This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by lokesh singh tanwar
Hackathons are like fast-paced coding marathons, packed with caffeine, creativity, and teamwork! 
In just 24-48 hours, you go from a simple idea to a working project. If you’ve been to one, you know the excitement — the late-night coding, squashing bugs, and racing against the clock to finish. 
But here’s the key to winning: a smart idea. Something practical but also a little out-of-the-box. If you’re getting ready for a hackathon and need some inspiration, here’s a list of 10+ project ideas that can help you stand out from the crowd. Let’s get creating! 
1. Mental Health Companion App 
The pandemic brought mental health to the forefront, and people are looking for ways to stay well mentally. A companion app could provide daily mental health check-ins, guided meditations, or even a safe space to track moods.
Pro Tip: You could integrate with wearables to track physical health indicators, which affect mental health (heart rate, sleep patterns, etc.).
Stack: Flutter, Firebase, TensorFlow Lite
2. Smart Budgeting App 
We all know the struggle of managing money. Why not build an app that does the heavy lifting for you? A smart budgeting app could track your expenses, offer personalized savings goals, and even give tips on reducing monthly bills.
Pro Tip: Incorporate some gamification — like leveling up for hitting savings goals or “boss battles” with impulse spending. That’ll hook users!
Stack: React Native, Firebase, Plaid API
3. Real-Time Learning Platform 
With remote learning here to stay, an interactive platform for students could be a hit. Imagine a space where students can attend virtual classes, take quizzes, and collaborate in real-time — like a digital classroom on steroids.
Stack: Node.js, WebRTC for video, Three.js for VR
4. Carbon Footprint Tracker 
Climate change is real, and solutions to track and reduce our impact are sorely needed. You could build a platform where users monitor their daily carbon footprint and get suggestions on how to live a greener life. Add some community features, and you’ve got a social movement.
Pro Tip: Integrate AI to analyze user data and provide personalized eco-friendly advice. Or visualize climate data in cool, interactive graphs.
Stack: React, Python, Google Earth Engine, OpenWeather API
5. Virtual Medical Assistant 
Healthcare is a huge space, and with the rise of AI, it’s more accessible than ever. Building a virtual medical assistant could be a game-changer at your next hackathon. Think of it like WebMD, but more interactive — something that can answer basic medical questions, track symptoms, and even suggest whether a visit to the doctor is necessary.
Stack: Python, GPT API, Flask, Twilio
6. Smart City Traffic Management System 
As cities get bigger, so do traffic problems. Help reduce that gridlock by building a smart system that monitors traffic patterns in real time and optimizes light timings, rerouting, or even public transportation schedules.
Pro Tip: Imagine integrating predictive analysis so your system can forecast future traffic jams and offer alternative routes in advance. You’d be a traffic superhero.
Stack: Python, OpenCV, Google Maps API, MQTT protocol
7. Voice-Controlled Home Automation System 
Home automation is the future, and hackathons LOVE IoT projects. Why not build your own version of Alexa that not only plays your Spotify playlist but also brews your morning coffee and controls your home’s lighting and security?
Pro Tip: IoT + AI = magic. Teach your system user preferences over time — lights dimming at bedtime or coffee brewing at 6 a.m.? Next level!
Stack: Raspberry Pi, Node.js, Alexa SDK
8. AR Shopping Platform 
Shopping from home has its limitations, especially when you can’t try things on. Create an AR-powered platform where users can visualize products like clothing or furniture in real time. It’s like bringing the store into their living room.
Pro Tip: You could make it super interactive — imagine users “trying on” outfits or seeing how a couch fits in their living room before hitting that ‘buy’ button!
Stack: Unity, ARKit (iOS), ARCore (Android)
9. Blockchain Voting Platform 
We all know voting could be more secure. Build a blockchain-powered voting system that ensures transparency, anonymity, and security. If you’re tackling a hackathon with a social impact focus, this could win you some major points.
Pro Tip: Add biometric verification for voter authentication and you’ll have a rock-solid system. Or make it scalable for national elections!
Stack: Solidity, Ethereum, IPFS, React
10. Fitness Gamification App 
Make fitness fun! Build a mobile app that gamifies workout routines — users can earn points for hitting fitness goals, battle their friends, or even join team challenges. Think “fitness meets RPG,” where every rep gets you closer to leveling up.
Pro Tip: Build in social features so users can compete with their friends. Nothing like some friendly competition to keep those fitness goals in check!
Stack: Swift (iOS), Firebase, Google Fit API, Apple HealthKit
11. Emergency Response App 
When disaster strikes, every second counts. You could build an app that connects people in need with nearby responders in real time. Whether it’s a medical emergency or natural disaster, this could save lives.
Pro Tip: Add AI-driven suggestions for nearby shelters or assistance, or even a volunteer network to help speed up responses.
Stack: React Native, Twilio, Google Maps API
Final Thoughts 
Hackathons are a blast — they’re the perfect opportunity to flex your creative muscles and build something meaningful (or wacky 
). But the real hackathon magic? It’s all about how you solve problems, work with your team, and, of course, present your idea to the judges.
This post was written by me with the assistance of AI to enhance its content.
Got an idea that killed it at your hackathon? Share it in the comments below and let’s swap stories! 
LET’S #CONNECT
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by lokesh singh tanwar