Just like baking with Churro, hackathons are all about mixing together the right ingredients — creativity, collaboration, and curiosity — to make something wonderful! At Pearl Hacks, our Tracks and Focus Pathways are designed to help you explore, learn, and create your own recipe for success.
Tracks
Think of Tracks as the main layers of your hackathon experience — where your project can rise to the occasion and compete for prizes. Whether you're diving in as a first-time hacker through our Beginner Track or taking full creative freedom in our General Track, these categories are where you can submit your projects for official judging and prizes.
General Track
The General Track is for all hackers — from seasoned coders to first-time builders — ready to cook up something creative! In this open-ended track, you can bring any idea to life using software, hardware, design, or a mix of all three. You'll collaborate with hackers of all backgrounds and interests to whip up something uniquely yours.
- Everyone is automatically entered into the General Track.
- You can also submit your project to sponsor challenges.
- Eligible for standard Pearl Hacks prizes (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place).
Beginner Track
New to hackathons or computer science? The Beginner Track is your perfect starter recipe! You'll get access to beginner-friendly workshops, learning resources, and mentorship to help you build confidence, pick up new technical 'ingredients,' and explore how computing connects with your passions — from art to biology and everything in between.
- Open to hackers who are new to hackathons and/or computer science.
- You can still enter sponsor challenges.
- Eligible for the dedicated Beginner Track Prize.
- While eligible for General Track prizes, Beginner Track participants will primarily be recognized within their track.
No matter which Track or Pathway you choose, each experience is a chance to learn something new, collaborate with others, and whip up a project that's uniquely yours. So grab your apron, gather your team, and get ready to bake up something beautiful at Pearl Hacks!