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Hedera Hello Future Apex Hackathon 2026

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Registrations close in
53
days
9
hrs
1
mins
One Hackathon. Endless Possibilities. Hack Fast. Build Smart. Innovate. Win Big.
BlockchainBeginner FriendlyOpen SourceCreative Hacks
Status
Register Now
Participants
81
Prize Pool
$250,000USD
Format
Virtual
Submission Starts on
17 Feb, 2026, 12:00AM(EST)

About

Hedera Hello Future Apex Hackathon 2026


Let’s give our best to Hedera Hello Future Apex Hackathon, one of the most anticipated hackathons bringing together both new builders and experienced Hedera developers to collaborate, innovate, and compete on a global virtual stage.


With a $250,000 prize pool, a four-week hacking period, and support from Hedera’s incredible industry partners, this hackathon is designed to help builders turn bold ideas into real-world solutions.


Together, let’s kick off the year with a powerful journey of innovation, breakthroughs, and momentum that propels your project to the next level.


This hackathon is designed to help you:

  • For new developers: Bring bold new ideas to life—you’re welcome here!
  • For Legacy Builders: Take your existing projects to the next level, continuing to innovate and refine your work.
  • For returning Hackathon participants: Build on the projects you’ve been developing and push them further.
  • Discover Hedera’s amazing partners and the opportunities they offer, including a $70,000 prize pool as part of the overall $250,000.
  • Tackle real-world problem statements. Engage with ecosystem partners, explore Hedera’s tools and solutions and tap into the innovation and resources available to you


Visit our website here to find out more - https://hellofuturehackathon.dev/

Access our Resources Page here - https://hellofuturehackathon.dev/resources

Join us on Discord - https://go.hellofuturehackathon.dev/hfa-discord

Eligibility Criteria

  • Ages18+
  • GenderAll genders
  • Teams
    1 - 5 members
  • ProfileAll Profiles
  • Regions

    Exclude specific countries/territories

Challenge Themes

Each theme has its own challenge statements, but those are optional sparks of inspiration – have fun exploring your own ideas within the theme!

Theme 1: AI & Agents

This track challenges builders to explore the fusion of AI-driven agents with decentralized infrastructure by creating marketplaces, coordination layers, and tools where autonomous actors can think, transact, and collaborate—leveraging Hedera’s fast, low-cost microtransactions and secure consensus to unlock the rise of transparent, autonomous economies.

Challenge Statements

  1. AI & Agents (Main Track Submission)

Theme 2: DeFi & Tokenization

This track challenges builders to push DeFi beyond standalone protocols by creating interoperable, composable systems—ranging from cross-chain bridges and synthetic assets to tokenized real-world assets and programmable payment rails—leveraging Hedera’s high throughput, low fees, and secure consensus to shape the next generation of decentralized finance.

Challenge Statements

  1. DeFi & Tokenization (Main Track Submission)

Theme 3: Sustainability

This track empowers builders to create financial systems that promote ecological and social impact—developing incentive mechanisms, on-chain verification tools, community-driven models, and marketplaces that reward regeneration and channel value back to the planet and society—leveraging Hedera’s low-carbon, energy-efficient network to build economies that give more than they take.

Challenge Statements

  1. Sustainability (Main Track Submission)

Theme 4: Open Tracks

This track invites visionaries to experiment, remix, and innovate with bold ideas that don’t fit the categories—building verifiable healthcare systems, transparent supply chains, efficient logistics frameworks, or entirely new DLT use cases—while leveraging Hedera’s efficiency and reliability as a sandbox for solutions that could reshape industries or create new ones.

Challenge Statements

  1. Open Tracks (Main Track Submission)

Theme 5: Legacy Builders

For returning participants from past Hedera Hackathons, including Origins, to build on previous ideas or apply their experience to new concepts. This track is for deeper exploration, refinement, or reinvention. Eligibility requires prior participation in a Hedera Hackathon, with improvements made during the Ascension period.

Challenge Statements

  1. Legacy Builders (Main Track Submission)

Timeline

🗓️ Subscribe to the Apex's Program Calendar -> https://go.hellofuturehackathon.dev/calendar



Registration

  • Registration opens: Now until March 16


Pre-Hackathon Workshops

  • Pre-hackathon Partner Workshop 1 – 5 February
  • Pre-hackathon Partner Workshop 2 – 10 February
  • Pre-hackathon Workshop by Hedera – 12 February


Opening Ceremony

  • 17 February, 10 AM ET


Apex Hackathon Period

  • 17 February – 16 March (submission period for projects)


Partner Workshops

  • Workshop 3 – 20 February
  • Workshop 4 – 26 February
  • Workshop 5 – 2 March


AMA Sessions

  • AMA 1 (Asia time) – 23 February
  • AMA 2 (US time) – 25 February
  • AMA 3 (Asia time) – 26 February


Mentor's Office Hours

  • MOH (US time) – 4 March
  • MOH (US time) – 12 March


Submission & Review

  • Apex Submission Deadline: 16 March
  • Judging Period – 17 March–10 April


Closing & Winners Announcement

  • 27 April

Submissions Requirements

1. Project’s GitHub Repo Link

• Team leader to create the project's GitHub Repo and share the access with the rest of the team to collaborate on.

