What is Solhacks?
The first-ever Latinx-oriented hackathon at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill! SolHacks is a groundbreaking event designed to celebrate Latinx culture, foster inclusivity, and create a supportive space where students from all backgrounds can come together to innovate, collaborate, and bring their tech visions to life.
When
For Spring 2025, SolHacks will take place on March 29th-30th at Chapel Hill, NC
Fully in Person
We will have sponsorship present in-person as well as various workshops throughout the event time
All Students are Welcome
We are open to all students who are at least 18+ from any background (not required to be Latino)
FAQ
Nope! Solhacks is open to everyone, regardless of background. While we center around Latino representation in tech, we welcome anyone who supports our mission and wants to be part of an inclusive and diverse hackathon experience.
A hackathon is an event where people come together to create tech projects in a short period, usually 24 hours. Participants can build apps, websites, hardware projects, or any innovative tech solution. No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to learn, collaborate, and have fun!
Please email unc.latinosintech@gmail.com so that we can open the registration form for you!
No problem! Hackathons aren't just for programmers, anyone is welcome. You can learn new skills, contribute to brainstorming, or even focus on project presentation and pitching. We'll also have beginner-friendly workshops to help you get started.
Teams can have up to 4 members. You can sign up with a team or form one at the event. If you don’t have a team, we’ll have a team formation session to help you find teammates who share your interests!
To keep the competition fair, you can’t submit projects with pre-existing code. However, open-source libraries, frameworks, and APIs are allowed. If you have questions about what qualifies, just ask us!
Yes! We’ll have designated rest areas in Sitterson Hall and air mattresses for participants who need to take a break. Bring a sleeping bag or blanket for extra comfort.
The closest parking options to Sitterson Hall are Venable Hall Parking Lot, McCauley Parking Deck, and Beard Hall Parking Lot. Parking is free on weekends. We recommend arriving early to secure a spot.
SolHacks is an in-person event. All activities, workshops, and networking opportunities will take place on-site at Sitterson Hall.
No! While we encourage participants to stay for the full experience, we understand that schedules can be tricky. If you need to step out, just make sure your team is aware, and plan accordingly so you don’t miss important milestones.
SolHacks is open to college and high school students (18 or older) from any background, as well as recent graduates. If you're passionate about tech and innovation, you're welcome to join!
Yes! UNC-CH students can scan QR codes around the event to receive credit.
No problem! Hackathons aren’t just for programmers, anyone is welcome. You can learn new skills, contribute to brainstorming, or even focus on project presentation and pitching. We’ll also have beginner-friendly workshops to help you get started.
We’re happy to help! Feel free to reach out to us at unc.latinosintech@gmail.com or visit our Slack to get in touch with our team.
Resources
Project Ideas
Beginner: Personal finance tracker, mental health check-in bot, to-do list app.
Intermediate: AI-powered resume screener, community disaster response map.
Advanced: Real-time language translation tool, blockchain-based voting system.
Inspiration from the past:
Hackathons HackNC: https://hacknc-2024.devpost.com/project-gallery
PearlHacks: https://pearlhacks2024.devpost.com/project-gallery
AfroPix: https://afropix.devpost.com/project-gallery
Carolina Data Challenge: https://carolina-data-challenge-2024.devpost.com/project-gallery
Project Submission and Help
Slack: If you have any questions or want to get the latest updates on Solhacks, joing our slack here
Devpost: You will be submitting your projects on Devpost here
Tools
- Code editors: VS Code, JetBrains, Sublime Text, IntelliJ.
- Version control: GitHub, GitLab.
- Free APIs: OpenWeather, Twilio, Google Maps.
- Public datasets: Kaggle, Data.gov.
- Google Colab, Hugging Face, OpenAI.
- Frontend: Next.js, React, Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap.
- Backend: Flask, FastAPI, Node.js.
- Figma, Canva, FontAwesome.
- Slack
Parking, Location, and Transportation
Maps:
Address:
232 S Columbia St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Parking:
Nearby Parking Lot Maps:
- Swain Lot
- Venable Lot
- Bell Tower Deck
- Beard Lot
- McCauley Deck
There is a bus stop right outside Sitterson Hall. For more information on bus routes, download the Chapel Hill Transit app or visit here
Self Care
- March 29th 9:00PM - 10:00PM: Decompression/Fun Activity Break Time (Loteria!): Take a break and unwind with a fun game of Loteria! Prizes included, so don‘t miss out!
- Grounding Exercise: Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
- Neck Stretch: Gently tilt your head to the side, bringing your ear toward your shoulder, hold for 10 seconds, then switch.
- Box Breathing (used by Navy SEALs for stress relief): Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, repeat.
- Carolina Coffee Shop – Historic and cozy atmosphere.
- Epilogue – Bookstore café with amazing churros.
- NC Botanical Garden – Beautiful natural space to unwind.
- Student Union Lounge – Comfy seating inside the Carolina Union.
Sol de Plata Sponsors
Sol de Oro Sponsors
Donors
Daniel Santana-Garcia
William Gonzalez
Volunteers
