Black Youth AI Hackathon
The Black Youth AI Hackathon: A virtual innovation sprint for Black university students across Canada to build AI-driven solutions that empower our communities.
Whether you're into business, science, design, or the arts — AI is transforming every field. This is your chance to use those tools to solve problems that matter, build something real, and compete for up to $5,000 in cash prizes.
You don't need to know how to code. All you need is curiosity, creativity, and a weekend to make an impact.
Apply by February 28, 2026
Hackathon begins March 6–14, 2026
Demo Day: 14th March 2 PM AT
Program Details
What you'll walk away with:
- Real-World Experience: Apply AI tools to tackle pressing challenges in education, health, infrastructure, and business
- Cash Prizes: Compete for $3,000 (1st), $1,500 (2nd), or $500 (3rd) per team
- Portfolio Builder: A completed AI project and certificate to showcase on resumes and LinkedIn
- Mentorship & Support: Daily check-ins with Tribe team members throughout the week
- Incubation Opportunities: Winning teams get support to develop their ideas further
- Community Impact: Solutions designed to serve real needs in Black and underrepresented communities
Areas of focus
Teams must choose one of the following four challenge areas and use AI tools to design a solution that addresses a real-world problem within their community or society more broadly. Participants are not expected to build AI models, but to use AI to research, analyze, prototype, and design solutions.
- AI for Education Access – Making learning more inclusive and accessible.
- AI for Community Health – Improving physical and mental health support.
- AI for Infrastructure & Smart Cities - Improving the systems people use every day.
- AI for Business, Policy & Decision-Making – Improving how organizations plan, decide, and serve communities.
— More details about each category are included in the FAQ Section.
Hackathon Format
Team Structure:
- 2–5 people per team
- Apply as a team OR individually to be paired
Prizes (Per Team)
- 1st Place: $3,000 cash
- 2nd Place: $1,500 cash
- 3rd Place: $500 cash
Winning teams get incubation support from Tribe Network.
Timeline at a Glance:
- Info Session: February 20 (attend to learn more and ask questions)
- Sign-Up Deadline: February 28
- Challenge Launch: March 6 (Saturday)
- Demo Day: March 14 (Sunday)
Who Can Apply?
- Black students enrolled in a Canadian college or university (undergraduate or graduate)
- No tech background needed — all you need is a computer, internet access and a willingness to learn.
- No coding experience required — we're looking for problem-solvers, designers, strategists, and community advocates. If you bring curiosity and creativity, we'll provide the support.
Event Schedule:
Info Session: February 20, 2026
Curious about the hackathon but have questions? Join us for a live info session where we'll walk you through:
- What a hackathon actually is (and why you don't need to be a coder)
- The four challenge areas and what kinds of solutions we're looking for
- How teams work together and what support you'll get
- What judges look for in winning projects
- The tools and platforms you'll use for Live Q&A with the Tribe team
Day 1 – Saturday, March 6
- 1:00 PM – Opening ceremony + challenge overview
- 2:15 PM – Keynote speaker
- 2:45 PM – Problem statement briefing & Q&A
- 3:00 PM – Teamwork begins
- 3:00–7:00 PM – Mentor office hours
Day 2 – Sunday, March 14
- Morning–Noon – Project building continues
- 2:00 PM – Submission deadline
- 3:00 PM – Live presentations & Q&A
- 4:00 PM – Certificates awarded
- 4:30 PM – Winners announced
FAQ
