ZerveHack: The AI Hackathon Revolutionizing Data Science

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing data science, and with it, our way of exploring data. Gone are the days of empty scripts and fragmented workflows: today, AI-native platforms like Zerve allow you to go from a simple question to a functional application in record time. It is in this spirit that ZerveHack invites developers and AI enthusiasts to push the boundaries of data analysis. With $10,000 in rewards at stake, this online hackathon promises to reveal what becomes possible when AI manages technical execution while you drive strategic direction.

Turn data into actionable insights faster than ever before. 🚀 @Zerve_AI empowers you to automate data analysis, iterate on errors, and deploy solutions without leaving the platform.

Explore AI-native data science with the Zerve Hackathon.

🏆 $10,000 in cash
📅 April 29, 2026…

— Devpost (@devpost) March 2, 2026

The ZerveHack Challenge

Your mission is clear: use Zerve to build something original. Analyze a dataset, discover insights, and deploy the result as an analysis, application, or API. No subject constraints, no imposed methodology. Bring a question you’re passionate about and explore how far you can go.

The organizers have selected five dataset areas to inspire you: predictive markets and forecasting (Polymarket, Kalshi, Metaculus), finance and economics (FRED, Alpha Vantage, SEC EDGAR), sports and competition (FBref, NBA API, Stathead), climate and energy (NOAA, EIA, EPA), and social and cultural trends (Google Trends, Hugging Face, Reddit API). But you can also bring your own data if you have a personal obsession to explore.

Your deliverables include a functional public Zerve project (error-free), a maximum 300-word description explaining your question, your discoveries, and their importance, a 3-minute demo video, and a post on LinkedIn or X tagging @Zerve AI or @Zerve_AI. Deploying an API or app is optional, but highly encouraged and prioritized by the judges.

Practical Information & ZerveHack Hackathon Calendar

This 100% online hackathon is open to everyone, wherever you are. Here are the key dates:

• Submission Period : February 26, 2026 (9:00 AM EST) to April 29, 2026 (2:00 PM EDT)
• Judging Period : April 30, 2026 (2:00 PM EST) to May 8, 2026 (2:00 PM EST)
• Winner Announcement : Around May 13, 2026 (10:00 AM EST)

Prizes to win:

• 1st Place : 5,000 USD
• 2nd Place : 3,000 USD
• 3rd Place : 2,000 USD

Who can participate?

ZerveHack is open to legal residents of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia) and Canada (excluding Quebec), aged 18 and over. You can participate alone, as a team, or as an organization. Registration is free, and all participants can get 100 Zerve credits to kickstart their projects.

Evaluation Criteria & Rules

Projects will be evaluated by a jury of experts based on four weighted criteria: analytical depth (35%, did you go beyond superficial exploration to generate real insights?), end-to-end workflow (30%, did you use Zerve’s autonomous reasoning and deploy to production?), storytelling and clarity (20%, is your project easily understood?), and creativity and ambition (15%, did you take risks, combine unexpected sources?).

Resources & Official Links

Everything starts on the official platform. Register at zervehack.devpost.com, create your free Devpost account, and access the Resources tab to get your Zerve credits and discover available datasets. Consult the complete rules for all legal and technical details. For any questions, contact the hackathon manager at zach@zerve.ai.

Why participate?

Beyond the $10,000 in rewards, ZerveHack offers you the opportunity to master a new-generation AI platform, build a portfolio of deployable projects, and join a community of avant-garde data scientists and developers. The best projects will be amplified by Zerve AI on their social networks, giving you unique visibility within the tech and AI ecosystem.