Big Earth Hackathon Prizes

General Awards

All hackathon participants are eligible to compete for cash prizes in the form of Amazon gift cards, recognizing strong execution, creativity, and impact. 

All hackathon participants are also encouraged to apply to the TomKat Center for funding and incubation support, following the hackathon. Admission is not guaranteed, but eligible projects are welcome to apply. Visit the TomKat Center website for information on their support resources.

The FireWERX Challenge

Projects are eligible to compete for the FireWERX Challenge, awarded to the team(s) that best demonstrate a working solution to one of the FireWERX problem statements. Learn more about FireWERX here.

Winners will receive:

Incubation and Funding from the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator

  • Integration into the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator

  • One year of funding support, up to $50k, to continue development

  • Entrepreneurship and incubator-style support to help teams move from prototype to deployable solution

Visit the Sustainability Accelerator website to learn more about how they support Stanford innovators.

Note: All Stanford Sustainability Accelerator projects must have a faculty advisor / PI in order to receive funding. The Accelerator team can support you in finding one if need be.

Access to an Extensive Wildfire Innovation Network

Upon integration into the Sustainability Accelerator, FireWERX challenge winners are connected to the broader Sustainability Accelerator wildfire network, gaining:

  • Direct relationships with Fire Innovation Units for continued testing and feedback

  • Access to test beds where solutions can be validated in real-world conditions

  • Exposure to potential procurement pathways with fire agencies and partners

  • Connections to a wider ancillary support ecosystem, including policy, research, and other organizations working across the wildfire innovation space