Bay Area's Premier High School HackathonBay Area

FIRE
HACKS

August 8, 2026Zoho HQ, Pleasanton
--Days
--Hrs
--Min
--Sec

A full day of building, learning, and shipping. Join 200+ high school hackers for the Bay Area's most electric hackathon.

100
Of California's Most Elite Highschoolers
1 day
Of Building
$30K+
In Prizes, Credits, Free Food & More
100%
Free

About the Event

What is Fire Hacks?

Fire Hacks is a one-day hackathon designed for high school builders who want to ship real projects, learn from mentors, and connect with the Bay Area's next generation of engineers.

Whether you're building your first app or training your tenth model, Fire Hacks gives you the space, resources, and community to create something you're proud of — in one packed day.

Hosted by CodeStarters, a student-led 501(c)(3) fiscally sponsored nonprofit teaching CS and AI to younger students. All sponsorships are tax-deductible.

// Why we're different

  • A full day of focused building time
  • Workshops on AI/ML, full-stack dev, and product design
  • Mentors from industry and university on site all day
  • Full meals, snacks, and caffeine provided
  • 100% free — no registration fee, ever

Build What You Want

Tracks

AI Track

Build AI apps, agents, copilots, workflows, model-powered products.

Sponsors

Featherless AIGuild.aiBackboard.ion8n

Startup Track

Build something people would actually use. MVP > slides.

Sponsors

PublickRorkRender

Developer Tools Track

Build tools for builders — IDEs, APIs, infra, deployment, coding workflows.

Sponsors

CodeCraftersRelayInsForge

Research & Innovation Track

Build technical projects pushing boundaries — new AI applications, scientific tools, experimental systems.

Sponsors

Exea Labs

Open Track

Build literally anything. Games, websites, hardware, random ideas, cursed hacks.

Open category

Any stack, any idea. No dedicated track sponsors.

Our Sponsors

Backed by Builders

CodeCraftersGen.xyzRelayMedoFeatherless AIn8nExea LabsYRI FellowshipPublickGuild.aiRorkRenderBackboard.io

Become a Sponsor

Help us put on the Bay Area's best high school hackathon. Your sponsorship is tax-deductible through our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor and directly funds prizes, meals, and resources for 200+ student builders.

Got Questions?

FAQ

What is Fire Hacks?+
Fire Hacks is a one-day in-person hackathon for high school students in the Bay Area. It's organized by CodeStarters. You'll build a project from scratch, attend workshops, eat great food, and compete for $30K+ in prizes.
When and where is it?+
Fire Hacks is on August 8, 2026 at Zoho HQ, Pleasanton. It's a full-day, in-person event in the East Bay.
Who can attend?+
Any current high school student (grades 9–12) can apply. No prior hackathon or coding experience is required — we'll have beginner-friendly workshops and mentors to help you get started.
How much does it cost?+
Nothing. Fire Hacks is 100% free to attend. Meals, snacks, swag, and everything else are fully covered by our sponsors.
What should I build?+
Pick a track that fits your project: AI Track, Startup Track, Developer Tools Track, Research & Innovation Track, or Open Track. Each track has dedicated sponsors and prizes — build something that solves a real problem, explores new tech, or is just plain fun.
How do I become a sponsor?+
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at outreach@codestarters.org, or view our sponsorship prospectus. All sponsorships are tax-deductible through our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.
Where will sponsor money go?+
Every dollar goes directly toward making Fire Hacks happen: venue rental, meals and snacks for all attendees, prizes, swag, workshop materials, and event logistics. We're a nonprofit — there's no profit motive here.