Each submission to the 2nd Washington Hackathon 2026 will be evaluated across multiple dimensions to identify the most innovative, impactful, and feasible AI-powered solutions addressing our healthcare challenges.

Idea submissions close September 17, 2026  |  Presentations September 19–20, 2026 at WUST, Alexandria, VA

Innovation & Technical Excellence
25%

Evaluates the uniqueness and technical sophistication of the AI solution compared to existing healthcare approaches.
  • Novel application of AI/ML technologies
  • Technical sophistication and quality of algorithms
  • Advances beyond current healthcare solutions
  • Innovative use of data and analytics

Healthcare Impact
25%

Assesses the potential of the solution to address significant healthcare challenges effectively.
  • Demonstrated clinical value and health outcomes
  • Addresses critical healthcare needs
  • Potential for improving patient care quality
  • Impact on healthcare accessibility or efficiency

Implementability & Feasibility
20%

Evaluates whether the solution can be realistically implemented in healthcare settings.
  • Technical feasibility and readiness level
  • Integration with existing healthcare systems
  • Consideration of regulatory requirements
  • Practical implementation roadmap

Scalability & Adoption
15%

Assesses how well the solution can scale across healthcare environments.
  • Potential for widespread clinical adoption
  • Cost-effectiveness and resource efficiency
  • Business model and sustainability
  • Adaptability across different healthcare settings

Presentation & Demo
10%

Evaluates how well the team communicates and demonstrates their healthcare AI solution.
  • Clear demonstration of AI functionality
  • Quality of data visualization and UX/UI
  • Compelling presentation of clinical applications
  • Technical explanations and Q&A responses

Ethics, Privacy & Safety
5%

Assesses the solution's ethical considerations, data privacy practices, and patient safety.
  • Data privacy and security measures
  • Bias detection and mitigation strategies
  • Explainability of AI decision-making
  • Consideration of patient safety and ethical use

Project Categories

Medical Diagnostics & Imaging

Focus: AI-driven diagnostics, medical imaging analysis, early disease detection.

Personalized Medicine & Genomics

Focus: AI-powered treatment recommendations, genetic data analysis, precision medicine.

Telemedicine & Remote Care

Focus: Virtual health consultations, AI-powered patient monitoring, digital health platforms.

Healthcare Accessibility & Equity

Focus: AI solutions for underserved communities, cost-effective medical tech, inclusive healthcare.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Focus: AI chatbots for mental health, stress detection tools, wellness tracking apps.

Drug Discovery & Biomedical Research

Focus: AI-assisted drug development, bioinformatics, accelerating medical research.

Hospital Automation & Smart Healthcare Systems

Focus: AI-powered scheduling, predictive analytics for patient care, automated hospital operations.

Wearable Health Tech & IoT

Focus: Smart health monitoring devices, AI-driven fitness tracking, real-time health analytics.

Health Data Security & Privacy

Focus: AI-driven cybersecurity, patient data protection, secure digital health records.

AI in Medical Training & Education

Focus: AI-powered simulations, VR/AR medical training, automated learning tools for healthcare professionals.

Judging Process

Teams will present their projects to a panel of judges consisting of healthcare professionals, AI/ML experts, medical researchers, and healthcare technology innovators. Presentations to the Grand Jury take place on September 19–20, 2026 at Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST). Each team will have 10 minutes to present, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session. Judges will score each project based on the criteria above, and winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on September 20, 2026.