STUDENTS & NGOs

Run your hackathon like the pros. For free.

Vetted free access to the full BuilderBase platform for university clubs, student societies, and mission-driven NGOs. Everything in our Scale tier, no budget required.

Everything your event needs, none of the spreadsheets.

BuilderBase handles applications, judging, comms, and community, so your team can focus on the event, not the admin.

01 · No burnout

Run it without burning out the team.

Applications, check-in, comms, and judging live in one place, so a small volunteer crew can run a big event.

02 · Credibility

Look credible to builders and sponsors.

A polished event page and experience help you attract better builders and sponsors for next year.

03 · Judging

Judging that does not break at 50+ submissions.

Structured multi-track judging replaces the spreadsheet that falls apart the moment your event grows.

04 · Alumni

Keep your community year over year.

Every participant stays in your community, so you can remarket to alumni and start the next event from a bigger base.

Everything in Scale. €0.

Once you are approved, your org unlocks our top self-serve tier for free. No credit card, no trial clock.

€0full Scale-tier access, vettedThe same tier scaleups pay €999 per event for. Yours free, for real student orgs, universities, and NGOs running genuine build events.
Unlimited participantsUp to 5 daysUnlimited tracks
  • Applications & submissions in one place, no more DevPost + Sheets duct tape
  • Multi-track judging that holds up past 50, 100, 200 submissions
  • Marketplace access to sponsors, mentors, and judges
  • Templates & self-serve onboarding so you are live in an afternoon
  • Advanced analytics dashboards to report signups, engagement, and outcomes to your board or sponsors

Apply once. Approved in 48 hours.

01

Apply as a student org or NGO

Tell us about your org and the event you are planning. Takes a few minutes.

02

We vet within 48 hours

We check the org is real, the event is real, and the mission is aligned. That is it.

03

Unlock Scale features, free

Onboard yourself with templates and start building your event page the same day.

Who qualifies for free access.

If your event has a real build component and you are not a commercial entity, you are likely a fit. The Startups & scaleups plans pick up where free access ends.

University clubs & societies running a hackathon this semester or quarter.

Faculty & innovation programs professionalizing a student build event.

Entrepreneurship hubs and campus incubators running build days.

Technology-adjacent NGOs with a mission and a build component.

ACM, IEEE & AIESEC chapters and other recognized student bodies.

Volunteer-run programs under €500K operating budget, no commercial motive.

Common questions.

Not sure if you qualify? Just apply, it is quick.

Is it really free?
Yes. Vetted student orgs, universities, and NGOs get full Scale-tier features at €0. There is no trial clock and no card required, we simply confirm you are a real, mission-aligned org first.
How does vetting work?
We check three things within 48 hours: the org actually exists, there is a real event, and the mission is aligned. Recognized student bodies and NGOs almost always qualify.
Do you help us find participants?
Free access is self-serve, so you promote the event yourself and it is listed in our community. If you later have budget and want us to drive signups, the Marketing Boost add-on is available.
Will you run the event for us?
No, free access is self-serve. If you need us hands-on to plan and run the event, that is a Startups & scaleups conversation with our Co-managed add-on.
What happens when we outgrow free access?
When your org becomes commercial or consistently runs large events, you graduate to the Startups & scaleups tiers, keeping all your community and history.
How long does approval take?
Usually within 48 hours of applying. Once approved, you can onboard yourself the same day using our templates.

Your event deserves better than a spreadsheet.