• The team will save all submission items onto this Github Repo where the judges may access the items during the judging period.

• GitHub repo should host the application’s code, a README file, any other deployment files and testing instructions.


2. Project Details

• Project Description (max 100 words)

• Selected hackathon track

• A list of tech stack (solutions, technology infrastructure, technology services, etc.) used by the team to build your project


3. Pitch Deck (in pdf)

Here’s a potential structure you can adapt for your pitch deck:

a. Team and Project Introduction

b. Project Summary: Provide a comprehensive overview of your solution, keeping in mind that the 7 judging criteria will form the basis of judges’ assessment.

c. Future Roadmap: Any key learnings and room from improvements? Outline the next steps for your project if you were to continue developing it.

d. Demo: Showcase the technical strengths, usability and performance of your solution here! You must pre-record your demo, upload it to Youtube, and insert the link in your deck.

Note: Submissions without a demo video link in the deck will not be scored


4. Project Demo Link

This is the URL to the live working environment of the solution the team has developed.


5.Project Demo Video

This is the URL to the project demo video of the solution the team has developed.

Judging Criteria

Innovation - 10%

Guiding Points:

  • Does the team’s project align to the hackathon track?
  • How innovative is the solution? Does this exist cross-chain?
  • Has something like this been seen before in the Hedera ecosystem?
  • Does this extend, or establish new, capabilities for the Hedera ecosystem?


Feasibility - 10%

Guiding Points:

  • Can the proposed idea be created using Hedera network services or ecosystem platforms?
  • Does this need to be a Web3 solution? Or could it be done already on Web2?
  • Does the team understand the problem space / domain that they’re solving?
  • Does the team understand what’s required to execute the solution, and have the capability to do so?
  • Did the team create, and understand, a Lean / Business Model Canvas to illustrate the business model intended to be used as part of the solution being created?


Execution - 20%

Guiding Points:

  • Were the team able to create a MVP for their solution?
  • Did the team deliver a Proof of Concept (PoC) with a limited, but important, set of features?
  • Did the team create a fully functioning solution?
  • Did the team function well together and work to each other’s strengths? Was there effective leadership within the team?
  • Did the team establish a strategy and long-term plan for the development of the solution beyond the hackathon?
  • Did the team identify a Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy for the solution?
  • Did the team identify where they could use market feedback cycles to improve the solution / idea?
  • Did the team identify important design decisions they made?
  • Did the team have a good emphasis on user experience/accessibility?


Integration - 15%

Guiding Points:

  • To what degree does the project use the Hedera network?
  • How integrated is it? What services are used?
  • Are any of our ecosystem platforms being used, or leveraged?
  • Is a Hedera service being integrated in a way it hasn’t been seen before? (creativity)


Success - 20%

Guiding Points:

  • Does the solution positively impact the Hedera network or ecosystem?
  • Does the solution lead to more Hedera accounts being created?
  • Does the solution give rise to a high number of monthly active Hedera accounts?
  • Does the solution lead to greater TPS on the Hedera network?
  • Does the solution give the Hedera network exposure to a greater audience?


Validation - 15%

Guiding Points:

  • Did the team identify where to gain market feedback? e.g. ask users / customers, partners, practitioners, subject matter experts (SMEs) etc.
  • Did the team establish one or more market feedback cycles? e.g. Following up with users that tried the product to ask for feedback, or a review?
  • What traction with the market have the team achieved?
  • Onboarded early adopters | Free / Paid trials? | Taken any revenue? | What is the market sentiment? | What is the growth / churn rate?


Pitch - 10%

Guiding Points:

  • Are the problem and solution presented clearly?
  • Is the problem big enough for sustained growth?
  • Is the style and narrative of the pitch well thought out & executed?
  • Were the team able to convey a significant & exciting opportunity?
  • Did the number / metrics of the solution make sense?
  • How was Hedera represented in the pitch?
  • Were suitable responses to questions given?
  • Do they clearly state their MVP’s features & why they chose those / them?


Prizes

🏆 Prize Breakdown by Main Tracks ($175,000)


1. AI & Agents – Total: $35,000

  • 🥇 1st Place: $17,500
  • 🥈 2nd Place: $11,000
  • 🥉 3rd Place: $6,500


2. DeFi & Tokenization – Total: $35,000

  • 🥇 1st Place: $17,500
  • 🥈 2nd Place: $11,000
  • 🥉 3rd Place: $6,500


3. Sustainability – Total: $35,000

  • 🥇 1st Place: $17,500
  • 🥈 2nd Place: $11,000
  • 🥉 3rd Place: $6,500


4. Open Track – Total: $$35,000

  • 🥇 1st Place: $17,500
  • 🥈 2nd Place: $11,000
  • 🥉 3rd Place: $6,500


5. Legacy Builders – Total: $35,000

  • 🥇 1st Place: $17,500
  • 🥈 2nd Place: $11,000
  • 🥉 3rd Place: $6,500



🏆 Prize Pool for Bounty ($70,000)*details will be shared soon


🏆 Prize Pool for Side Quests ($5,000) *details will be shared soon