First Hack
New to hackathons? Start with introductory workshops and hands-on mentorship. Learn the skills to turn an idea into your first project, with support as you build.
DS+X 2026. Data science +
what you care about.
October 24–25, 20261 day of Hackachusetts · 2 days of DS+XBU Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences
665 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
The idea
A discipline. A community.
A question you can't leave alone.
DS+X is an interdisciplinary hackathon hosted by BU Spark! and the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, where data science meets other disciplines. Bring an interest in art, health, college life, or another field, and work with people from different backgrounds to turn an idea into a working project.
You can take part at any level of technical experience. Workshops, mentorship, and teamwork give you the support to experiment, learn new skills, and build something together. Creativity, ethics, design, and collaboration matter alongside the final project.
Tracks
Choose College Hack, Art Hack, or Health Hack for a project in those areas. First + Open Hack welcomes first-time hackers and any idea outside the other three tracks. DS+X also hosts Hackachusetts on Saturday, October 24, with challenges in health and biotech, robotics, energy, and education.
Explore how data and AI can improve college life for students, alumni, and faculty. Make campus travel safer, connect people with career opportunities, understand student experiences, or uncover emerging research trends. Build your own solution or take inspiration from proposed BU IS&T projects, including bike-lane safety analysis, alumni networking, and student engagement dashboards.
2026 track
First + Open Hack
For first-time hackers and ideas beyond the other tracks.
Open Hack
Have an idea outside health, art, or college life? Bring it here. Explore another field, question, or challenge with data science and AI, at any experience level.
Hackachusetts at DS+X.
Saturday, October 24 · 8 AM–8 PM
One statewide hackathon within your DS+X weekend. Build with Kiro in Healthtech/Biotech, Robotics, Energy, or Education, with credits available to participants.
Join the Health Hack challenges from MeHI, or explore the other Hackachusetts challenges. Submit on Saturday, then keep building for DS+X on Sunday.
Explore Hackachusetts on SundaiProgram
Follow the day. Open the workshop rounds to explore your choices. Find team formation, meals, and submission deadlines below. Sessions marked tentative are awaiting confirmation.
OCT24+25
All times Eastern Time · Boston
Saturday
to 11:10 AM
Check in + find your team
Doors + breakfast at 8 AM · Opening session at 10 AM
Check in + find your team
Doors + breakfast at 8 AM · Opening session at 10 AM
Doors open + light breakfast
to 9:00 AM
Hackachusetts registration
to 8:30 AM
FirstHacks registration
FirstHacks registration
Welcome and check-in for FirstHacks participants.
to 9:30 AM
FirstHacks onboarding
FirstHacks onboarding
A mini workshop on what makes a good hack, followed by Skill Set Bingo to form teams. The FirstHacks informational packet will be posted in Discord at 9 AM.
to 10:00 AM
DS+X registration continues
DS+X registration continues
Check in before the opening session at 10 AM.
to 10:00 AM
Hackachusetts kickoff
to 10:30 AM
Opening session
Opening session
Welcome, Hackachusetts collaboration, and sponsor introductions for all attendees. Get the details on event logistics, tools, space rules, building access, and track rooms.
to 11:10 AM
Team formation & track immersion
Team formation & track immersion
Explore challenges and datasets, and form teams in Art Hack with James Grady, College Hack with IS&T's Chris Sedore, Health Hack + Hackachusetts, and the other Hackachusetts challenges. Rooms may change as registration numbers settle.
to 12:15 PM
Workshop round 1
5 talks & workshops + team formation
Workshop round 1
5 talks & workshops + team formationFrom idea to mockup or roadmap
From idea to mockup or roadmap
Get from an idea to a mockup or roadmap.
Figma with AI
Figma with AI
Design faster with Figma's AI tools.
Healthcare: Data Privacy and Synthetic Clones
Healthcare: Data Privacy and Synthetic Clones
Learn how to work securely with restricted healthcare data by creating synthetic clones.
IoT and Health with WHOOP · Tentative
Team formation: Speed Dating
Team formation: Speed Dating
Another chance to find teammates.
Kiro / Amazon workshop · Tentative
to 1:15 PM
Lunch + staff group photo
Lunch + staff group photo
Catered lunch, sponsor booths, and demo tables.
to 2:15 PM
Workshop round 2
4 talks & workshops · Explore sessions
Workshop round 2
4 talks & workshops · Explore sessionsLovable Workshop
Lovable Workshop
Everyone gets a Lovable access code to use during the hackathon.
Art: Intro to Visual Tracking
Art: Intro to Visual Tracking
Capture and process camera and video input, and map physical coordinates such as hand movements and facial expressions.
RAGs, MCPs and AI Agents
Kiro / Amazon workshop · Tentative
Kiro / Amazon workshop · Tentative
Final workshop timing will be confirmed.
to 8:00 PM
Build + recharge
Mentor stations open · Dinner at 6:30 PM
Build + recharge
Mentor stations open · Dinner at 6:30 PM
to 8:00 PM
Free build time
Free build time
Continue hacking with your team. Mentor stations are open for all tracks.
Hackachusetts submission reminder
Hackachusetts submission reminder
Hackachusetts submissions are due at 8 PM. This deadline is optional for DS+X participants.
to 7:30 PM
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner with teammates and mentors.
Hackachusetts submission final call
to Late
After hours at DS+X
Hackachusetts deadline at 8 PM · Evening activities
After hours at DS+X
Hackachusetts deadline at 8 PM · Evening activities
Hackachusetts submission deadline
Hackachusetts submission deadline
Submit your Hackachusetts project by 8 PM. Submit again by 11 AM Sunday for DS+X judging.
to 9:00 PM
Evening session
Evening session
All attendees gather in the opening and closing ceremony space for overnight guidelines, sleeping room information, event reminders, and a preview of night activities. Complete the Intent to Submit form during this session.
