Hackathon Site: https://jachacks.org

Ann Arbor, MI · April 4–5, 2026 · 24 Hours · Free to Attend

JacHacks is a 24-hour hackathon where builders come together to ship the next generation of AI-native applications using Jac and Jaseci, the world's first agentic programming stack.

Jac is an AI-native full-stack programming language born at the University of Michigan and backed by NVIDIA and NSF. It supersets Python and JavaScript into one unified language where backend, frontend, and AI live in a single file. No glue code. No prompt engineering. Your type signature is the prompt.

You don't need to know Jac coming in. You just need to show up ready to build.

What You'll Build With

Jac replaces entire function bodies with by llm(). Your type signature becomes the specification, and Jac generates the optimal prompt automatically. Research shows 3.2x faster task completion and 45% fewer lines of code compared to traditional approaches. Backend logic, React frontend, and AI all live in a single .jac file, and every existing PyPI and npm package just works.

Tracks

🤖 Agentic AI (Flagship — $750 / $400) — Build autonomous multi-agent systems using Jac's walker abstraction. Self-directing bots, recursive task solvers, and emergent AI workflows. This is the main event.

💳 Fintech & Open ($400 / $250) — Reinvent how money moves. Intelligent trading, fraud detection, and next-gen checkout experiences powered by Jaseci agents. Or bring your own idea — if it's built with Jac and doesn't fit another track, it belongs here.

🌍 Social Impact ($400 / $250) — Build something that actually matters. Healthcare, mental health, sustainability, education, accessibility, climate. Tech that does good, powered by Jac.

Special Awards

• 🏗️ Best JAC Builder — $400 cash
• 🎨 Best Use of Base44 — Credits from Base44
• 💻 Best Claude Code + JAC Dev Tool — $500 in Claude credits
• 💜 Best Use of Lovable — 3 months free
• 🔧 Best Use of Insforge (YC P26) — Credits + merch box
• 📋 Best Use of Backboard — 1-year subscription
• 🚀 Best Startup Idea — Fast-track interview to SH1P
• 📸 Content / Viral Track — $100 each for Best Instagram Post, Best LinkedIn/X Post, Best Technical Blog, Best YouTube Video (judged within one week of event)

Schedule

Saturday, April 4

• 8:30 AM — Check-In
• 9:30 AM — Team Formation
• 10:00 AM — Opening Ceremony (Jaseci welcome, sponsor intros, track deep-dives)
• 11:00 AM — Hacking Begins
• 12:00 PM — JAC Intro Workshop (zero to Jac in 30 minutes, all levels welcome)
• 1:00 PM — Lunch
• 2:00 PM — Guest Speaker Workshop
• 3:00 PM — How to Get Into YC — Vatsal Shah, ex-YC Founder (F25)
• 6:00 PM — Dinner
• 11:30 PM — Midnight Refuel

Sunday, April 5

• 11:00 AM — Submissions Close (Devpost — no late entries)
• 11:00 AM — Brunch
• 12:00 PM — Project Demos (3-minute pitches to judges and sponsors)
• 3:00 PM — Awards & Closing Ceremony

Details

• Teams: 1–4 people
• Skill Level: All levels welcome
• Cost: Free
• Format: In-person only
• Location: Bob and Betty Beyster Building, 2260 Hayward St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
• Prizes: $10K+
• Perks: Free food, swag, mentorship, and real job opportunities

• Technical Execution
  Does the project work? Is the code clean, the architecture sound, and the demo stable? We're looking at overall engineering quality, from how well the pieces fit together to how gracefully it handles edge cases.
• Use of Jac and Jaseci
  How deeply does the project leverage what makes Jac unique? Projects that take full advantage of by llm(), walkers, graph-native data modeling, and single-file full-stack development will score significantly higher than those that use Jac superficially.
• Creativity and Innovation
  Is this a fresh idea? Does it approach a problem in a way we haven't seen before? We're not looking for another todo app. Show us something that makes us rethink what's possible with agentic AI.
• Presentation and Demo
  Was the 3-minute pitch clear, engaging, and well-structured? Could someone who knows nothing about your project walk away understanding what it does and why it matters?