E14 Hackathon

Build Something That Matters

in 36 Hours

This January, join some of the most driven builders at MIT for a 36-hour hackathon designed to turn ideas into reality. Whether you're pushing an existing startup forward or exploring a brand-new concept, this hackathon is engineered to help you make meaningful and relevant progress.

Who Can Join?

The event is primarily for MIT founders & students, but motivated builders from nearby universities and the broader community are welcome to apply.

Two Tracks, One Goal: Momentum

1. Existing Venture Track

For teams or solo founders who already have an idea and some traction. You’ll use the hackathon to build major features, grow users, or hit your next milestone.

2. Zero-to-One Track

For those early in the process. You should come in with an idea you’re excited about, but you’re not required to have made any progress on it yet — just bring curiosity and the drive to build fast.

How Judging Works

Progress is the heart of this hackathon. Judges will evaluate:

  • Your venture as a whole (product clarity, market understanding, execution)

  • The progress you make during the event will be weighted most heavily

A team that starts from scratch and pushes an MVP toward completion can outperform a team that's already far along. What matters is how far you move over the weekend.

What to Expect

  • A Friday evening keynote followed by a mixer to meet other builders

  • Short fireside chats throughout the weekend

  • Expert mentors available for guidance, feedback, and technical support

  • A collaborative environment focused on momentum, creativity, and execution

Food and workspace will be provided for all 36 hours — just bring your laptop and ambition.

Prizes

Winners will earn:

  • A fast-track EPOCH fellowship interview with a 48-hour response window — chance to win $50K SAFE (no cap, no discount) from E14

  • Exclusive merch for winners + participant gear

  • Credits from developer tools, cloud providers, and AI labs to choose from

  • Additional prizes to be announced

When & Where

January 23–25

MIT Campus (final venue will be announced soon)

Apply Soon

Space is limited, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

If you're ready to build, apply —and make this the weekend your idea takes off.

Apply ↓