FoundersHack Sydney 2025
Welcome to FoundersHack Sydney 2025!
Note: You first register for this hackathon via this Luma as an individual. Following approval of your registration, you will receive an email requesting more details so that we can help you onboard as smoothly as possible.
🏗️ What is FoundersHack?
FoundersHack is an inter-university hackathon designed to give students a hands-on introduction to startups and what it takes to be a founder.
Over three intense days, participants collaborate with top students from across Sydney, develop technical prototypes to tackle venture-scale problems, and gain mentorship from experienced founders and industry professionals.
Thank you to our sponsors: Enactus (USyd), Women in Tech (USyd), Tempest AI, and more to be announced soon.
FoundersHack is being delivered in partnership with: Startup Link (USyd), Google Developers Group (USyd), South Asian Business Society (USyd), Artificial Intellligence Society (UNSW), GCG (UNSW), CSESoc (UNSW), MechSoc (UTS).
🏆 Why you should join
Win: prize money ($3,000+) and mentoring
Learning: Credits + private workshops
Networking: Mentors, workshops, connections
Fun: Meet other hardcore builders + make friends for life
❗Important: Don’t Miss These Steps!❗
To complete your registration and get the most out of the event, make sure you:
Join the Discord channel
👉 You can hop in the Discord hereFill out the Google form
👉 This is exclusively linked in the registration confirmation email.Download your shareable & share on socials
👉 Share your participation in FoundersHack Sydney! Link to the duplicatable Canva file is in the confirmation email.
🧑🎓 Pre-hackathon Workshops
Students can participate in technical and startup ideation workshops before the hackathon begins. Register now using the links below!
Workshop 1: Developing MVPs with AI
Date: May 8, 5 pm to 7 pm
Venue: Belinda Hutchinson Building, USYD
Facilitator: Jack Wakem, Founder of Tempest AI
Link: https://lu.ma/1keiu0dy
Workshop 2: Presenting the Perfect Pitch
Date: May 15, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Venue: UTS Startups, UTS
Facilitator: Kyana Chan, Co-founder of Bella
Link: https://lu.ma/i8p7tztu
Opening Ceremony: Thursday, 22 May 2025
📍Location: Colombo Theatre A, UNSW
This is where it all begins. Here's what to expect at the Opening Ceremony:
Welcome from our hosts and organising team
Introduction to our expert mentors, university partners, and event sponsors
Overview of the hackathon tracks you’ll be working across
Timeline breakdown and key submission deadlines
Guidance on judging criteria and marking rubrics
Networking and team formation session
If you signed up as an individual, this is the perfect chance to meet potential teammates, collaborate, and find the right people to bring your idea to life. You’ll also get to ask questions, meet fellow participants, and build momentum for the journey ahead.
Build Phase: 23rd May–25th May 2025
📍Location: TBA
Once the Opening Ceremony wraps up, the building begins.
You’ll have 3 days of ideation, prototyping, testing, and refining your solution. With support from mentors and industry experts, you’ll work intensively to bring your vision to life.
Expect late nights, big ideas, unexpected turns, and the thrill of building something real.
Closing Ceremony & Pitch Night: Friday, 30 May 2025
📍Location: TBA
Celebrate the culmination of your Founders Hack journey at our Closing Ceremony & Pitch Night.
Five finalist teams will pitch their solutions live to a panel of experienced judges from the startup and tech ecosystem. Share your vision, walk through your strategy, and show how your startup came to life.
This event will be open to all registered participants, friends, and ecosystem partners. Join us for a night of pitches, celebration, and connection.