Event Description: NJx Hackathon Summer 2026

If you have software development experience and would be interested in volunteering as a mentor, please email us at events@1435capital.com

Prepare to innovate, collaborate, and compete at the NJx Hackathon, a 24-hour challenge taking place Saturday, June 20th through Sunday, June 21st, 2026.

Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, the NJx Hackathon brings together some of New Jersey's brightest young innovators to transform fresh ideas into tangible solutions. Over 24 hours, participants will form teams, code, design, and pitch, all centered around a mystery theme revealed at kickoff.

Supported by leading organizations including 1435 Capital Management, StartupGrind Princeton, mTap, Cogent Connections, Lovable, Montgomery Innovation Hub, and NJ AI Hub, this event offers students mentorship, networking, and a unique opportunity to showcase their creativity before an audience of entrepreneurs and investors.

With $2,000 in cash up for grabs, innovation will be well rewarded!

Join us for a weekend where imagination meets execution and the next generation of problem solvers takes center stage.

Registration

To complete your registration and receive your check-in QR code, please register through the official event platform on mTap. This will be used for event access, check-in, and networking.

Sign up here: https://mtap.io/event/NJxHackathonSummer2026

June Pre-Hackathon Game Night

Presented by: 1435 Capital

When: Friday, Jun 19 | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm EDT

Where: 23 Orchard Rd, Skillman, NJ 08558 (follow signs to rear entrance and rear parking lot)

Kick off hackathon weekend early with an evening of networking, board games, and casual fun with founders, students, and technologists. Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be provided. A great way to meet others and get inspired before the coding sprint!

Sign up here: https://mtap.io/event/JunePre-HackathonGameNight

Requirements

The mystery theme will be revealed at kickoff on Saturday, June 20. Your team's job is to build something real around it in 24 hours.

There are no constraints on what you build, web app, mobile app, AI tool, hardware hack, whatever best solves the problem. What matters is your idea, your execution, and your pitch.

Submissions must include:

  • A GitHub repository (required) containing all project code and work completed during the hackathon

  • A brief written description of your idea, the problem it solves, and how you built it

  • A demo and presentation of the project

  • A final pitch presented in person at the end of the event

Projects must be started and built during the 24-hour hackathon window. Pre-built projects will be disqualified.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$2,000 in prizes
NJx Innovation Prize
$500 in cash
4 winners

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

David Stengle

David Stengle
Princeton Startup Grind

Judging Criteria

  • Judgement
    Judging Criteria will be shared at the Hackathon before launch.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Invite others to compete

Hackathon sponsors

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