AI for Social Good | Open Atlas Hackathon 2026
About this Event
About This Event
Watch the Bay Area's most ambitious AI builders pitch solutions to real-world problems — and meet the sponsors, recruiters, and investors who can take their work further.
The Open Atlas AI for Social Good Hackathon is the flagship Day 1 activation of Open Atlas Summit 2026, America's largest gathering for high-skilled immigrants, founders, and investors. Over a two-month build window, teams ship AI-powered solutions across immigration, healthcare access, education, financial inclusion, career mobility, and newcomer settlement. On August 21, the strongest teams come to Milpitas to demo live, compete for cash and sponsor prizes, and meet hiring teams at the on-site job fair.
If you care about where AI is going next and who's actually building it. This is a room worth being in.
What's Happening on Demo Day
Live finalist pitches
The top teams demo their projects on the main stage in front of a panel of judges from leading AI labs, venture capital firms, and immigration law practices.
$10,000+ in cash and prizes
Awards announced live at 5:00 PM. Categories include People's Choice ($10,000 cash, voted by you), Best Immigration Solution (complimentary O-1 visa filing valued at $8,000), Best Education Hack (MS admissions package, $2,000 value), Best Use of Render Workflows (up to $500 in credits), Best Financial Inclusion ($500 Amazon Gift Card), Best Career & Talent (LinkedIn Premium for one year), and Best Newcomer Settlement (IKEA gift card).
On-site job fair
After the pitches, sponsors and hiring teams meet directly with attendees. Bring your résumé. Bring your questions. Bring your business card.
Networking with the Open Atlas community
The audience reflects the room that produces 20% of US unicorn founders — senior engineers, venture-backed founders, graduate students from top US engineering programs, immigration attorneys, and investors.
Schedule
TimeWhat10:00 AMDoors open · Registration · Coffee10:30 AMWelcome remarks11:00 AMFinalist pitches begin12:30 PMCatered lunch · Mid-day networking1:30 PMPitches continue3:00 PMJob fair + sponsor booths open5:00 PMAwards ceremony on the main stage6:00 PMEvent concludes
Who Should Attend
- Engineers, PMs, and AI builders looking to see what cutting-edge applied AI looks like in practice
- Job seekers - the job fair brings hiring teams from sponsoring tech companies directly to you
- Founders and entrepreneurs scouting collaborators, technical talent, or future co-founders
- Investors and VCs identifying pre-seed and seed-stage immigrant founders before they raise
- Recruiters and hiring managers looking to meet builders in the most technical segment of the Bay Area
- Press and media covering the AI ecosystem, immigration tech, and Bay Area innovation
- Students from Bay Area universities interested in AI, social impact, and career exploration
Want to Compete?
Attending Demo Day as an audience member is free and open to everyone. To compete for the prizes, you'll need to submit a project on Devpost.
Submission window: June 20 – August 20, 2026
Submit at: oa-ai-for-social-good.devpost.com
Builds happen online over two months. Top finalists are invited to pitch live in Milpitas on August 21.
Judges
- Nikin Tharan - Open Atlas · O-1 / EB1A / EB5 immigration specialist · FINRA Registered Rep
- RK Udayakumar - Founder, Open Atlas
- Sohan Sethi - Data Analytics Manager, HCSC · Featured on TEDx and CNBC
- Anjali Nair - Senior Manager, Product Marketing
- Nusrat G. - Senior Immigration Attorney
- Anushk Sharma - Growth Lead, Open Atlas
- Veeraj Gadda - Solutions Manager, PayPal
Sponsors
The hackathon is supported by sponsors across the AI ecosystem, immigration legal services, education, fintech, and developer infrastructure including Render, GoUpBroad, OpenInvests, OpenHired, StudentsLanding, and partner law firms specializing in high-skilled immigration. Additional sponsors are added throughout the summer.
Venue & Logistics
India Community Centre
525 Los Coches St, Milpitas, CA 95035
- Parking: Free on-site
- Transit: Milpitas BART station + VTA buses serve the area
- Provided: Coffee, catered lunch, snacks, Wi-Fi, power at every table
- Accessibility: Venue is wheelchair accessible
- Quiet & prayer/meditation space: Available - ask at registration
About Open Atlas
Open Atlas is America's leading platform for high-skilled immigrants building careers and companies in the US. The Open Atlas Summit is the flagship annual gathering, drawing thousands of immigrant professionals, founders, investors, and ecosystem partners.
openatlas.events
[email protected]
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
