Welcome to Canada’s biggest hackathon
This September, join 1,000+ hackers from around the world for a hackathon like no other. Discover a community of like-minded hackers, connect with world-class mentors, and build because you love to build. At Hack the North 12, you’re in for a great time with engaging workshops, fun activities, and the chance to network with the most exciting companies in tech!
Not from Waterloo? We cover food, travel expenses, and lodging so you can focus on turning your dreams into reality.
You belong in tech
Getting into tech can be hard — we’re here to make that easier! Hack the North is dedicated to building an inclusive experience for attendees from across the globe. We strive to foster a space where everyone feels welcome to dream big and build!
Welcome to Canada’s biggest hackathon
This September, join 1,000+ hackers from around the world for a hackathon like no other. Discover a community of like-minded hackers, connect with world-class mentors, and build because you love to build. At Hack the North 12, you’re in for a great time with engaging workshops, fun activities, and the chance to network with the most exciting companies in tech!
Not from Waterloo? We cover food, travel expenses, and lodging so you can focus on turning your dreams into reality.
You belong in tech
Getting into tech can be hard — we’re here to make that easier! Hack the North is dedicated to building an inclusive experience for attendees from across the globe. We strive to foster a space where everyone feels welcome to dream big and build!
Last year we had...
1200+
hackers
178
schools
10
countries
235
projects
submitted
650 000+
km travelled
180+
mentors
15+
workshops
Canada's biggest hackathon!
Join a global community
Connect with curious and creative students from schools across the globe! Open your mind to endless possibilities while networking with industry leaders, sponsors, and mentors. Hackers of all experience are welcome to collaborate and build something that they are proud of!
Create something amazing!
Get inspired and build! Don’t have the resources you need to make your project come to life? We’re here to help! We provide workshops, mentorship, and the tech you need all in one place, so you can focus on hacking!
Make lasting memories
Take a break from hacking and enjoy fun activities planned just for you! From therapy dogs, to cup stacking, to karaoke, and more — we make sure that every hacker has the chance to work hard and play hard.
Dream big and build bigger
Every year, we strive to support hackers around the world to create something amazing! Check out some of the incredible projects that came to life at Hack the North 2024, and the stories of the hackers that made them!
Rajan Agarwal
Experienced Hacker, Undergraduate Student
Hack the North was a place where I could build whatever was on my mind and learn from the people around me. I can't recommend Hack the North enough for its ability to teach you new skills, expand your network and build things you're passionate about!
Get inspired by industry leaders
Every year, leaders in the tech industry join Hack the North to speak, judge, and mentor hackers. Stay tuned for the list of this year’s speakers, coming soon.
Past Judges and Speakers
Kartik Talwar
Partner,
a_capital
Liam Horne
Co-founder,
ETHGlobal
Kevin Lau
Founding Product Manager,
Tome
will.i.am
Entrepreneur; CEO,
i.am.angel foundation
Sam Altman
CEO,
OpenAI
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Vinod Khosla
Founder,
Khosla Ventures
Danielle Strachman
Partner,
1517 Fund
What's new
Hack the North is back for its 12th year — and we're leveling up. This year, we're launching a few new initiatives to help you dream bigger and push boundaries, with unforgettable experiences like never before. Ready to see what's in store? Here's a sneak peek at what's new this year!
Goose Games
An all-new layer of missions, challenges, and surprises woven into the weekend. Earn points, complete side quests, and unlock the unexpected.
Guinness World Record
This year, we're making history. Literally. Join us as we attempt to break an official Guinness World Record live during the event. You won't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime moment!
Waterloo Tech Week
A week of events, workshops, and socials leading up to Hack the North. Whether you're new to hackathons and the tech scene or have been here for a while, join us in Waterloo for a week of fun and learning!
Our partner since 2014, Waterloo Engineering continues to support Hack the North to build a creative, diverse, and unique experience for hackers. The University of Waterloo is home to Canada's largest engineering school — a pipeline for engineering talent for the world's leading companies.
