Frontier Cascadia
Where the next generation of Pacific Northwest builders ship something real.
Get notified when registration opens
Build what's
next.
Frontier Cascadia is not a classroom exercise. It is not a science fair. It is one day to build something real. Software that solves a problem, tells a story, or changes how someone sees the world. The best thing you could get out of a weekend.
We bring together the most technically ambitious high school students in the Pacific Northwest, put them in a room with the resources they need, and ask them to ship solutions in 12 hours.
Then we put them in front of judges who take them seriously. No participation trophies. No grade inflation. The standard is whether it works.
$10,000+ in prizes
Real money to take your project beyond the hackathon. Build it here, launch it everywhere.
+ $5,000+ in cloud credits, API access, and developer tools
distributed to all participants at check-in.
Show up.
Build.
Ship.
Bring an idea, form a team, or hack solo. We handle the rest.
Tangible projects
No slideshows without something to show. If it doesn't work, it's not done. Code, hardware, whatever. Just make it real.
Industry sponsors on site
Top Seattle tech companies will have booths, run workshops, and be around all day to answer questions.
Real feedback
Present to judges from big tech, universities, and VCs who build products for a living. Expect honest questions.
Everything is free
Meals, caffeine, swag, and cloud credits are on us. Just bring your machine.
Common questions
Who can participate?
Any high school student in grades 9 through 12 in the Seattle metro area and broader Pacific Northwest. You don't need to know how to code yet, but you should be ready to learn fast.
Do I need a team?
No. You can come solo and find teammates at the event, bring your friends, or hack alone. Teams can be up to 4 people.
What should I bring?
Your laptop, a charger, and any hardware you want to use. We provide food, drinks, wifi, and power strips.
Is it really free?
Yes. Completely free. Meals, snacks, swag, cloud credits, all of it. We want cost to be zero barrier to showing up.
What can I build?
Anything that runs. Web apps, mobile apps, hardware projects, games, AI tools, browser extensions. If it works, it counts.
Do I need experience?
Some coding experience helps, but we have seen beginners build incredible things with industry experts available to answer questions and sheer determination. Don't count yourself out.
Ready to
build?
September 19, 2026 / Seattle, WA / 12 hours
Registration opens May 1st. Spots are limited.
Get in touch
Have a question about the event, sponsoring, or anything else? Drop us a message.