HSIL Hackathon 2026: 7th Edition
Harvard T.H Chain
📌 About the Event
The HSIL Hackathon 2026 is an annual global health innovation challenge organized by the Health Systems Innovation Lab (HSIL) at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Now in its 7th edition, it brings together students, clinicians, engineers, designers, policy analysts, and entrepreneurs across 35+ countries to design AI-powered solutions that strengthen health systems worldwide.
For Indian students specifically, the hackathon has a dedicated India Hub, hosted jointly at IIT Patna, Bihar and KIIT School of Public Health, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in collaboration with Harvard’s India Research Center.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Category: Healthcare Innovation / AI / Public Health / Interdisciplinary Hackathon
- Organizer: Health Systems Innovation Lab (HSIL), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston
- Eligibility: Open to all, students, clinicians, engineers, designers, policy analysts, and entrepreneurs worldwide; no prior hackathon experience required
- Open To: Global including India, dedicated India Hub at IIT Patna & KIIT Bhubaneswar
- Team Size: Individual or team, interdisciplinary teams highly encouraged
- Effort Level: Very High, 2 day hackathon + 8 week venture building program post selection
- Submission Type: Online application → 2 day in person hackathon → remote Venture Building Program
📅 Important Dates
- Application Period: Ongoing
- HSIL Collaborative Hub Program: February 9 – March 6, 2026
- Two-Day Hackathon Event: April 10 –11, 2026
- India Hub Locations: IIT Patna, Bihar AND KIIT School of Public Health, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Venture Building Bootcamp 1: April 20 – May 1, 2026
- HSIL Judging + Bootcamp 2: May 4 –15, 2026
- Global Judging Window: May 18 – June 12, 2026
- Demo Day (Final Pitches to Investors): June 19, 2026
- Mode: In person hackathon at local hub + fully remote Venture Building Program
🏆 Prize Details and Value
- Prize Type: Venture incubation + investor pitch + Harvard mentorship + global recognition
- Prize Amount: Investment opportunities at Demo Day global investor panel on June 19, 2026
- Certificates: Yes Harvard HSIL participation and completion certificates
- Visibility: Winning teams pitch to investors and global health leaders at Harvard’s Demo Day
- Additional Perks:
- 8 week structured Venture Building Program for top 50 teams
- Direct mentorship from Harvard faculty, clinicians, and global health experts
- Collaborating sponsors include Microsoft, PATH, Orrick, InterSystems, and Discovery
🎯 What You Will Do
- Apply and join the India Hub at IIT Patna or KIIT Bhubaneswar indicate your preferred location in your application
- Participate in the pre-hackathon speaker series and mentorship sessions (February – March 2026)
- Brainstorm, build, and pitch an AI-powered health system solution in an intensive 2 day sprint on April 10 –11
- If your team wins at the hub level, advance to the 8-week remote Venture Building Program
- Progress through three competitive phases Bootcamp 1, Bootcamp 2, and Global Judging culminating in Demo Day on June 19, 2026 with live investor pitches
📦 Resources & Support Available
- Pre-hackathon hub program with speaker series and mentorship open to all registered participants
- Harvard HSIL Participant Guidebook and Application Instructions available on the official website
- Collaborating partners include Microsoft Research and PATH providing technical tools, mentorship, and network access