May 23, 2026 · Google Humboldt227 Humboldt Ct, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 · 3rd FloorApplications due May 3rd

Synthesis Hacks

A free hackathon for high schoolers. Beginners welcome.
Show up alone or with friends. We'll match you into a team.

Pre-register nowJoin Discord
12HDURATIONof building
MAY 23DATESunnyvale
2-4TEAM SIZEper team
$0COSTalways free
How it works

The weekend, in three acts.

Grades 9 through 12
Teams of 2 to 4
All skill levels welcome
Free to attend

Form your team

Sign up alone or bring friends. No experience needed. We run a team-matching session at the start so nobody arrives without a team.

Mentors always available
Multiple workshops
Any project type
Free food & drinks

Build for 12 hours

Mentors are around the whole day. Optional short workshops run in parallel — drop in if you want a hand. Build an app, a game, a website, a hardware hack; anything you can finish by 5 PM.

Multiple prize categories
Judge panel presentation
Audience favorite award
Networking reception

Present & win prizes

Demo your project to a small judging panel, science-fair style. Categories include design, technical depth, creativity, and best first hackathon. Then we hand out prizes and call it a day.

Prizes

What you can win.

GRAND PRIZE

To be announced.

Prize details go up as sponsors come on board.

CATEGORY AWARDS
Best Technical Implementation
Most Creative Concept
Best First Hackathon
Best UI/UX Design
Audience Favorite

Additional prizes announced
as sponsorships are confirmed.

Schedule

May 23rd, minute by minute.

Google Humboldt · 227 Humboldt Ct, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 · 3rd Floor · 8 AM to 8 PM

8:00 AM
Doors open
Check in, grab breakfast, meet your team.
9:00 AM
Opening ceremony
Welcome, rules of the day, sponsor intros.
9:30 AM
Hacking begins
Start building. Mentors are around from this point on.
12:00 PM
Lunch
Catered lunch. Take a break, talk to people, keep going.
1:00 PM
Workshops
Optional skill sessions run in parallel. Drop in or keep building.
5:00 PM
Submissions due
Final code freeze. Submit your project for judging.
5:30 PM
Demos begin
Show your project to the judges, science-fair style. Each team gets a slot.
7:30 PM
Awards ceremony
Prizes, thank-yous, closing remarks.
8:00 PM
Doors close
Pack up, trade contacts, head home.
DURATION
12 hours
MILESTONES
9 events
Venue

Google Humboldt, Sunnyvale.

Big main hall for the build, breakout rooms for workshops, a kitchen with snacks. Plenty of room to spread out.

HOSTED BY
Atrium with exposed ceiling and multi-level walkways
Main hall with round tables and chartreuse chairs
Kitchen counter with fruit, cereals, coffee machine
Open lounge area with colorful chairs and wall mural
Seating in the atrium with fiber art wall hanging
Small conference room with yellow chairs and display screen
Google Humboldt sign outside the building
01/07
Venue TourThe atrium
HUMBOLDT
ADDRESS227 Humboldt Ct
CITYSunnyvale, CA 94089
FLOORThird floor
DATEMay 23, 2026
HOURS8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Open in Maps
GETTING HERE

Google Humboldt is in Sunnyvale, just off Highway 101. Parking on-site, no permit needed. The closest Caltrain stop is Sunnyvale; VTA buses run nearby.

WHAT TO BRING

Laptop, charger, and a school ID for check-in at the front desk. Headphones if you want them. We provide food, drinks, snacks, WiFi, and power strips.

WHEN TO ARRIVE

Doors open at 8 AM. Aim for 8:30 — that gives you time to check in, grab breakfast, and find a team before the opening ceremony at 9.

Registration

Claim your spot

FAQ

Questions, answered

Small teams build a project in a fixed amount of time — usually a website, app, game, or some other software thing. The point isn't to win. It's to actually finish something with a few other people in a day.
No. A lot of attendees will be writing their first real code on Saturday. Mentors are around the whole day to help when you get stuck.
High school — grades 9 through 12. No prior experience needed.
Teams of 2 to 4. No team? Show up alone — we run a team-matching session right after check-in.
Free. Sponsors cover food, prizes, and supplies.
Twelve hours: 8 AM to 8 PM at Google Humboldt in Sunnyvale. Full schedule is in the section above.
Email sponsors@synthesishacks.com about sponsoring, or team@synthesishacks.com about mentoring. We reply.

Still have questions?

Email us — we usually reply same day.

Email us
Sponsorships

Help us make it happen

Synthesis Hacks is free. That works because sponsors cover food, prizes, supplies, and the rest. Here's what we offer in return.

On the t-shirt

Your logo on the shirt every attendee wears, on the website, and at the venue.

In the room

Send mentors, run a 30-minute workshop, or just sit at a table and answer questions.

Pay it forward

Free events change who gets to start building. We’re keeping this open to everyone.

Interested in sponsoring?

We're putting the sponsorship deck together now. Email us and we'll send it over as soon as it's ready.

Email us about sponsoring

sponsors@synthesishacks.com

VENUE SPONSOR

Venue Sponsor

Google Humboldt · Sunnyvale

MORE SPONSORS COMING SOON