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Stanford University · HackathonTreeHacks (Stanford)
The biggest US collegiate hackathon — 2026 winners got cash up to $12k and guaranteed OpenAI interviews. In-person at Stanford, but open internationally; worth planning for if you can travel.
Dates & timeline
Prizes
- 2026 pool: $150k+ per the official site
- Top cash prizes up to $12,000 (2026)
- 2026 winners: guaranteed OpenAI interviews
- Largest collegiate hackathon in the US
- Open to college students from all countries
Why it's worth your time
TreeHacks is Stanford's flagship hackathon and the biggest collegiate hackathon in the US. The 2026 edition ran a $150k+ prize pool with top cash prizes up to $12,000 — and, notably, guaranteed OpenAI interviews for winners. It is open to college students from all countries, which makes it one of the few elite US campus events actually reachable for Indian students.
It's in-person at Stanford and travel is on you, so treat it as a plan-ahead play: applications open around November for the February event. For a Tier-1 student who can make the trip work, a TreeHacks win (or even a strong showing) is US-network access that no online event quite matches.
How to apply
Apply when applications open (~November) — it's selective, so put real work into the application.
If accepted, sort your visa and travel early (the event is at Stanford, California).
Form or find a team before the weekend.
Build for 36 hours and demo to judges.
Frequently asked questions
Can students from India attend TreeHacks?
Yes — TreeHacks is open to college students from all countries. You'll need to handle your own US visitor visa and travel, so start early after acceptance.
Is it free?
Attending is free for accepted hackers; travel and visa costs are your own. Check the current year's site for any travel-grant options.
What can you win?
The 2026 edition had a $150k+ prize pool with top cash prizes up to $12,000, plus perks like guaranteed OpenAI interviews for winners.
Is it worth it if I probably won't win?
The room is the prize: a weekend building alongside top US students, sponsors and recruiters is network access that compounds — winners are a minority of the people who get value from it.
Official links
US startups hiring on Tierones
Part-time, remote coding internships with funded US startups — quoted in USD per hour, open to verified 2nd- and 3rd-year students. Free for students, always.
Browse open roles