Ready to immerse yourself in the ultimate tech experience? Join us for ShellHacks, Florida's Largest Hackathon! Over 1,200 students from across the state and around the world will come together to:
Build: Develop innovative projects
Network: Network with top companies, and more!
Learn: Learn the latest technologies
Develop new skills by attending our technical workshops. Gain experience by building hands-on projects with fellow students. Land your next internship or job by meeting recruiters at our career fair. Win amazing prizes, participate in fun activities, get tons of cool swag, enjoy great food, and much more - all at ShellHacks!
Career Fair
Looking for your next internship or job opportunity? Our career fair is the perfect place for you to connect with recruiters and professionals from leading tech companies! You'll have the chance to learn about each company's culture, interview process, and open internship and job opportunities.
This is your chance to make connections and land interviews early in the recruiting season. Make sure to bring your resume, enthusiasm, and curiosity as you explore the diverse opportunities available at the career fair. For a full list of companies attending the career fair, be sure to check out the Hacker Guide on your Dashboard!
Workshops
ShellHacks offers a variety of workshop tracks to introduce you to the world of technology and careers in the field! These workshops are beginner friendly and open to all.
Mobile Development
Career Development
AI/Machine Learning
Game Development
IT & Cybersecurity
Web Development
Design & Product
Hardware
Projects
Get ready to unleash your creativity! At ShellHacks, you'll have access to a range of tools, resources, and mentors to help you develop and refine your project. You'll be able to collaborate with other students and learn new skills as you work towards a shared goal.
Build your project using any technology you like! Whether you're interested in web development, AI/ML, hardware, or anything in between, there's always something to create. As you work hard, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your creativity, problem-solving skills, and technical knowledge to top companies looking to hire talented students!
A hackathon is a weekend-long event where students come together to learn the latest technologies, build innovative projects, and network with top companies. ShellHacks is the largest hackathon in Florida, bringing thousands of students from around the world together since 2017!
When and where is ShellHacks?
ShellHacks takes place from September 27th through the 29th at the Graham Center, located at Florida International University's Modesto A. Maidique Campus in Miami, Florida.
Is ShellHacks in-person or virtual?
ShellHacks will be in person only this year due to MLH's guidance on event modality for events in the 2024-2025 hackathon season. We look forward to hosting you on-site for an exciting and immersive experience!
How long is ShellHacks?
ShellHacks is a 36-hour hackathon, beginning at 3pm on Friday and ending at 5pm on Sunday. Throughout this time, you can expect key events such as our opening and closing ceremonies, career fair, and judging, as well as a variety of workshops, activities, meals, and snacks. Hacking (project-building) time begins at 11pm on Friday and ends at 11am on Sunday. We encourage you to work on a project for as long as you can during this time!
Who can participate?
Students and recent graduates (up to a year) from any college, university, or coding bootcamp can participate in ShellHacks. Not a student? You can participate as a mentor or volunteer and join the experience! Mentor and volunteer applications are coming soon!
How much experience do I need to participate?
None! We welcome students from all academic backgrounds and skill levels, and provide an inclusive environment for anyone to learn, build, and network. Whether you've never coded before or live and breathe AI/ML, there's a place for you at ShellHacks! In fact, about half of our attendees every year are first-time hackers. If you fall in this group, we'll have introductory workshops for you to learn technical skills, resources and tools to help you build a project, and industry mentors to guide you every step of the way. No matter where you are on your journey, don't be afraid to take a detour and explore the world of tech with us - you won't regret it!
Do I need a team to work on a project?
Not at all! You can choose to work on a solo project, or team up with up to three friends (four members total) or fellow students at the event. If you're looking for a team, we'll have a team-building activity as soon as hacking begins Friday evening to connect you with other solo hackers!
Will food be provided?
Yes! Food will be served daily to everyone attending ShellHacks from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. We'll also have coffee, energy drinks, tea, and other beverages available to keep you energized!
Will there be a place to sleep?
The Graham Center will remain open for the entire event, and so will the classrooms, allowing you to sleep over and not miss any of the action! We encourage you to stay for as long as possible so that you have enough time to work on your project and take advantage of all the workshops, meals, activities, and more. We recommend bringing something to sleep on such as a sleeping bag, twin-sized air mattress, or inflatable pool floatie (yes we said pool floatie!). Don't forget to also bring essentials such as a laptop, charger, headphones, blanket, and toiletries to keep you refreshed over the weekend.
Will transportation be provided?
If you're a student at a college/university in Florida, ShellHacks may provide buses if enough students from your school sign up. Help us help you by telling your friends and classmates to sign up, so we can hopefully have a bus for your school!
How much does it cost?
Nothing! That's right, ShellHacks is completely free for all students accepted to the event. We provide everything you need to help you focus on learning the latest technologies, building innovative projects, and networking with top companies- all thanks to the generous donations from our sponsors!
How can I become a sponsor?
Please reach out to our team at init@fiu.edu and we'll get back to you promptly!
Why "ShellHacks"?
Well, it started off as a joke about what a turtle-themed hackathon would be called. Later on, we actually started thinking about organizing a hackathon, but instead of turtles, we decided to focus on diversity in Miami. Since the city has an abundance of seashells on its beaches, the name stuck! It's also a play on words about computer shells, but that's just to draw attention away from all the turtle puns.
Will there be travel reimbursement?
Unfortunately due to budget constraints, we are not offering travel reimbursement at this time. We appreciate how excited you are to come to shell this year and hope that you can still make it.