01
AI
Models, agents, and curious machines that make people say: wait, how?
Telos
Hacks
A 24-hour build sprint for high school students who want to make something that matters.
WhenApril 17–18, 2027Saturday 9AM → Sunday ~1PM
Who200 hackersTeams of up to 4
What100% freeMeals, swag, everything
Prize pool$20,000Revealed closer to the event
01About the event
A place to start
Come with
curiosity.
Telos Hacks is a free, in-person hackathon for high school builders across the Bay Area. One room. Twenty-four hours. A lot of ideas becoming real.
Bring a half-formed thought, a friend, or absolutely nothing at all. Pick a lane, learn something new, and make something you'll want to show someone.
No experience required↗
24hours to build
200student hackers
4max per team
0dollars to attend
02Find your lane
Make it
yours.
Tracks are starting points, not boxes. Follow the idea wherever it goes.
02
Web & Apps
Ship the thing you wish existed. A beautiful interface is a feature.
03
Hardware
Make it real with our live hardware lab, full of parts, sensors, and tools.
04
Social Impact
Build for a real person, a real place, or a problem you cannot stop thinking about.
05FOR FIRST TIMERS
Beginner
A dedicated lane with friendly prompts, starter workshops, and zero pressure to know everything.
03Where it happens
Venue hunt,
live.
We're finding the right room for 200 curious people, a hardware lab, and one excellent weekend.
Bay Area, CAExact venue TBD
No mystery address. We'll share the real one when it's real.
04The weekend
The build
unfolds.
One continuous weekend, from first check-in to final demos.
SAT9:00AM
NOW IN THE RUN OF SHOW01 / 14
SAT9:00 AM
Check-In
Doors open, breakfast is ready, and you find your people.
SAT10:00 AM
Waitlist Check-In
A second check-in window for students arriving from the waitlist.
SAT11:00 AM
Opening Ceremony
Welcome, ground rules, tracks, mentors, and the official kickoff.
SAT12:00 PM
Hacking Begins
Ideas become plans. Plans become the first commit.
SAT12:05 PM
Team Mixer
Meet collaborators, find a team, and get unstuck before you start.
SAT12:30 PM
Lunch
Refuel and get back to building.
SAT7:00 PM
Dinner
A proper meal for the long middle stretch.
SUN12:00 AM
Midnight Build Check
Take stock, ask for help, and keep the good ideas moving.
SUN1:00 AM
Overnight Build Session
The quiet hours: focused building, mentors, and small wins.
SUN7:30 AM
Hacking Ends
Lock the project, polish the demo, and get ready to show it off.
SUN8:00 AM
Breakfast
One more refuel before judging begins.
SUN9:00 AM
Judging Begins
Project demos and judging across every track.
SUN11:00 AM
Closing Ceremony
Celebrate the builds, the breakthroughs, and the people.
SUN~1:00 PM
End of Hackathon
The first Telos Hacks comes to a close.
05For the people who make it possible
Back the next build
Put your name
in the room.
Your support gives 200 students a free weekend to build, learn, and meet the people who make the future.
Talk sponsorshipPlatinum$5,000
Gold$2,500
Silver$1,000
Bronze$500
06Questions, answered
Before you build
Good
questions.
Still wondering something? Pull up in the Discord and ask a human.
Join the DiscordHigh school students of all skill levels. You do not need to attend a particular school, have a team, or know exactly what you want to build.
No. The Beginner lane is made for first-time hackers, and mentors plus workshops will be around throughout the event.
Teams can have up to 4 hackers. Coming solo is completely fine; there will be time to meet people and form a team.
Telos Hacks is 100% free. Meals, swag, hardware access, and everything else are covered.
Bay Area, CA. The exact venue is still being found, and we will publish it as soon as it is locked. Watch the live venue hunt block for updates.
The prize pool is $20,000. Prizes will be revealed closer to the event.
Yes. Reach out to hack@telost.org with what you have in mind. In-kind support is welcome and can be custom.
07The people behind it
Organized by
Telost
.org
Telos Hacks is being built by Telost.org for students who want to learn, make, and help each other ship.
Keep your weekend open
Make something
worth making.
April 17–18, 2027 · Bay Area, CA · 100% free
Applications are open