15 Nonprofit Hackathons & Innovation Challenges for Teens
If you’re a teenager looking for ways to use your creativity, nonprofit hackathons and innovation challenges can be a great place to start. These events give you the chance to work with others, brainstorm solutions, and apply your problem-solving skills to issues in education, healthcare, or the environment. They are designed to show you how teamwork and new ideas can be used to make a difference in the community.
Many nonprofit hackathons run online, so you can join from home. You get to connect with students and mentors from around the world, learning how different perspectives can shape stronger solutions. To help you find the right options, we’ve put together a list of 15 nonprofit hackathons and innovation challenges for teens.
15 Nonprofit Hackathons & Innovation Challenges for Teens
1. InventFuture Global Innovation Challenge (IFGIC)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size
Dates: September 19 – October 26
Registration Deadline: March 1 – September 19
Eligibility: Students aged 5–19
The InventFuture Global Innovation Challenge (IFGIC), hosted by Invent Future Global, is an annual online competition where you can develop and pitch solutions to real-world problems. You can enter solo or with a team of up to three students. In Round 1, you’ll submit a 60-second video pitch, a journal or log entry explaining your project’s origin, and a 6-slide presentation. International judges evaluate submissions based on creativity, impact, and feasibility. If selected for Round 2, you’ll present live during the Global Innovation Field Trip to a global audience of peers and experts. Projects can include apps, prototypes, services, social programs, or new ideas that address community or global challenges. The top 100 innovators are featured internationally.
2. Technovation Girls Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; last year, about 11,000 girls participated in the competition
Dates: The season starts on August 13, with final projects due April 20; the judging takes place from April 23 to May 18 (Round 1) and May 27 to June 10 (Round 2)
Application Deadline: August 13 – March 18
Eligibility: Girls aged 8–18
Technovation Girls is a global competition for girls ages 8–18 to use coding and AI to tackle problems they care about. Working in teams of 1–5, you’ll create a tech solution, build a business plan, and pitch your idea. You can join through a local Chapter or Club or participate virtually. Divisions are Beginner (8–12), Junior (13–15), and Senior (16–18), based on the oldest teammate’s age as of August 1. From October to May, you’ll put together a project that includes a pitch video, a business plan, and a technical video demonstrating how your app works, its use of AI, and the feedback you gathered. You can use beginner-friendly tools like MIT App Inventor, Scratch, or Thunkable, or code in languages like Python, Java, or Swift. You’ll also explore what goes into launching a startup, learn how to use AI responsibly, and practice marketing, research, and pitching.
3. United Hacks V6
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; over 1,250 students participated this year.
Dates: January 16 – January 18
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Anyone aged 13 or older
United Hacks V6, run by Hack United (a teen-founded nonprofit), is a 41-hour hackathon with workshops, teamwork, and problem-solving. It has two tracks: the Theme Track, where projects follow a theme announced at the start, and the General Track, open to any topic, like accessibility or mental health. Ten workshops are held to build skills. You can join solo or in a team of up to four, connect with mentors, professionals, and peers, and work on real-world challenges. Projects go on Devpost with a GitHub repo, write-up, and demo video. Afterward, you can view other teams’ projects and get feedback. Prizes total over $50,700, awarded for creativity and technical skill.
4. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual, with live workshops
Cost: Varies by the program; need-based financial aid is available
Cohort Size: 6–12 students (group program)
Dates: Varies by the cohort.
Application Deadline: Varies based on the cohort
Eligibility: All high school students
The Young Founders Lab, founded by Harvard and Stanford alumni, is a startup incubator for high school students seeking to launch a business or nonprofit. You’ll build a startup that tackles a real-world problem with guidance from mentors at companies like Google, Microsoft, and X. The program covers market research, idea development, business basics, prototyping, and launch preparation, culminating in a demo day where you pitch to potential investors. You can join either a 30-hour online group program in the summer or a 12-week individual program during the school year, which includes 12 hours of one-on-one coaching. The Individual Program employs strategies from accelerators like Y Combinator and draws on insights from alumni of Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford. The full brochure is available here.
5. NFTE World Series of Innovation (WSI) - Impact League Challenge
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; around 3,951 students participated this year
Dates: September 9 – April 21; entries are due by December 12, and winners will be announced on April 21
Application Deadline: September 9 – December 12
Eligibility: The Impact League Challenge is open to students worldwide aged 13–24, with high school students especially encouraged to join
The World Series of Innovation (WSI) Impact League Challenge, run by NFTE, lets students use entrepreneurship to tackle the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Challenges cover topics like economic growth, clean water, solar energy, public health, responsible AI, education, financial literacy through gaming, and climate action. You can compete solo or in teams. After registering, you pick a challenge, review the brief, and submit your idea online. Entries are judged on creativity, feasibility, and impact, with optional support from NFTE staff, mentors, and peers. Top submissions advance to the finals to create pitch videos, and winners are announced at a virtual event. The top three in each category win $300 to $1,500, with extra awards for teachers and mentors.
6. Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge (#JTIC25)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; over 20,000 students participated this year
Dates: January 22 – May 24
Application Deadline: January 22
Eligibility: Teens aged 13–18
The Jacobs Teen Innovation Challenge, run by the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, is a global online competition where students use design thinking to solve issues tied to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The challenge has four phases: Understand (research and define the problem), Ideate (brainstorm and refine ideas with tools like mind maps and “How Might We” questions), Prototype (build low-cost models to test and improve), and Pitch & Share (present solutions with clear storytelling). Winning teams are featured in the Pactful Community and media, receive certificates, and earn $500 to $2,000 in prizes. Teams can also win a $25 Storyteller Award by posting progress on social media with #JTIC25.
7. The Conrad Challenge
Location: Virtual; the final round takes place in person at Space Center Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: The Activation Stage is free, but there’s a $499 fee to take part in both the Innovation Stage and the Innovation Summit
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; 4,480 students participated last year
Dates: August 28 – October 30 (Activation Stage) | October 31 – January 8 (Innovation Stage) | April 22 – April 25 (Innovation Summit)
Application Deadline: October 30
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18
The Conrad Challenge, offered by the nonprofit Conrad Foundation, is a global competition for high school students. You will team up to tackle real-world problems in areas like aerospace, health, cyber technology, and energy using science, technology, and creativity. You can participate in a team of two to five students. The challenge starts with the Activation Stage, where you will work with a coach to register your team in the Conrad Portal, brainstorm challenges and innovative solutions, choose a challenge category, and create a Lean Canvas plan. In the Innovation Stage, you’ll submit a brief, a short 3–5 minute video, and a website showcasing your solution. Finalists advance to the Innovation Summit at Space Center Houston, where they pitch live, hear from speakers, join workshops and tours, and compete for scholarships and the title of Pete Conrad Scholar.
8. FutureHacks SEVEN
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; around 215 students participated this year
Dates: April 18 – April 20
Application Deadline: April 13
Eligibility: Students aged 7–18
FutureHacks SEVEN, hosted online by AiGoLearning, is an international hackathon for students of all ages and skill levels. Teams build tech projects, while parents can join workshops on the CS industry, college applications, and leadership. This year’s theme is Ethical AI in Education. Prizes include a $250 gift card, a VR headset, a Raspberry Pi set, and more. The event has two categories: Juniors (ages 7–13, grades 1–7) using Scratch or Python with limited parental guidance but no coding help, and Seniors (ages 14–18, grades 8–12) using any tools. Projects are judged only on the final product, and outside help leads to disqualification.
9. Future Impact Challenge (FIC)
Location: Virtual and in person at Silicon Valley, CA
Cost: Round 1 has a $10 team entry fee, Round 2 costs $250 per team, and Round 3 is free
Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; 2–5 members per team
Dates: All three rounds take place between January 1 and May 5
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 19
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 13–19
The Future Impact Challenge, run by the Applied Computing Foundation, is a global competition where you use computing to build sustainable solutions and promote responsible tech. You must join as a team of 2–5 members with 1–2 supervisors or coaches, since solo entries aren’t allowed. Your project must be from the same year’s season. Along the way, you’ll attend live mentor talks on technical skills, entrepreneurship, and industry insights. The challenge has three rounds: in Round 1, you submit a survey, pitch deck, and deliverable. If you make it to Round 2, you’ll work on product development with a demo video and user feedback. Finalists in Round 3 pitch live to experts in a presentation and Q&A. If you’re in the top three, you earn $1,000, attend the Winners Gala, connect with ACF coaches and sponsors, and even have the chance to launch your product as an ACF startup team with support from Silicon Valley mentors.
10. TechPals Code for Change Hackathon
Location: Virtual event with optional in-person hubs in select cities
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; around 103 students participated this year
Dates: April 11 – April 13
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: High school students who are over 13 years old
The Code for Change Hackathon, hosted by TechPals, invites you to build tech solutions for social issues. It has four tracks: Digital Pioneers (tools to reduce digital illiteracy), Future of Learning (improving digital education), Planet Protectors (tech for the environment and sustainability), and Imagine & Play (any project with a positive social impact). Winners in each track get a $75 Visa gift card. You can join solo or with up to five teammates, and if you sign up alone, you can be matched with a team at the opening ceremony. You’ll also get access to mentors, workshops, APIs, and background info on challenges faced by seniors and underserved communities to guide your project.
