About the challenge

The Financial Cybersecurity Challenge 2026 brings students together to tackle real-world problems at the intersection of finance and cybersecurity.

As scams become more sophisticated and data breaches put personal and financial information at risk, new solutions are needed to help people stay protected. Your challenge is to design and build an innovative solution that helps prevent scams, protects users from data breaches, or improves the security of financial information.

Your solution could be an app, website, AI-powered tool, browser extension, security system, educational platform, or another creative idea. Identify a real problem, develop your solution, and demonstrate how it could make the digital financial world safer.

Get started

Start by identifying a problem related to financial scams, fraud, privacy, or data breaches. Think about who is affected, why current solutions may not be enough, and how technology could provide a better approach.

Then, form your idea and start building. Your project should clearly explain the problem, demonstrate your solution, and show how it could protect real users.

Identify the problem → Design your solution → Build your project → Demonstrate its impact

Whether you create a scam-detection tool, a safer way to handle financial data, a system that warns users about suspicious activity, or something completely different, the goal is simple:

Build technology that makes finance safer for everyone.

Requirements

What to Build

Build a technology-based solution that helps address financial scams, fraud, data breaches, or digital financial security.

Your project can be a website, mobile app, web app, browser extension, AI-powered tool, or another software-based solution. Your solution should address a clear problem and demonstrate how it could help protect users or their financial information.

Projects can range from scam-detection tools and fraud alerts to privacy solutions, cybersecurity education platforms, or completely new ideas. Be creative—the goal is to build something that could make a real impact.

What to Submit

Submit a demo video of your project that is 5 minutes or less.

Your video should:

  • Explain the problem you are solving.

  • Introduce your solution and how it works.

  • Demonstrate your website, app, or other solution.

  • Explain how your project helps prevent scams, data breaches, or other financial cybersecurity threats.

  • Highlight the most important or innovative features of your project.

Important: Your demo video must be 5 minutes or less. Videos longer than 5 minutes will not be considered for judging.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

5 non-cash prizes
First Place
1 winner

Awarded to the project that demonstrates the strongest overall combination of innovation, cybersecurity effectiveness, functionality, real-world impact, and presentation. This project stands out as the most complete and impactful solution of the Financial Cybersecurity Challenge 2026.

Second Place
1 winner

Awarded to an outstanding project that presents a creative, functional, and effective solution to a financial cybersecurity problem and performs strongly across the judging criteria.

Third
1 winner

Awarded to a project that demonstrates strong problem-solving, technical execution, and potential impact while presenting a thoughtful solution to financial scams, fraud, or data breaches.

Most Innovative
1 winner

Awarded to the project that presents the most original and creative solution. Judges will look for fresh ideas, unique approaches, and projects that rethink how technology can protect people from financial scams, fraud, and data breaches.

Best Beginner Project
1 winner

Awarded to the best beginner that competes in their first hackathon.

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Saurabh Bhat

Saurabh Bhat

Judging Criteria

  • 1. Innovation & Creativity
    How original and creative is the solution? Does the project introduce a new approach or significantly improve an existing solution?
  • 2. Cybersecurity & Effectiveness
    How effectively does the solution help prevent financial scams, fraud, data breaches, or other cybersecurity threats? Is the proposed protection realistic?
  • 3. Functionality & Technical Execution
    How well does the website, app, or solution work? Are the main features functional, and has the project been built effectively?
  • 4. Real-World Impact
    Could the solution genuinely help people? Consider the importance of the problem, the number of people who could benefit, and whether the solution could realistically be used in the real world.
  • 5. Demo & Communication
    How clearly does the team explain the problem, solution, and key features? Is the project easy to understand, and does the demo effectively show how the solution works?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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