Ranked among the top 50 engineering schools in the world, the school's reputation for excellence is built on the foundation of co-op education and a bold history of innovation.
Sponsor a special weekend
Our sponsors make it possible for us to unite prospective developers, designers, and builders from across the globe. Hackers make meaningful connections with our sponsors beyond just the hackathon weekend. Stay tuned as we confirm more sponsors for Hack the North 2025!
Want to help make this event a reality? Email us at sponsor@hackthenorth.com.
Sponsors to be
announced soon...
Frequently asked questions
What is Hack the North?
Hack the North is Canada's biggest hackathon, where 1,000+ students of different skill levels come together from around the world to experiment and create unique software or hardware projects from scratch. We empower and enable teams to make something great in only 36 hours by providing an abundance of resources like workshops, mentors, sponsors, and hardware.
Who can participate?
Students of any education level from anywhere in the world are eligible to apply for Hack the North! All attendees must be 13 years or older to participate.
How much does it cost to attend Hack the North?
Admission to Hack the North is completely free! We will also provide food and accommodation for the entire event, as well as all the resources and mentorship our hackers need to build something incredible.
What if I’ve never been to a hackathon before?
Hack the North welcomes students of all skill levels. Many students attend Hack the North as their first hackathon, and they always have a blast! We’ll provide tech resources (including hardware), mentors, and workshops to help you with your project; hackathons can be a great place to learn new skills in a short amount of time. Just be eager to learn, and excited to meet lots of awesome people.
Will Hack the North 2025 happen in person or virtually?
Hack the North 2025 will be an in-person hackathon, hosted at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Stay tuned to hear the latest updates by following our social media channels (@hackthenorth), and signing up for our mailing list!
When do hacker applications open?
We will be opening hacker applications in the coming weeks. Sign up for our mailing list, and follow our social media channels to be the first to hear the exciting news!
How many people can be on a team?
Hackers may form teams of up to 4 people. There are no restrictions for who they can be, so you can team up with hackers from any school, country, or experience level. Teams can be formed before or during the event at hackers’ own discretion.
What kind of workshops, talks, and activities will there be?
Previously, we’ve held workshops and talks for a range of skill levels from beginner to advanced like Intro to React and Exploring and Wrangling Data with Pandas. Other workshops also explore various programming tools such as APIs, databases, and platforms.
Activities like VR demos, meetups, and even karaoke happen throughout the weekend. Whether it’s for relaxation or health, novelty or competition, our team has something exciting prepared for you to enjoy!
What if I want to join virtually?
Hack the North aims to provide participants with the best experience possible, and we strongly feel that an in-person event is the best way to empower our hackers to dream big and build. We will not be offering a virtual attendance option this year.
What if I need to travel internationally to attend Hack the North?
Please note that visitor visa wait times may be as long as several months, depending on the country of departure. We recommend you apply for your visa, if required, immediately after receiving your acceptance to Hack the North. More information can be found on our Travel Guidelines page.
I’m not currently enrolled as a student, can I still attend Hack the North?
Hack the North is geared towards students who are interested in tech, but we also want to open the doors for anyone who wants to learn. If your situation falls within this category, please reach out to us at hello@hackthenorth.com and we can chat more regarding certain exemptions!
Hey Hackers!
We’re so excited to welcome you to the 12th year of Hack the North! Every year, this event becomes something magical because of you — your energy, your creativity, and your drive to build something bold.
As organizers, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to make this year’s hackathon the most unforgettable one yet. From top-notch workshops and inspiring speakers to fun activities and late-night snacks, everything we’ve planned is designed to support you — to help you explore new ideas, learn new skills, and create something you’re proud of.
Whether this is your first hackathon or your twelfth, we want Hack the North to be a place where you feel empowered to take risks, connect with others, and let your imagination run wild.
We can't wait to see what you build. Let’s make this weekend one to remember. 💙
– Team Hack the North
˝Made with 💙 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦
