Kingston, Jamaica · 2027
Build something
that should exist.
One day. One team. Make something real. A hackathon for secondary-school students across Kingston.
About
Jamaica’s student
hackathon.
Hack 876 brings together secondary-school students for one day of building, experimenting, and turning ideas into real prototypes.
- You don’t need to arrive with a
startup idea. - You don’t need to be the
best programmerin your school. - Bring curiosity, a team, and something you want to make better.
- hackers
- 80 hackers
- teams
- 20 teams
- schools
- 8 schools
- day
- 1 day
The Hack
Build something
that should exist.
Find a problem, opportunity, or experience you care about. Then spend the day turning your idea into something people can actually see, use, or experience.
You could build
- Websites
- Apps
- AI tools
- Games
- Hardware
- Data projects
- Automations
- Agents
- Interactive experiences
- + whatever else brings it to life
Use whatever tech fits your idea. Never built anything before? That’s fine.
it.
Ideas / Tracks
Where will your
idea take you?
Explore a track, or blend a few. They’re here to inspire you, not to box you in.
tap one for idea sparks
Life
Make everyday life better.
Learn
Rethink how people learn.
Culture
Build around Jamaican stories, creativity, language, or culture.
Business
Build for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Move
Rethink transportation, mobility, and getting around.
Wellbeing
Create something that supports healthier lives.
Resilience
Think climate, infrastructure, emergencies, or community resilience.
Wildcard
Build something nobody asked for.
What counts
What makes a good hack?
Solve something real.
Start with a problem or moment you actually understand.
Make something that works.
A rough demo that runs beats a perfect slide deck.
Try something bold.
Take a swing. Judges notice ambition.
Know what you built.
Explain how it works, why it matters, and what’s next.
Complexity alone does not win Hack 876.
A simple idea that works, solves something real, and is explained well beats a pile of tech every time.
What judges look at
Six things, in plain language. No secret formula.
- Problem & Insight
- Did you find something worth fixing, and do you get why it matters?
- Product & Solution
- Does your idea actually answer the problem?
- Execution
- Does it work? How much did you really build today?
- Originality
- Is it fresh, or a new take on something familiar?
- Impact
- Who would this help, and how much?
- Pitch & Demo
- Can you show it and explain it clearly?
Schedule
One day.
A lot can happen.
Doors open at 8. Hacking starts at 9:45. By 7:30 you’ll have built something that didn’t exist this morning.
2027 · Date TBA
- Arrive
- Build
- Show
- Celebrate
Times may shift a little. Final run-of-show goes to accepted hackers.
Arrive
Doors open
Check in, grab your lanyard, find your table.
Opening
Welcome to Hack 876. Let’s go.
Keynote
A little inspiration before the chaos.
Challenge reveal
The prompt drops. Start scheming.
Build
Hacking begins
Clock’s running. Build.
Lunch
Refuel. Talk to other teams. Steal nothing.
Submissions open
Start wrapping up and write your submission.
Hacking ends
Hands off keyboards.
Show
Judging
Demo to the judges. Show what works.
Finalists announced
Hearts racing.
Finals
Top teams demo on the main stage.
Celebrate
Awards
Trophies, cheering, probably some screaming.
Photos + hangout
Get the photo. Swap socials.
That’s a wrap
Go home and sleep. You earned it.
Who can attend
5th Form through
Upper 6th Form.
Hack 876 is open to students at participating schools. Participating schools recommend students, and recommended students apply here. You’re welcome whether you code, design, research, or just really want to build something.
- Team size
- 4–5
- students
- Spots
- 80
- hackers max
- Schools
- 8
- participating
Proposed venue
Hillel Academy
Kingston, Jamaica
not final yet!
From 8 participating schools
- Hillel Academy
- Campion College
- Jamaica College
- Immaculate Conception High School
- Wolmer's
- Ardenne High School
- American International School of Kingston
- St. Andrew High School for Girls
People
Judges, speakers
& mentors.
People who build things for a living, here to cheer you on, help you get unstuck, and pick the winners.
Judges & speakers
Dominic Saunders
Tesla
Jordan Howell
Microsoft
Joshua Ardito
Meta
Tahj Atkinson
Google
Nadani Dixon
Redfin
Stefen Ewers
Knovel Protocol
Kendall Todd
Accenture
Netania Mundell
Diageo
Prizes
Build. Present.
Get recognized.
Six ways to walk away a winner. What you actually win gets announced soon.
Hack 876 Winner
The whole thing. Best overall build.
Prize announced soon
Second Place
So close. Still brilliant.
Prize announced soon
Third Place
On the podium.
Prize announced soon
Plus special awards
Best Design
Looks great. Feels even better.
Prize announced soon
Boldest Idea
The swing nobody else took.
Prize announced soon
People’s Choice
Voted by the room.
Prize announced soon
Sponsors
Made possible by
Interested in supporting Hack 876?
Help 80 students build something real. We’d love to talk.
FAQ
Questions? Good.
The short answers.
What is a hackathon?
An event where you team up and build something from scratch in a short amount of time. At Hack 876 that's one day.
You don't have to hack into anything. It's about making things: apps, games, tools, gadgets, whatever you can pull off before the clock runs out.
Who can attend?
Students in 5th Form through Upper 6th Form at participating schools. Schools recommend students, and recommended students then apply. There are 80 spots.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Great teams need designers, researchers, storytellers and people who can pitch. If you've never built anything before, that's fine. Come curious.
Do I need a team before applying?
No. Apply solo or with friends. If you don't have a team, we'll help you find one, possibly with students from other schools.
How big can my team be?
4 to 5 students.
What can I build?
Websites, apps, AI tools, games, hardware, data projects, automations, interactive experiences. Whatever brings your idea to life. The tracks are there for inspiration, not to box you in.
Can I use AI tools?
Yes, use whatever tech fits your idea. Just be ready to explain what you built and how it works. Judges will ask.
details comingWhat should I bring?
A laptop and charger if you have one, a water bottle, and your school ID. A full packing list will be shared with accepted hackers before the event.
details comingIs Hack 876 free?
Details on cost will be shared here soon.
details comingWill food be provided?
There's a lunch break on the schedule. Details on meals and dietary needs will be shared with accepted hackers.
details comingWhere is Hack 876?
Kingston, Jamaica. The proposed venue is Hillel Academy. We'll confirm the final location here.
How does judging work?
Teams demo to judges, who look at the problem you picked, your solution, how well it works, originality, impact, and your pitch. Finalists then demo on the main stage.
Complexity alone does not win Hack 876.
Can I start my project before the event?
Brainstorm all you want, but building starts when hacking begins on the day. Full rules on pre-existing work will be posted before the event.
details comingFor parents & guardians
Hack 876 is a supervised, school-day-length event for secondary students. Here’s what to expect.
- Supervisiondetails coming
- Students are supervised by event staff and volunteers throughout the day. Details on staffing and ratios will be shared with families before the event.
- Schedule
- Doors open at 8:00 AM and the event wraps at 7:30 PM. Pick-up details will be shared ahead of time.
- Venue
- The proposed venue is Hillel Academy in Kingston. We'll confirm the final location here.
- Fooddetails coming
- Lunch is part of the day. Information on meals and dietary requirements will be collected from accepted students.
- Emergency contactsdetails coming
- An on-site contact and emergency procedures will be shared with every family before the event.
- Permission & consentdetails coming
- A signed parent or guardian consent form will be required for every participant. Forms will be sent to accepted students.
Bring an idea.
Leave with a prototype.
80 spots. One day. Find something worth fixing, then build it.