Introduction
You do not need to be an expert to build something real. This page collects free tools, datasets, and tutorials to help you go from idea to working project, whether you have never written code or you build apps already.
For workshop times, joining instructions, recordings, and slides, visit the STEM2Connect AI Hackathon Discord and ask the organizers.
Sessions and Materials
The hackathon Discord is the contact point for upcoming sessions, recordings, slides, and access help. If you missed a session or joined late, ask the organizers there for the materials.
How to request mentor support
Contact the organizers in the hackathon Discord to request mentorship. Include your project track, what you are building, and the specific help you need. If you cannot reach your mentor, ask the organizers in Discord for help.
Tools and Technologies
AI coding assistants are allowed with disclosure and attribution. Describe which tools you used and what they contributed in your README and Devpost description. An AI feature in the working project is strongly recommended and can strengthen your submission, but is not mandatory for participants who lack API credits. See Resources for free options. Before using a tool, check its terms, age requirements, pricing, and usage limits. Ask your mentor if you need help choosing one.
Inspiration
Teachable Machine: Train a model to recognize images, sounds, or body poses in your browser with no coding. You can export the model and use it in a website or app.
MIT App Inventor: Build mobile apps with drag-and-drop blocks. A good fit if you have never coded before.
AI models and APIs
Hugging Face: Thousands of free, open AI models for text, images, audio, and translation. Browse Spaces to try working AI apps in your browser and see how they were built.
Building and coding
GitHub Student Developer Pack: Free developer tools for verified students 13 and older, including GitHub Copilot, an AI coding assistant.
GitHub Skills: Short, interactive courses that teach you how to use GitHub. Start here if you have never made a repository.
Streamlit and Gradio: Turn a Python script into a simple web app in a few lines of code. Both work well for AI demos.
Datasets
Kaggle Datasets: Thousands of free datasets on almost any topic.
Data.gov: Open data from the U.S. government on health, education, climate, and more.
WHO Global Health Observatory: Global health statistics for Healthcare track projects.
NASA Earthdata: Climate and environmental data for Sustainability track projects.
Demo video
OBS Studio: Free screen recording software for your demo video. Upload the finished video to YouTube or Vimeo as unlisted, then paste the link in your submission.
Registration and submission
Join this hackathon on Devpost to submit a project. The STEM2Connect registration form is optional but strongly recommended. Devpost is the project submission platform.
AI feature ideas
Examples include a trained image classifier, a model that summarizes or translates text, or an ML prediction built from a dataset. Fetching ordinary data from a conventional API does not itself create an AI feature. AI coding assistance is allowed when disclosed and attributed; an integrated AI feature is encouraged, with the credit-access exception explained above.
Free options for adding AI
Checked 18 October 2026. Provider offers and limits can change; these are independent services, not hackathon prizes.
- Hugging Face Inference Providers: Free accounts currently receive US$0.10 in monthly inference credits, subject to change. This is a small allowance for experiments; additional use requires purchased credits.
- Gemini API free tier: Selected models offer free input and output within rate limits. Choose a model explicitly marked free; not every model qualifies. Google AI Studio and Gemini API terms require users to be 18 or older and prohibit API clients directed toward or likely to be accessed by under-18s. Regional and data-use restrictions also apply; read the terms before choosing this option.
- Teachable Machine: Train and export a small image, sound, or pose classifier in your browser for a working AI demo, without relying on paid inference API credits.
Check age and country eligibility before choosing a provider. If you cannot access a suitable tool, ask for help in the hackathon Discord. Buying API credits is not required to enter.
How to submit your project
- Prepare your repository. On GitHub, create a public repository and upload your source files. Add a README with the problem, solution, setup steps, AI tools or APIs, and credits for external code and datasets.
- Record your demo. Show the working project, explain the problem and AI component, and describe what you learned. Keep the demo video to 6 minutes or less. Upload to YouTube or Vimeo with access that lets judges watch it.
- Start your Devpost entry. Open the hackathon Overview and choose Start project. Complete the project name, tagline, description, repository link, demo link, and required track information.
- Add teammates. Use Manage team to invite every member. Each teammate should accept the invitation and appear on the project.
- Submit. Finish the required steps, open Submit, and select Submit project before the deadline. Saving a draft does not enter it.
- Check the result. Look for the confirmation and the Submitted label under My projects. Test your repository and video links while signed out.
Official guides: Create a GitHub repository · Submit a project on Devpost.
Data and repository safety
Use synthetic or publicly licensed datasets where possible, and credit your sources. Avoid uploading real patient records, private student information, or other confidential data to AI services or public repositories. Keep passwords, API keys, and credentials out of your code, README, screenshots, and demo video.
Contact Us & Support Channels
Hackathon community: Join the STEM2Connect AI Hackathon Discord to meet collaborators and contact the organizers.
Hackathon manager: [email protected]. Contact the manager for registration, mentorship, workshop, recording, or submission questions. If Discord is unavailable, use email.
Program website: www.stem2connect.org/hackathon. Use this www address for the registration page.