11. TeenTechSF Civic Hackathon
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: 100–150 students; maximum 4 students per team
Dates: October 11–12 (tentative); hackathons usually take place over a weekend, with a longer session on Saturday and a shorter one on Sunday. The final schedule will be shared closer to the event.
Application Deadline: Typically in October
Eligibility: High school students of all experience levels
TeenTechSF’s Civic Hackathon, run by TeenTechSF, is beginner-friendly and open even if you have no coding experience. You’ll team up with other high schoolers, join workshops, get mentorship, and use resources to build your first project. Teams can have up to four members, and if you don’t have one, you can join or form a team at the event or on the Discord server. You’ll work on projects within tracks announced at the opening ceremony and compete for prizes of $1,000 or more while building skills and experience.
12. Blue Ocean Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; 12,784 students participated this year
Dates: February 22 – May 13
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18 at the time of registration
The Blue Ocean Competition, run by the nonprofit Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneurs Corporation, invites high school students to pitch original business ideas that solve real problems or explore new markets. To enter the competition, you’ll complete a short mini-course, then submit a 5-minute video on YouTube explaining your idea in English, how it works, who it helps, and what makes it innovative. You can work solo or with up to three teammates. You can use Blue Ocean tools, like ERRC Grid and the Strategy Canvas, for your pitch. Judges first select the top 100 videos, then narrow the pool to 30, then 10, and finally announce the winners. Prizes range from $500 to $1,000, and even if you don’t win, you’ll gain experience and learn from other students’ ideas.
13. GEEP Youth Innovation Challenge
Location: Virtual; the award ceremony will be held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; up to 5 members per team
Dates: Pitches are reviewed between July and August; the award ceremony takes place on September 29–30
Application Deadline: May 26 – June 30
Eligibility: Youth aged 15–30
The Youth Innovation Challenge, run by Taiwan’s Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) and the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), invites you to design research-based solutions to marine problems. This year’s focus is on youth as ocean stewards, and projects must include an environmental education component. You can choose from three themes: marine biodiversity and conservation, marine debris, or public-private collaboration. To apply, you submit a three-minute video in English and written answers to four questions. Fifteen finalists get a certificate, global recognition through GEEP, NAAEE, and partners, plus access to a worldwide network. Three winners each earn $1,000, recognition, and a two-day trip to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for the September award ceremony.
14. Sustainable Mobility Career Awareness & "Virtual" Grand Innovation Challenge by Iyai+
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; 4–7 participants per team
Dates: Late January – August
Application Deadline: October 30 – January 31
Eligibility: Students aged 18–25
The Sustainable Mobility Career Awareness & Grand Innovation Challenge is a virtual program for young adults with three parts: Career Awareness, the Grand Innovation Challenge, and Critical Conversations. In Career Awareness, you join talks, resources, and networking to explore jobs in transportation and infrastructure. Sessions are recorded, and the top trivia contestant wins $1,000. In the Grand Innovation Challenge, teams of 4–7 design equity-focused mobility solutions. Each organizer sends one team to nationals, where prizes are $1,000 for first, $500 for second, and $250 for third. Projects are judged on accessibility, affordability, sustainability, workforce strategies, data use, collaboration, transparency, and youth and community engagement. Critical Conversations give youth a voice on transportation issues through focus groups hosted with Iyai+.
15. Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge
Location: Virtual; the finals take place in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: No fixed cohort size; 1,890 students participated this year
Dates: September 3 – October 28
Application Deadline: February 1 – June 11
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 must complete a science fair project and compete in a Society-affiliated fair, which nominates the top 10% for this competition
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), run by the nonprofit Society for Science, is a national STEM competition for middle schoolers. Each year, the top 10% of 6th–8th-grade students from Society-affiliated fairs are nominated to apply. About $100,000 in prizes are awarded to students whose projects cover a wide range of STEM topics, such as creating water filters with animal bone waste, using machine learning for allergen detection, and improving vehicle safety in poor visibility.
Teams of up to three may enter, but each student applies individually so judges can see their personal contributions. You can apply even if your teammates don’t, and only one member of a team might advance. Nominees join the Society alumni network and receive small prizes. The Top 300 earn $125, a ribbon, and subscriptions to Science News Explores and Wolfram|Alpha Notebook Edition. Finalists receive $500, a trip to Washington, D.C., with a parent or guardian, and the opportunity for additional awards.
Young Founders Lab
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you build a startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
You can access the application link here!