We're in person again!
After two years of virtual hackathons, we're pleased to be able to bring Hack Western back in-person for our 9th iteration. Hack Western will welcome 400+ students across North America from November 18th to 20th, 2022 to learn, innovate, find community, and build out their curiosities.
Students will collaborate in teams of up to four to build web, mobile, and hardware projects, while participating in workshops, learning from mentors, and competing for prizes.
About us
Founded in 2014, we're a team of technologists, problem-solvers, and creatives dedicated to building the technology community at Western University. Our mission since day one has been to foster an approachable and accessible environment for students from all backgrounds to learn about technology. We host Hack Western—one of Canada's largest and oldest annual student-run hackathons, as well as other initiatives like Zero to Hero, to further this goal.
Zero to Hero
Leading up to the event, we will host a pre-week of virtual programming known as Zero to Hero, from November 14-18th, 2022. The week-long event will be available to the general public and feature workshops, panels, networking opportunities, and more to supplement learning experiences before the hackathon weekend.
Past Sponsors
We'd like to extend our appreciation to all our past sponsors that helped make Hack Western a reality.
Interested in Becoming a Sponsor?
Over the past eight years, our sponsors have made it possible for us to bring together students from across Canada for a weekend of learning, building, and competing. Hack Western would not be where it is today without the generosity of our sponsors.
Interested in making an impact on the next generation of problem-solvers? Let's get in touch!
What is a hackathon?
A hackathon is an event designed for students to experiment with tech and bring a project idea to life. At Hack Western, participants will collaborate in teams of up to four to build web, mobile, and hardware projects. Students will get the opportunity to receive mentorship from industry professionals, connect with sponsors and recruiters, and compete for some cool prizes!
Who can participate?
Hack Western applications are open to post-secondary students from across the world. Whether you are a freshman or completing your Ph.D., we want you to apply! Unfortunately, we will not be accepting high school students at this time.
Each application is reviewed from the Hack Western organizing team, and decisions will be sent out on a rolling basis.
When do hacker applications open?
We will be announcing hacker applications in late September. Follow our social media and sign up for our mailing list by pre-registering here to be the first to find out.
How much does it cost to attend Hack Western?
Hack Western is completely free to attend, including free food and swag! Participants travelling to the event outside of Western and provided bus routes however may incur additional costs.
Will Hack Western be providing travel subsidies?
Hack Western will be providing bus routes to major cities in and surrounding Ontario free of charge to participants. Accepted attendees will need to confirm ahead of time should they be in need of the bus service. Otherwise, travelling to Hack Western will be at the expense of the participants at this time.
Will there be virtual opportunities to attend Hack Western?
As Hack Western 9 is a fully in-person event, unfortunately we will not have virtual opportunities to hack during the weekend. However, our pre-week event (Nov. 14-18, 2022) called Zero to Hero will feature virtual programming of workshops, speakers, etc. open to the general public upon registration.
What kind of workshops and activities will there be?
You won’t be hacking for 36 hours straight, as there will be many workshops and activities you can participate in during the event as well as the week leading up to it. Last year, our workshops included topics like creating chrome extensions, building voice apps, pitching your hackathon project, recruiting, and more. Our full schedule will be released closer to the event!
What if I've never participated in a hackathon before?
There's always a first time for everything, right? The first time is always intimidating, but with support from company mentors, beginner-friendly workshops, and a large network of passionate students, we're confident that you'll find your stride and have a great weekend.
Hack Western is a hackathon where individuals from various disciplines, majors, and backgrounds are encouraged to come out and participate.
What if I don’t have a team?
Not to worry! Prior to the event, we will have opportunities for team-matching through communication channels such as Discord. During the event we will also have a team-matching activity for any hackers still looking for a team. Team sizes can be anywhere from 1-4 people.
Can I start working on my hack before the event?
We follow the Major League Hacking guidelines, which prohibits students from bringing and continuing a project that they have already worked on. Your final project should be new and only built during the weekend of Hack Western.
What measures will you have in place regarding COVID-19 safety?
We take the health of our hackers and community seriously, and have documented our current plans you may review in our COVID-19 policy. Please note that these policies are subject to change and/or escalate depending on local and national health guidelines at the time of Hack Western.
Question not here?
Feel free to reach out to us on social media or directly at hello@hackwestern.com and we will be more than happy to answer any of your questions.
What is a hackathon?
A hackathon is an event designed for students to experiment with tech and bring a project idea to life. At Hack Western, participants will collaborate in teams of up to four to build web, mobile, and hardware projects. Students will get the opportunity to receive mentorship from industry professionals, connect with sponsors and recruiters, and compete for some cool prizes!
Who can participate?
Hack Western applications are open to post-secondary students from across the world. Whether you are a freshman or completing your Ph.D., we want you to apply! Unfortunately, we will not be accepting high school students at this time.
Each application is reviewed from the Hack Western organizing team, and decisions will be sent out on a rolling basis.
When do hacker applications open?
We will be announcing hacker applications in late September. Follow our social media and sign up for our mailing list by pre-registering here to be the first to find out.
How much does it cost to attend Hack Western?
Hack Western is completely free to attend, including free food and swag! Participants travelling to the event outside of Western and provided bus routes however may incur additional costs.
Will Hack Western be providing travel subsidies?
Hack Western will be providing bus routes to major cities in and surrounding Ontario free of charge to participants. Accepted attendees will need to confirm ahead of time should they be in need of the bus service. Otherwise, travelling to Hack Western will be at the expense of the participants at this time.
Will there be virtual opportunities to attend Hack Western?
As Hack Western 9 is a fully in-person event, unfortunately we will not have virtual opportunities to hack during the weekend. However, our pre-week event (Nov. 14-18, 2022) called Zero to Hero will feature virtual programming of workshops, speakers, etc. open to the general public upon registration.
What kind of workshops and activities will there be?
You won’t be hacking for 36 hours straight, as there will be many workshops and activities you can participate in during the event as well as the week leading up to it. Last year, our workshops included topics like creating chrome extensions, building voice apps, pitching your hackathon project, recruiting, and more. Our full schedule will be released closer to the event!
What if I've never participated in a hackathon before?
There's always a first time for everything, right? The first time is always intimidating, but with support from company mentors, beginner-friendly workshops, and a large network of passionate students, we're confident that you'll find your stride and have a great weekend.
Hack Western is a hackathon where individuals from various disciplines, majors, and backgrounds are encouraged to come out and participate.
What if I don’t have a team?
Not to worry! Prior to the event, we will have opportunities for team-matching through communication channels such as Discord. During the event we will also have a team-matching activity for any hackers still looking for a team. Team sizes can be anywhere from 1-4 people.
Can I start working on my hack before the event?
We follow the Major League Hacking guidelines, which prohibits students from bringing and continuing a project that they have already worked on. Your final project should be new and only built during the weekend of Hack Western.
What measures will you have in place regarding COVID-19 safety?
We take the health of our hackers and community seriously, and have documented our current plans you may review in our COVID-19 policy. Please note that these policies are subject to change and/or escalate depending on local and national health guidelines at the time of Hack Western.
Question not here?
Feel free to reach out to us on social media or directly at hello@hackwestern.com and we will be more than happy to answer any of your questions.