just getting started, VoltHacks is meant to be a place to learn, collaborate, and build something meaningful.

Requirements

What to Build

Build a project related to one or more of the VoltHacks themes, such as:

  • IoT systems
  • Robotics and automation
  • AI-powered tools
  • Embedded systems
  • Smart devices
  • Sustainability or health technology solutions

Projects can be hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both.

What to Submit

Each submission should include:

  • Project name and short description
  • Explanation of the problem your project solves
  • Photos, screenshots, or prototype images
  • Source code or GitHub repository (if applicable)
  • List of technologies/components used

Teams should clearly explain how their project works and what makes it innovative.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$400 in prizes
Grand Prize
$100 in cash
1 winner

Dialogate Lifetime Subscription
$60 in cash
5 winners

5 Notable projects will be granted lifetime subscriptions to Dialogate.
NOTE: No cash reward for these 5 projects. Cash value is determined by value of subscription.

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Pranav Rapelli

Pranav Rapelli

Ehsan Sadiq

Ehsan Sadiq
Dialogate Founder

More Judges TBD

More Judges TBD

Judging Criteria

  • Innovation and Creativity
    How original and creative the project idea is, including unique approaches to solving real-world problems.
  • Technical Complexity
    The depth of engineering, programming, hardware integration, or system design demonstrated in the project.
  • Real World Impact
    How useful, practical, or meaningful the project could be in real world situations.
  • Design and Functionality
    The overall quality, usability, and effectiveness of the project’s design and implementation.
  • Presentation Quality
    How clearly the team explains their project, including demonstrations, documentation, and communication of ideas.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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