Description
PolarisX Hackathon Application
PolarisX is a hackathon hosted at the University of Austin for builders who want to do more than ship a demo. Over the course of the weekend, you'll work in teams to build real solutions to painful, real-world problems, with industry mentors and judges who have actually built companies in the AI era in your corner the whole way through.
This isn't about the most polished presentation or the cleverest idea. It's about identifying a genuine problem, building something that starts to solve it, and showing you can think, adapt, and ship under pressure. The best teams will leave with more than a project. They'll leave with the foundation of something worth continuing.
For participants ready to take it further, we'll be supporting teams in expanding their work into real companies after the event.
Who should apply
Builders, engineers, and problem-solvers at any skill level who are serious about using AI as a tool, not a shortcut. You don't need to have shipped a product before. You do need to be the kind of person who figures things out when they break.
The application
You'll be asked to respond to help us understand your current tech stack and how we can tailor programs your ability level.
For selected participants, we will be using your MeritFirst profile and application details in place of a resume book to share with recruiters.
Plan for roughly 5-10 minutes to complete it thoughtfully.
***AI usage is NOT permitted. AI detection is turned on, and usage will result in automatic rejection.***
