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Stanford University · HackathonTreeHacks (Stanford)
The biggest US collegiate hackathon, and the 2027 dates are now up: 12–14 February 2027 at Stanford, with applications already open. In person but open to college students from all countries, and the official site says hackers get food, lodging and travel covered — which is what makes it reachable at all from India.
Dates & timeline
Prizes
- 2026 pool: $150k+ per the official site, with top cash prizes up to $12,000
- 2026 winners: guaranteed OpenAI interviews
- The 2027 site advertises "$1M+" in prizes but publishes no breakdown — treat it as unverified until a prize table appears
- 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 2027 edition is dated 12–14 February 2027 and applications are open now. 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. On money, be careful with the headline: the site currently advertises "$1M+" in prizes with no breakdown published anywhere on it, so this card still quotes the figure we could verify — the 2026 edition ran a $150k+ pool with top cash prizes up to $12,000, and guaranteed OpenAI interviews for winners.
It is in person at Stanford, and TreeHacks states on its own site that hackers have food, lodging and travel covered — the single biggest reason this one is worth an Indian student's time rather than being a nice idea you can't afford. Applications are open now for February, and no closing date is published on the landing page, so apply early rather than watching for a deadline that may never be announced. You still have to sort a US visitor visa yourself, and that is the long pole: start it the day you are accepted. For a Tier-1 student, a TreeHacks weekend is US-network access that no online event quite matches.
How to apply
Apply now at treehacks.com — applications for the 12–14 February 2027 event are open and no closing date is published, so do not wait for a deadline announcement. It is selective, so put real work into the application.
If accepted, start your US visitor visa immediately — that is the long pole, not the flight.
Confirm what the travel support actually covers for international hackers before booking anything.
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. The US visitor visa is yours to arrange, so start on it the day you're accepted.
When is TreeHacks 2027 and when do applications close?
TreeHacks 2027 runs 12–14 February 2027 at Stanford. Applications are open now, and the landing page publishes no closing date — there is a mention of a priority deadline for Stanford students, but no date attached. Apply early rather than waiting for an announcement.
Does TreeHacks cover travel?
The official site says TreeHacks covers food, lodging and travel, and its FAQ is more specific: "We cover flights (regional caps), food, and swag for all hackers", with designated sleeping spaces. The caps by region are not published, so confirm what an international flight from India is covered up to before you book.
Is it free?
Attending is free for accepted hackers, and the official site says meals, travel and lodging are covered. Budget for your visa fee regardless.
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. For 2027 the site advertises "$1M+" in prizes but does not break that figure down anywhere, so we are not treating it as a verified cash table — check the site for an itemised prize list before choosing TreeHacks on prize money alone.
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.
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