Veterans Innovation Hackathon

A 3-day hackathon at Hacker Dojo bringing together veterans, engineers, designers, nonprofit leaders, and community builders to co-create solutions to challenges faced by the veteran community.

The Challenge

What was the hardest part about coming home as a veteran?

For many veterans, the challenge does not end when they leave the service. It begins when they try to navigate the systems designed to support them.

Too often, veterans face:

Confusing websites and complicated processes

Long application forms

Unclear pathways to finding the right resources

Waiting weeks or months for support when they need it most

When a veteran needs help, accessing support should not feel like another battle.

The goal of this hackathon is to explore solutions that make getting support as simple and accessible as possible. We believe veterans should be able to communicate what they need and quickly connect with the right resources, organizations, and people who can help.

Listen First. Then Build.

This hackathon is built around a simple principle:

Listen first, then build.

Veterans will share their lived experiences, challenges, and ideas directly with builders. Engineers, designers, and innovators will then collaborate with veterans to transform those insights into working prototypes over the course of the weekend.

The goal is not just to create a project for a weekend. The goal is to build ideas that can continue growing into real tools, services, and solutions that improve the lives of veterans.

3-Day Agenda

Day 1 — Listen, Pitch, Form Teams

Understanding the problem and finding opportunities

Veteran open mic sharing real challenges and lived experiences

Innovation pitch session inspired by veteran stories

Team formation and collaboration kickoff

Evening kickoff into hackathon build begins

Day 2 — Build With Veterans

Turning ideas into solutions

Full-day collaborative building session

Veterans actively engage with teams as advisors and co-designers

Mentorship, iteration, and prototyping

Evening continued development and refinement

Day 3 — Demo & Celebrate

Showcasing solutions and creating momentum

Final build and project preparation

6:45 PM submission deadline

7:00 PM team demos begin (5-minute presentations per team)

Judges deliberate and evaluate solutions

Winner announcement and awards

Community celebration continues until 9:00 PM

Join us in bringing together veterans and innovators to build a future where accessing support is faster, easier, and centered around the people who need it most.