AWS re:Invent 2024 x Devpost: Must-see hackathon announcements

This is your go-to source for all things AWS and hackathons at re:Invent 2024! This overview highlights everything you need to know about the hackathon-related updates at AWS re:Invent, including winner announcements and other exciting hackathon news. 

But that's not all—we're also celebrating 9+ years of AWS and Devpost collaboration, showcasing the impact of previous hackathons. And to top it off, we'll share insights on how you can make your own hackathon a success.

Major hackathon news at AWS re:Invent 2024

AWS re:Invent is a learning conference for the global cloud-computing community. With a focus on innovation and the latest technology, it’s no surprise that various hackathons were featured there. Let’s dive into the exciting hackathon-related announcements at AWS re:Invent.

#1 VCT Hackathon: Esports Manager Challenge

What to expect at AWS re:Invent: The winners of this hackathon were announced after weeks of intense building and experimentation. Prizes were awarded across various categories celebrating technical implementation, innovation, teamwork, and promising talent.

First place went to the VCT Team Builder, a digital assistant that leverages the power of Machine Learning and LLMs to suggest the optimal winning team combination. Check out the project gallery to see all the submissions.

Background: Over more than seven weeks, participants built LLM-powered digital assistants using Amazon Bedrock, designed to build teams and answer questions about VALORANT Esports players.

Overview:

• 3,305 participants
• 19 prizes to be awarded in 4 categories
• Featuring Amazon Bedrock, Riot Games, and the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT)

#2 MongoDB AI Hackathon: Code for a Cause

What to expect at AWS re:Invent: The winners of the MongoDB AI Hackathon were announced at re:Invent. Prizes were awarded across various categories celebrating technical implementation, design, potential impact, and creativity. First place went to Haven, a tool that allows women in distress to send discreet SOS messages. See all the inspiring submissions in the project gallery.

‍Background: This hackathon challenged developers to leverage MongoDB Atlas on AWS and LangChain to build impactful solutions addressing real-world issues like environmental sustainability, healthcare, and education.

Overview:

• 1,200+ participants
• Featuring MongoDB Atlas on AWS and LangChain
• Participants could use Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Sagemaker, and Amazon Q

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AWS x Devpost: 9+ years of hackathons together

From artificial intelligence to gaming innovations, AWS’s hackathons have sparked creativity across Devpost’s developer community since 2016. AWS has empowered more than 89,000 creators worldwide to push the boundaries of what’s possible through hackathons. 

These 40+ events on Devpost have transformed bold ideas into groundbreaking applications, showcasing the endless potential of AWS’s technology stack.

These hackathons have not only showcased technical prowess but also fostered innovation among these key themes within the developer community:

• Artificial intelligence
• Communication
• DevOps
• Gaming
• Social good

Key results from AWS hackathons on Devpost

The impressive reach and impact of AWS hackathons on Devpost is evident in the numbers:

• 89K+ participants—highlighting the widespread interest and engagement in AWS hackathons on Devpost and showcasing our platform’s ability to attract a large and diverse community of developers.
• 40+ hackathons—demonstrating the consistent collaboration between AWS and Devpost over the years, providing numerous opportunities for developers to showcase their skills and build innovative solutions.‍
• Participants from 135 countries—emphasizing the global reach of hackathons on Devpost, fostering a vibrant and inclusive community of developers from around the world.

Featured hackathon: AWS Game Builder Challenge

Background: This hackathon challenged developers of all skill levels to create a game that showcases their creativity and originality. Participants got to use Amazon Q Developer, a generative AI-powered assistant, to build their games faster, along with any other AWS services of their choice.

Overview:

• Close to 3,800 participants
• Featuring Amazon Q Developer and at least one additional AWS service
• Hundreds of prizes awarded over 11 categories

Grow your developer community in 2026 with hackathons on Devpost

The key to successful hackathons is engaging participants and getting them excited to build. At Devpost, we’ve been connecting developers worldwide with world-class companies through hackathons since 2009.

Why work with Devpost?

1. The world’s leading hackathon platform: Built with intuitive features to reduce your workload and increase participation.
2. Get end-to-end support: Take advantage of consultation, project management, and marketing services to save time running your hackathon and make your competition a success.
3. Grow your developer community: Reach an experienced, global community of 4+ million users.

Want to talk with our experts? Book a meeting here.