Guest Speaker
Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Stanford Center for Neurodiversity and Human PotentialAssociate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Global BASIS Hackathon 2027
BUILD. INNOVATE. IMPACT.
Build AI tools that solve real problems. For people, by people.
Discover the challenge
- 7Days to Build
- 4Tracks
- $10,000+in Prizes
Our mission
AI is changing everything. What will you build with it?
AI for Human Impact challenges students to use AI to address meaningful problems affecting real people.
About the challenge
What is AI for Human Impact?
AI for Human Impact is a hackathon for BASIS high school students. Over one week, teams use AI to build real solutions to real problems — for people, not just for a demo.
What you'll build
Teams design and build an AI-powered project addressing a genuine need in health, education, accessibility, or sustainability — shaped by the people it's meant to help, not built in a vacuum.
What you'll get
Workshops, mentors, and community support to help you go from idea to working prototype — plus $10,000+ in prizes and recognition across four tracks.
Four tracks
Pick the track closest to your team's passion — or propose your own idea in the Open Category.
AI + Health
Help people understand, manage, and access care.
EXAMPLES caregiver organization tools · clearer medical information · healthy-routine assistants
AI + Education
Make learning and teaching smarter and more personal.
EXAMPLES adaptive tutoring · interactive concept visualizations · early struggle detection for teachers
AI + Accessibility & Inclusion
Break down barriers for people who need it most.
EXAMPLES communication support · inclusive navigation · tools for neurodivergent students
AI + Sustainability & Community
Build for healthier communities and a healthier planet.
EXAMPLES food-waste reduction · disaster-response coordination · community resource allocation
Why join
Real Prizes
Compete for $10,000+ in prizes.
Global Community
Connect and build alongside students across the BASIS network.
Build Something Real
Turn an idea into a working AI-powered product.
Learn & Create
Develop your technical and problem-solving skills through the challenge.
Prizes
$10,000+
Awarded across all four tracks and special categories.
Track Prizes
- Grand PrizeOne winner across all tracks$1,500
- 1st PlaceOne winner per track4 × $1,000
- 2nd PlaceOne winner per track4 × $500
- 3rd PlaceOne winner per track4 × $300
Special Awards
- People's ChoiceVoted by participants & attendees$500
- Most Innovative Use of AI$500
- Best Presentation$500
Key dates
All times Pacific.
Nov 2, 2026
Registration Opens
Sign-ups go live — reserve your team's spot.
Jan 16, 2027
Registration Closes
Final day to register for the hackathon.
Feb 6–12, 2027
Build Week
Seven days to design, build, and test your solution.
Feb 13–19, 2027
Judging Period
Judges review every submission across all four tracks.
Feb 20, 2027
Winners Announced
Results are announced and prizes are awarded.
Eligibility & requirements
The short version — full rules are posted on Devpost.
Who's Eligible
- Open to high school students (grades 9–12) at any BASIS school nationwide
- Compete solo or in teams of up to 5
- Minors need parent/guardian permission to participate
What's Required
- AI must be used meaningfully — not just a chatbot wrapper
- Every project must involve at least one real user in design or testing
- Submit a demo video, project write-up, and public GitHub repo
Speakers
Guest speakers joining us to talk AI, neurodiversity, and building for real people.
Guest Speaker
Sara Kolb
Head of School, Upper SchoolBASIS Independent Silicon Valley
Guest Speaker
Yu Sun, Ph.D.
Founder, Mantou AI & Coding Mind InstituteProfessor, Cal Poly & Vanderbilt University
Judges
Meet the judges evaluating this year's projects.
Judge
Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Stanford Center for Neurodiversity and Human PotentialAssociate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Lawrence Fung directs the Stanford Center for Neurodiversity and Human Potential and the Neurodiversity Clinic. His research on autism and neurodiversity spans multi-modal neuroimaging to clinical, educational, and employment applications. He holds an M.D. from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.
Judge
Yu Sun, Ph.D.
Founder, Mantou AI & Coding Mind InstituteProfessor, Cal Poly & Vanderbilt University
Dr. Yu Sun is a tenured Professor of Computer Science at Cal Poly and Vanderbilt University, and the founder of Mantou AI and the Coding Mind Institute. As creator and lead instructor of the Parent AI Course, he teaches parents with no technical background to build and ship real products with Claude Code.
Judge
Hanya Hu
Founder & CEO, HerPower AIAdjunct Professor, CSTU
Hanya Hu is the founder and CEO of HerPower AI, a Palo Alto–born global AI community aiming to empower one million women by the end of 2027. A former COO of two multinational tech companies, she is also an angel investor, author, growth hacker, and adjunct professor at CSTU.
Judge
Casey Ma, MBA, MPH
NorCal Director, InGenius PrepHealthcare Hackathon Lead, Yale University
Casey Ma is NorCal Director at InGenius Prep and a Yale alumna with a background in education, healthcare, business, and college admissions. She previously worked in admissions at Yale and the UC system, and led Yale’s Healthcare Hackathon, a 20-year-old event that pairs interdisciplinary teams with real healthcare challenges.
Judge
Tingting Chen
Professor of Computer ScienceCal Poly Pomona
Dr. Tingting Chen is a Professor in the Computer Science Department at Cal Poly Pomona, where she leads the CPP Trustworthy Medical AI Lab. Her research covers data privacy, health informatics, and AI applications in medical systems, and has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Google, Microsoft, and the U.S. Department of Education.
Meet the Team
The students organizing AI for Human Impact.
President
Michael Chang
Hackathon Leader
A 17-year-old senior at BASIS Silicon Valley, Michael leads hackathons and serves as a dedicated volunteer for FCSN. He has helped over 5,000 individuals with autism connect with 80,000+ support resources across 10 countries worldwide. Learn more about the initiative at autismcommunityorg.org.
Frequently asked
Do I need advanced AI experience?
No. This is beginner-friendly — workshops, mentors, and community support will help you turn an idea into a working prototype, no matter your starting point.
Can I compete solo?
Yes. You can enter alone or in a team of up to 5 people. Team members don't need to attend the same BASIS campus.
What if my idea doesn't fit one of the four tracks?
Enter the Open Category. Just clearly explain the problem it addresses, who benefits, and why AI is an appropriate part of the solution.
Is this open to every BASIS campus?
Yes — this hackathon is open to high school students at any BASIS school nationwide.
Participant hub
Everything you need to join, in one place.
Hosts
Stanford NNEA
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
Ready to build something that matters?
7 Days · 4 Tracks · $10,000+ in Prizes
Register NowBUILD. INNOVATE. IMPACT.