Sleeping rooms open
Night activities
Night activities
Activities and timing will be announced.
Midnight snack
Midnight snack
Planned from midnight. Details and timing to be confirmed.
Sunday
to 10:00 AM
Breakfast + judge check-in
Breakfast + judge check-in
Breakfast is provisionally scheduled for 8–10 AM. It may shift to 8:30–10:30 AM once catering is confirmed.
to 10:45 AM
Submission support
Submission support
Get help preparing your project submission.
DS+X submission deadline
DS+X submission deadline
Submit your project on Devpost by 11 AM.
to 1:00 PM
Project presentations
to 2:30 PM
Lunch & judge deliberations
to 2:45 PM
Optional games + movie
to 3:30 PM
Closing ceremony
Closing ceremony
Awards and a wrap-up of the weekend.
The Hackachusetts schedule.
Taking part in Hackachusetts? Follow these statewide milestones alongside the DS+X program above. All times Eastern.
Saturday, October 24
- 8 AM
- Doors open, breakfast + team formation
- 9 AM
- Challenges drop + hacking starts
- 12:30 PM
- Lunch
- 8 PM
- Submissions close
- 8–11 PM
- Judging
- 11 PM
- Finalists announced
Sunday, October 25 · Finalists
- 8–11 AM
- Travel to Boston
- 11 AM
- Finalists gather
- Noon
- Brunch, winners + prizes
- 2 PM
- Wrap up
This is the Hackachusetts finalist event. DS+X submissions are due at 10 AM Sunday, with presentations at 11:30 AM.
Mentors + judges
Help someone else's idea move forward.
Mentor.
Work beside the teams. Help them get unstuck, test an approach, or ask a sharper question.
Judge.
Spend time with the projects. Ask how they work and what the teams learned along the way.
Sponsors
Thank you to the organizations supporting DS+X 2026, including Hackachusetts at BU.
Hackachusetts sponsors
Prizes
Total prize value across 10 awards.
Top Overall
Health & Biotech
1st + 2nd place
Hack College
1st + 2nd + 3rd place
Art & Design
1st + 2nd place
Best First-Time Hacker
Best First-Year Hacker
What is a hackathon? Is there actual hacking?
A hackathon is an event where students "hack" together creative solutions in 24–48 hours, like apps, chatbots, interactive dashboards, IoT devices, games, ML models, AI agents, or data science projects. There's no malicious hacking involved.
What is DS+X?
DS+X is an interdisciplinary hackathon hosted by BU Spark! and the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences where data science meets everything else. The "X" is any domain, discipline, or challenge you are excited to explore.
Do I need experience?
No! DS+X welcomes students of all experience levels, including those at their first hackathon. You do not need to be a data science or computer science major to apply. Teams made up mostly of first-year students or first-time hackers can compete for the First Hack prize. Mentors and workshops will be available for every level.
When and where is it?
October 24–25, 2026, from 9 AM Saturday to 3 PM Sunday, at Boston University's Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences. The event is in person only.
What is the Hackachusetts partnership?
DS+X is an official site of Hackachusetts, a statewide hack event sponsored by the MassAI Coalition. DS+X hosts Hackachusetts at BU on Saturday, with Healthtech/Biotech, Robotics, Energy, and Education challenges. You can take part in both events: submit by 8 PM Saturday for Hackachusetts judging, and by 10 AM Sunday for DS+X judging.
How do I join a team?
Come solo or with friends! We'll have team formation activities at the event, and you can also join the Discord beforehand to connect with others looking for a team.
What is the team size limit?
DS+X teams should have 3–5 members. We'll help you find teammates at the event. If you need an exception for a smaller team, contact hackbu@bu.edu.
Is there a code of conduct?
All participants are expected to follow the Code of Conduct that you will sign to confirm your spot in the hackathon.
My team won but I wasn't listed on their Devpost submission.
You must be listed on your team's Devpost submission to qualify for a prize.
How do I participate?
Submit the participant application. All students must apply and be accepted by the BU Spark! team before attending. The application also includes all waivers and event information, so it's the only form you need to complete.
Can I use AI coding tools?
Yes. AI coding tools are welcome, including for participants with little coding experience. Participants will have access to Lovable and Kiro credits. Use Kiro for the Hackachusetts challenges, including Healthtech/Biotech.
Can non-BU students enter and stay overnight?
The building is open to the public from 8 AM to 7 PM. Registered participants can stay after 7 PM with their event wristband. If you do not have a BU ID and leave after 7 PM, you cannot re-enter until 8 AM the next morning. BU students cannot re-enter after 10 PM either. Plan to bring what you need for the night.
Do I need to stay for Hackachusetts judging?
You do not need to stay on site during Hackachusetts judging after the 8 PM Saturday submission deadline. If you are continuing with DS+X, plan for the Sunday submission deadline and presentations. You are welcome to stay for the evening activities and overnight hacking.
What rules apply to Hackachusetts?
By attending Hackachusetts, you agree to Sundai’s participation rules. Please read the full Sundai terms before the event.
Can I mentor, judge, or sponsor?
Use the volunteer form to join as a judge or mentor. Email hackbu@bu.edu to ask about sponsorship or with any other questions.
Archive
Look back at DS+X 2025 through its event site and photo gallery.
Links
What will
your X be?
October 24–25, 2026 · Boston University