SEATTLE · PACIFIC NORTHWEST · 2026

Frontier Cascadia

Where the next generation of Pacific Northwest builders ships something real.

DATE September 19, 2026
LOCATION Seattle, WA
FORMAT 12 Hours · High School
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Sept 19, 2026 / Seattle, WA / 12 Hours / $10,000+ in Prizes / High School Students / Real Software. Real Judges. / Sept 19, 2026 / Seattle, WA / 12 Hours / $10,000+ in Prizes / High School Students / Real Software. Real Judges. /

Build what's
next.

Frontier Cascadia is not a classroom exercise. It is not a science fair. It is one day to build something real. Software that solves a problem, tells a story, or changes how someone sees the world. The best thing you could get out of a weekend.

We bring together the most technically ambitious high school students in the Pacific Northwest, put them in a room with the resources they need, and ask them to ship solutions in 12 hours.

Then we put them in front of judges who take them seriously. No participation trophies. No grade inflation. The standard is whether it works.

12
Hours to build
16
Expert judges
$10K+
In prizes
Free
To enter

$10,000+ in prizes

Real money to take your project beyond the hackathon. Build it here, launch it everywhere.

GRAND PRIZE
$5,000
Best overall project
RUNNER-UP
$2,000
Second place
3RD PLACE
$1,000
Third place
BEST AI FOR GOOD
$500 + credits
AI built for real impact
BEST FIRST BUILD
$500
First-time hackers only
Beginners welcome
BEST SOLO BUILDER
$500
Built alone, start to finish
PNW IMPACT AWARD
$500
Addresses a local challenge
THE FRONTIER AWARD
$1,000
For the team that attempted something nobody else would have tried
CROWD FAVORITE
$250
Voted by fellow hackers

+ $5,000+ in cloud credits, API access, and developer tools
distributed to all participants at check-in.

Show up.
Build.
Ship.

Bring an idea, form a team, or hack solo. We handle the rest.

01

Tangible projects

No slideshows without something to show. If it doesn't work, it's not done. Code, hardware, whatever. Just make it real.

02

Industry sponsors on site

Top Seattle tech companies will have booths, run workshops, and be around all day to answer questions.

03

Real feedback

Present to judges from big tech, universities, and VCs who build products for a living. Expect honest questions.

04

Everything is free

Meals, caffeine, swag, and cloud credits are on us. Just bring your machine.

9:00 AM
Check-in & Registration
Main Lobby
LOGISTICS
9:30 AM
Opening Ceremony
Keynote + sponsor introductions
MAIN STAGE
10:00 AM
Hacking Begins
Find a spot. Start building.
GO TIME
12:30 PM
Lunch & Sponsor Workshops
Food served in atrium
FOOD
6:00 PM
Submissions Close
Devpost lock. Stop typing.
DEADLINE
6:30 PM
Demo & Judging
Show what you built
DEMOS
8:00 PM
Finals
Top teams present on Main Stage
MAIN STAGE
8:30 PM
Awards & Closing Ceremony
Main Stage
AWARDS

Common questions

Who can participate?

Any high school student in grades 9 through 12 in the Seattle metro area and broader Pacific Northwest. You don't need to know how to code yet, but you should be ready to learn fast.

Do I need a team?

No. You can come solo and find teammates at the event, bring your friends, or hack alone. Teams can be up to 4 people.

What should I bring?

Your laptop, a charger, and any hardware you want to use. We provide food, drinks, wifi, and power strips.

Is it really free?

Yes. Completely free. Meals, snacks, swag, cloud credits, all of it. We want cost to be zero barrier to showing up.

What can I build?

Anything that runs. Web apps, mobile apps, hardware projects, games, AI tools, browser extensions. If it works, it counts.

Do I need experience?

Some coding experience helps, but we have seen beginners build incredible things with industry experts available to answer questions and sheer determination. Don't count yourself out.

Ready to
build?

September 19, 2026 / Seattle, WA / 12 hours

Registration opens May 1st. Spots are limited.

Get in touch

Have a question about the event, sponsoring, or anything else? Drop us a message.