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.
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
01. Registration and idea submission
Teams register via GDG on Campus and submit an initial idea tied to a chosen SDG.
02. Build phase with mentorship
Teams build their prototype over several months, with structured mentorship sessions from Google engineers and Google Developer Experts.
03. Milestone submissions
Teams submit progress demos/videos at set milestones for feedback and continued eligibility.
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.
Who can enter
- Open to current university/college students worldwide, participating via their local GDG on Campus chapter
- Team-based, typically 1–4 members
- Solution must use at least one Google technology and address a UN Sustainable Development Goal
- Free to 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
How many rounds does Google Solution Challenge have?+−
Do you need to know Google Cloud or Firebase to enter?+−
Is Google Solution Challenge only for computer science students?+−
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.