What if the next Tony Stark wasn’t born in a lab…but in South LA, armed with nothing but a big idea, a borrowed laptop, and a day of radical possibility?

Welcome to Vision Hack 0, the inaugural hackathon of the Vision Hack Series: a bold new effort to bridge the digital divide by unlocking the creative potential of students in South Los Angeles. Hosted in partnership with the City of Los Angeles’ Vision Lab and Hacker Fund, this event is more than a competition. It’s a community-centered innovation sprint where young technologists reimagine what’s possible for their neighborhoods, their futures, and the global community.

Designed for participants ages 14–30 from City Council Districts 8, 9, and 10, Vision Hack 0 offers an immersive, day-long experience filled with hands-on workshops, expert mentorship, career-building sessions, and a chance to build solutions that matter to them, whether that’s creating tech to purify urban air, reinventing local commerce, or reimagining public space in a virtual twin of their own community.

Here, innovation rises up from community needs, lived experience, and unshakable ambition.

What Makes Vision Hack 0 Different?

Place-Based Impact: Projects are rooted in South LA’s real challenges and opportunities, from digital inclusion to urban revitalization.
Equity by Design: Participants are learning more than just how to code: they’re building tools that reflect their values, cultures, and dreams.
Pathways to Power: Every hacker leaves with new skills, a stronger resume, a growing network, and maybe even a mentor who can help fund or hire them.

This is where untapped potential meets technological opportunity. This is where innovation becomes justice. This is where the future is built: not by chance, but by choice.

🗓️ Vision Hack 0 — Full Schedule

📍 Saturday, June 21, 2025 | SoLa Tech Center @ The Beehive

Time	Activity	Details / Context
7:30 AM	Buses Arrive	Transportation begins arriving at venue
8:00 AM	Check-In + Breakfast	Get your badge, wristband, and a bite to eat
8:30 AM	Supply Distribution	Materials, name tags, swag, and starter kits
9:00 AM	Opening Ceremony	Welcome from organizers, track overview, and hype
9:30 AM	Team Building + Hacking Begins	Icebreakers and team formation by age bracket
10:15 AM	Workshop 1: Introduction to Ideation	Covers soft skills, idea development, and theory of change
11:30 AM	Workshop 2: Gaming & Mobile Design	Learn prototyping, gamification, and mobile app concepts
12:30 PM	Lunch + Office Hours Begin	Career Expo and mentor support now available
12:30–1:30 PM	City Officials Greet Students	Meet local leaders and share your early ideas
1:00 PM	Workshop 3: Hardware Hacking	Build and explore using sensors, circuits, and IoT tech
2:15 PM	Workshop 4 & 5: AI/Data Science or Mixed Reality	Choose your adventure—explore machine learning or immersive tech
3:15 PM	Open Hacking	Unstructured build time with mentors available
4:45 PM	Workshop 6: Cybersecurity & Blockchain	Dive into digital trust, web3, and secure design patterns
5:30 PM	Hacking Ends + Dinner	Final meal + transition to presentation phase
5:45 PM	Workshop 7: Pitching Your Idea	Develop storytelling, presentation skills, and problem framing
6:00 PM	Demo Expo	Present your projects, showcase your solutions, practice your pitch
7:15 PM	Closing Ceremony	Awards, recognition, and closing remarks
8:00 PM	Event Ends	Final goodbyes and next steps
8:30 PM	Buses Depart	Return transportation to participating schools

Requirements

✅ Vision Hack 0 — Submission Requirements

🛠️ What to Build

Start Fresh: All projects must be created exclusively during the event.

Concepts Welcome: You are not required to build a working prototype.

Valid formats include paper prototypes, pitch decks, visual mockups, Figma designs, and presentation videos.

Open-Source Assets: You may use open-source templates or tools, but you must clearly disclose them in your submission.

📦 What to Submit

All submissions must be completed on Devpost by 7:00 PM PT on June 21, 2025. Late entries will not be considered.

Your Devpost submission should include:

Project Overview (Required)

A clear explanation of:

The problem you’re addressing
Who it serves and why it matters
Demo Video (Required):
- Length: 3–5 minutes
- Format: YouTube or Vimeo link
- Can be a walkthrough, pitch, or concept presentation
Supplemental Materials (Optional)
Wireframes, diagrams, decks, code links, or prototypes

🤝 Engagement Requirements

Teams must:

Engage with mentors during the event
Attend at least one workshop
Be present for the demo showcase at the end of the event

👥 Team Composition

Teams can include 1 to 4 members
Team members must be within the same age bracket: 14–17, 18–23, or 24–30
No cross-bracket collaboration is allowed
All hackers must attend in person at the SoLa Tech Center

📌 For project development requirements, judging criteria, and additional details, please refer to the official “Rules” tab or ask questions in the #ask-an-organizer channel on Discord.