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Google Developer Groups (Google)

Google Solution Challenge

Google's global student hackathon run through Google Developer Groups on Campus - student teams build a working prototype addressing one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals using Google technologies.

Brabble editorial · Updated 12 Aug 2026 · Official page

Particulars

Organiser
Google Developer Groups (Google)
Mode
Online, global
Prize / outcome
Global recognition, mentorship, and prizes for top-placing teams
Team size
1-4 members
Application fee
Free
Rounds
4

What it is

Solution Challenge is Google's annual global hackathon for students, run through the Google Developer Groups (GDG) on Campus network. Teams pick a UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) - things like quality education, climate action, or good health - and build a working prototype addressing it, required to use at least one Google technology (Firebase, Android, Google Cloud, Gemini/AI APIs, etc.) somewhere in the stack. It runs over several months, from an initial submission through mentorship to a final global demo stage.

Rounds

  1. 01. Registration and idea submission

    Teams register via a local GDG on Campus chapter and submit an initial idea tied to a chosen UN Sustainable Development Goal.

  2. 02. Build phase with mentorship

    Teams build their prototype over several months, with structured mentorship sessions from Google engineers and Google Developer Experts guiding technical and product decisions.

  3. 03. Milestone submissions

    Teams submit progress demos/videos at set milestones for feedback and continued eligibility - missing a milestone can mean elimination from later stages.

  4. 04. Top 100 and global finalists

    A global top-100 shortlist is announced; from there, a smaller group of finalists presents on Google's global demo stage in front of a wider audience.

Who can enter

What you actually get

Top global teams get direct recognition on Google's own channels, mentorship from Google engineers/Google Developer Experts during the program, and a shot at global prizes; regional/campus-level participants still get structured mentorship and a strong portfolio project even without advancing to the global stage.

Frequently asked questions

How many rounds does Google Solution Challenge have?+
Four broad stages: registration with an initial idea submission tied to a UN Sustainable Development Goal, a months-long build phase with Google mentorship, milestone progress submissions, and a final global top-100/finalist stage judged on Google's own demo platform.
Do you need to know Google Cloud or Firebase to enter?+
You need to use at least one Google technology somewhere in your solution - that's a wide net (Firebase, Android, Google Cloud, Gemini/AI APIs all qualify), not a requirement to be an expert in any specific one going in. Mentorship during the program helps teams pick this up.
Is Google Solution Challenge only for computer science students?+
No - teams are commonly interdisciplinary, since a strong Sustainable-Development-Goal-focused solution usually benefits from non-technical perspective on the problem itself, not just engineering skill.
Is Google Solution Challenge free to enter?+
Yes - there's no registration fee. You do need access to a GDG on Campus chapter to participate, which is free to join at most universities that have one.
How long does Google Solution Challenge run?+
It's a multi-month program - recent editions opened around March and ran through late June, spanning the idea submission, build phase with mentorship, and milestone stages before global judging.
What team size does Google Solution Challenge allow?+
Typically 1 to 4 members per team, participating through their local GDG on Campus chapter.

More guides

Checked against aggregator reporting on the 2026 program window (opens March, runs through late June), 12 Aug 2026. Exact dates and judging criteria are republished each year on the official Solution Challenge site - confirm there before registering.

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