Columbia x NYU Claude Builder Club Hackathon
*** IMPORTANT ***
Please use your university email (columbia.edu, nyu.edu) to register to be considered!
One Sunday. 200 builders. Ship something real with Claude.
The Claude Builder Hackathon lands at Columbia Business School on April 12 — a one-day sprint where students from Columbia, NYU, and across NYC build real products with Claude, the Claude Agent SDK, and Claude Code.
First hackathon or tenth? Doesn't matter. Show up, ship something, leave with a demo, new teammates, and the NYC builder crowd in your corner.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
• $3,000 in Anthropic credits + cash prizes across the Grand Prize and sponsor challenges
• $25 Claude API credits for eligible Columbia / NYU students — apply via Google Form by Friday, April 10 at 12 PM (see FAQ)
• Claude merch — we're giving away a lot of free swag
• Live mentorship — rolling office hours with Anthropic, Linkup, and Claude Ambassadors
• Judges from big tech + founders — top teams demo on the main stage
• Fuel — breakfast, lunch, snacks, and good vibes all day
WHO SHOULD COME
• Columbia and NYU students from any discipline, technical or non-technical, undergrad or grad
• Engineers, designers, PMs, domain experts — we'll help you form teams on site
• Come solo or roll in with a team of up to 4
THE DAY
8:30 AM Check-in, breakfast, team formation
9:00 AM Opening + keynote & theme reveal
9:30 AM Hacking begins
3:00 PM Submissions close
3:15 PM Demos & judging
5:00 PM Awards & closing
TRACKS & CHALLENGES
• Grand Prize — Best overall build with Claude
• Linkup Challenge — Best use of the Linkup search API
All winning teams receive Anthropic API credits to keep building after the hackathon.
HOSTED BY
Columbia Claude Builder Club · NYU Claude Builder Club · CBS AI Club
SPONSORED BY
Anthropic · Affiniti · Eniac Ventures · Linkup
WHAT TO BRING
• Your laptop + charger
• An idea — or an open mind to join someone else's
RULES
• Build during the event
• Your project must use Claude (API, Claude Code, or Agent SDK) in a meaningful way
• Teams of 1–4
• Be excellent to each other
FAQ
Do I need a team?
No. Come solo — we'll run team formation at check-in.
Do I need to be technical?
No. Designers, PMs, and domain experts make teams stronger. Bring what you bring.
Is this application-based?
Yes. We have limited capacity (200) and want the room full of serious builders.
How do I get the $25 Claude API credits? **deadline passed**
If you're a student at Columbia or NYU who has not previously received API credits through the Claude Builder Club, fill out the Google Form by Friday, April 10 at 12 PM. You'll need your full name, school email, and your Claude Console OrgID (from console.anthropic.com — not your claude.ai OrgID). Credits land before the hackathon.