CruzHacks 2025 Takes Over Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium April 11–13

CruzHacks, the Central Coast’s premier student-run hackathon, returns for its 11th year—bigger and bolder than ever. This year’s event will be held April 11–13, 2025, at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, marking a major milestone in its continued growth and impact.

With more than 500+ applicants, CruzHacks 2025 will welcome high school, college, and early-career innovators from across California to develop groundbreaking tech solutions in just 36 hours. This year, 30% of participants are high school students, and 50% come from underrepresented groups in tech, including diverse ethnicities and gender expressions.

Supported by $40,000 in event funding and $5,000 in prizes, CruzHacks offers a collaborative and high-energy environment with mentorship from industry experts and support from companies large and small.

Join Us!

The public is invited to join the excitement on Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m. for final presentations, inspiring speakers, live demos, and the announcement of this year’s winners.

Special thanks to our generous community sponsors: City of Santa Cruz Economic Development, Santa Cruz Works, UCSC Baskin School of Engineering, CIED, qb3, and all those who make CruzHacks possible.

To learn more or get involved, visit CruzHacks.com.