We invite you to participate in the Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon, which seeks to drive transformative solutions and services into development to further the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Through this learning and community-building journey, let's accelerate innovation to power a more inclusive economy, together.
Bring your bold ambitions and curious mind, along with a hack team consisting of people with different job roles and areas of expertise that align with the design, build, GTM, and sell stages of the product lifecycle.
Get inspired by meaningful challenge themes, hone your changemaking skill set, and get ready to innovate and have fun reframing challenges as technology opportunities—and make the world better for more of us.
Getting Started:
Start by joining the #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Community to get important information and browse the full program of #BuildFor2030 Hackathon live events and chats. Even if you are not a part of a hack team, you can still join our community to participate in events.
After joining the community, and when you're ready to register your team, click on "Participate" to start your entry. Important: Only the primary team member should start an entry.
Note: You will be prompted to create a WeChangers account to access the community space and to start an entry.
Build a hack team to create innovative solutions aligned to five #BuildFor2030 Hackathon themes: Gender Equality, Sustainability, Accessibility, Enabling Nonprofits and Empowering Communities.
Teams can decide to solve for one of the following #BuildFor2030 theme challenge statements or dive into our theme-specific challenge prompts.
Join the #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Community to browse the full list of challenge prompts and available resources.
Gender Equality | ||
Enable technology that creates more equal participation, economic access, and opportunities at all levels in work and life for women and girls. | ||
Climate Action and Sustainability | ||
Build new solutions for environmental challenges faced by customers and industries across the globe. | ||
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility | ||
Create accessible technology devices and applications with inclusive design for more than 1 billion people living with disabilities. | ||
Enabling the Nonprofit Sector | ||
Develop solutions to enable the nonprofit sector to achieve scalable and measurable mission impact. | ||
Empowering Communities | ||
Reimagine solutions that strengthen our institutions, build resilient infrastructure, and create equitable access to health, education, and social services for communities. |
By participating in the Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon, you can:
And, compete for a chance to win $50,000 in total prizes, technical, go-to-market benefits and more!
#BuildFor2030 Hackathon winners (5 awardees)
#BuildFor2030 Hackathon Heroes (5-20 awardees)
Access to Partner Go-to-market Toolbox with 8 points to elevate your marketing2.
1 Review “Learn more about technical presales and deployment services” section here for in-scope services.
2 Expires June 30, 2022.
In addition, all winners and awardees will gain added consideration for:
The #BuildFor2030 Hackathon welcomes all Microsoft partner organizations!
Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Official Rules
Participation eligibility*
Can’t find your MPN ID? Visit aka.ms/mpn_id .
Note that organizations will be disqualified if they are based in a nation, state, province, or territory where U.S. or local law prohibits participating in the contest or receiving a prize.
Entry eligibility*
View the rules and FAQs for more information on how to register your team and submit an entry.
Judges will comprise of a team of Microsoft subject matter experts and leaders, as well as from Ashoka, our social impact partner.
Successful entrants will need to demonstrate how their solution, leveraging Microsoft technologies, helps to make a positive social, environmental or community impact, in the context of addressing real world needs and challenges faced by intended customers, users, or beneficiaries. The solution must address one or more #BuildFor2030 themes and challenge statements.
Judging criteria:
Winners will be announced in January 2022.
Please see full Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Official Rules.
How do I register my team and submit an entry?
Start by joining the #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Community to get important information and resources. You will be prompted to create a WeChangers account. All team members can join the community.
When you're ready to register your team, click on "Participate" on this main hackathon landing page to start your entry. You will be using the same WeChangers account login to enter the application portal. Important: Only the primary team member representing your MPN organization should start and submit an entry.
Each team will need to complete all required tasks and fields within the application portal and click submit by the entry submission deadline. Learn more here.
I am not in a technical role, can I still participate?
Yes! The #BuildFor2030 Hackathon welcomes team members of all backgrounds to participate. We encourage hack teams consisting of people with different job roles and areas of expertise that align with the design, build, GTM, and sell stages of the product lifecycle, including non-technical roles.
You can learn more about the hack team roles we suggest within the hack resources within the #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Community.
How can I become a Microsoft Partner?
Please visit Partner with Microsoft for more information on becoming a part of the Microsoft Partner Network.
How can I find my organizations’ MPN ID?
If your organization is already part of the Microsoft Partner Network, you can visit aka.ms/mpn_id and login with your MPN account to locate your ID. If your organization operates in multiple countries or regions and has multiple MPN IDs, please use the MPN ID aligned with the regional organization you are representing or defer to using your global MPN ID, as appropriate.
We are a team of individuals that work for an organization. Can we enter?
Yes, employees may enter on behalf of their organization. For all entries submitted with a valid MPN ID, the intellectual property of the solution needs to belong to the Organization (not an individual), and any prizing associated with the entry is given to the Organization under which the MPN ID is registered.
Please see full Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Official Rules.
Where can I see all the #BuildFor2030 Hackathon events? Do I have to be hacking to participate?
Join the #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Community to browse the full program of #BuildFor2030 Hackathon events. If you are not a part of a hack team, and a Microsoft partner looking to learn more, you can still join our community to participate in events.
Can I form a team with other organizations (e.g., students, academia, nonprofits, customers, technology vendors etc.)?
Yes, however only employees of Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) organizations with a MPN ID and active membership may submit entries.
If your team consists of individuals external to your MPN organization, any intellectual property, or legal agreements among members of the hack team are the sole responsibility of the entrant and not Microsoft.
If you decide to form a team with other MPN organizations, you must choose one MPN organization to represent the submission.
For all entries submitted with a valid MPN ID, the intellectual property of the solution needs to belong to the Organization (not an individual), and any prizing associated with the entry is given to the Organization under which the MPN ID is registered.
Please see full Microsoft #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Official Rules.
How can I contact you?
In the #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Community, you can find and attend live chats available for asking questions and connecting with other participating Microsoft partners. You can also email us at: BuildFor2030@microsoft.com.
For technical issues with the website, account log-in or access issues, reach out to support@wechangers.org.
We're excited to have our participating community organizations with us on this changemaking journey, working together to extend our reach and collective impact.
Join the #BuildFor2030 Hackathon Community to attend events, share ideas and grow your network with like-minded Microsoft partners and changemakers from partnering community organizations.