Bolt is hosting the world’s largest hackathon.
Over 111,000 participants have already joined the World’s Largest Hackathon on Devpost.
The challenge?
Build a full working app - using no code - powered entirely by AI through Bolt.new.
The prize pool is over $1 million, and you don’t need a team, a pitch deck, or a computer science degree to enter.
What Bolt Is Saying
Bolt, built by the team at StackBlitz, says this is more than a hackathon - it’s a shift in who gets to build and how fast.
“We’re redefining what it means to build. You don’t need code. You need ideas - and execution.”
- Eric Simons, CEO of StackBlitz
Participants use Bolt.new, a platform that turns plain-English instructions into full-stack apps.
They must include a Bolt badge and submit a demo, video, and deployment via Devpost.
What That Means (In Human Words)
To participate, you need to:
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Build your project using Bolt.new
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Include the official “Built with Bolt” badge
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Submit a working demo, video, and description through Devpost
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Complete everything between May 30 and June 30, 2025
The app must be created during the hackathon period.
Projects will be judged in July.
Winners will be selected based on functionality, creativity, and use of the Bolt platform.
🧠 Connecting the the dots
By answering a few questions.
Who owns what you build?
✅ You own your project.
If you build something during the hackathon - the idea, the code, the UI - it belongs to you or your team, not to Bolt or Devpost.
⚠️ But... you must use Bolt to build it.
To qualify for prizes and judging, your project has to be:
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Built on Bolt.new
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Include a “Built with Bolt” badge
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Use their platform’s AI to generate the app
This gives Bolt visibility and marketing value from your work, but they don’t claim IP ownership.
What does Bolt get?
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They get to showcase your project on their site or in promotions (that’s usually part of Devpost's terms).
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They get platform usage data and traction.
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They build community reputation through what you create.
So while you keep the rights to your creation, Bolt uses the momentum to grow its platform and user base.
In legal terms (simplified):
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Your idea = yours
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Your app = yours
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Bolt = platform you used to build it
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Devpost = host/judge, not an owner
What This Means for “Build Stage”
Bolt is past its early launch stage and fully in growth mode. The hackathon is part of a broader strategy to:
- Showcase Bolt.new’s ability to handle real-world projects
- Expand its user base among developers, non-coders, and entrepreneurs
- Solidify network effects and platform stickiness
The "build stage" isn't just a hackathon phase-it reflects Bolt’s company-wide emphasis on real usage, real projects, and built-in growth through community and developer engagement.
🧭 Bottom Line
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Event: World’s Largest Hackathon
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Hosted on: bolt.new
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Powered by: Bolt (from StackBlitz)
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Build Type: No-code, AI-generated apps
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When: May 30 – June 30, 2025
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Prizes: $1M+ across categories
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Access: https://hackathon.dev/
Stop the AI Cult - FrozenLight Perspective
This isn’t just a hackathon.
It’s Bolt’s way of massive scaling.
They’re not waiting for users to come.
They’re staging an event big enough to say:
“We’re here. Try it. Build something. If you don’t win, we’ll still showcase it - someone else might learn from it.”
That part matters.
Because yes, 111,000 signups is impressive.
But if it’s open to anyone, why isn’t that number even higher?
Maybe it’s because people need examples.
Maybe it’s because they need permission.
Maybe most people won’t start unless they see someone else go first.
Bolt seems to get that.
They’re not only offering tools - they’re offering a platform full of starting points.
That’s why showcasing submissions isn’t just a gesture - it’s strategy.
Inspiration becomes acquisition.
This is a company barely a year old, already claiming $40M ARR - and still choosing to run a global event just to accelerate how people understand what it does.
That’s not hype. That’s movement design.
We’ll be watching to see who wins -
but more than that, we’ll be watching what ideas this unlocks next.
Because sometimes, all people need is to see one example and think:
“I could build that.”
And that’s how revolutions start.
