What is AthenaHacks?
Join us on March 28-29 for a spectacular weekend dedicated to closing the gender gap, exploring new
technologies, and building the next big thing! Our mission is to support and nurture students
of marginalized gender identities in technology by hosting Southern California’s
premier women-centric hackathon (trans and non-binary inclusive).
Join us
on campus at the University of Southern California (USC) for over 24 hours full of free food,
technical workshops, mentorship, social activities, and more! No experience necessary – we
only require curiosity and creativity!
Check us out in the press!
USC programs and events are open to all eligible individuals. The University of Southern California operates all of its programs and activities consistent with its Notice of Non-Discrimination . Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.
FAQs
What's a hackathon?
A hackathon is a 24 hour event where students with similar interests come together to work on a project. You can attend workshops, hear from people in the computer science field and network with students and reps from companies!
Who can attend?
All genders and identities are welcome to attend the hackathon! It is an all inclusive hackathon with a primary focus on supporting women and nonbinary hackers.
Will AthenaHacks be virtual this year?
AthenaHacks will be fully in-person this year! We will be hosting our event on-campus at the University of Southern California.
When will applications open and close?
Hacker Applications are currently open! You can apply through the link at top of our website or on our linktree. They are reviewed on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible!
Do I need to be a CS major or minor?
No! This is the perfect place for any student to create their first coding project. We'll have plenty of resources for beginners to get started!
Does this cost money?
Nope! Admission is free! Our sponsors and AthenaHacks will provide you with the free swag!!
How do teams work?
At most teams can have 4 people. You can have your teammates in mind before the event, or you can find a team during our team formation activity before and after opening ceremony!
Will there be hardware available?
We do provide hardware!! We will have Grove Beginner Kits for Arduino and Grove IoT Edition Starter Kits.
Is there a code of conduct?
Yes, we want to make AthenaHacks enjoyable for everyone! We follow MLH's Code of Conduct: here.
Can I mentor?
If you have technical experience with programming or software development, please apply to be a mentor today!
I want to join the organizing team. Where can I apply?
We recruit once a year in the fall for our Programs, Logistics, Finances and Marketing teams! Keep an eye out on our Instagram or website for the latest details.
Where can I find more info about opportunities and events?
If you'd like to stay updated on all things AthenaHacks, follow our Instagram here for the latest updates on exciting opportunities, campus events, and a behind-the-scenes look at our team!
Previous Sponsors
A huge thank you to all our sponsors and contributors! If you're interested in sponsoring AthenaHacks 2026, please contact us at athenahacks@gmail.com
