How to join a hackathon for credits

What you need before you start

• A GitHub account. Most hackathons expect a public repository, and lablab.ai recommends at least one team member has one.
• An account on the hackathon platform: Devpost or lablab.ai, or the registration page the organizer links for MLH events.
• A Discord account. Many events use Discord for announcements, mentor help and credit distribution.
• Time blocked out for the build window, plus a little time at the start to claim credits.
• One consistent email address for the platform and the sponsors' developer accounts.

Pick an event that actually gives credits

1. Browse PerkRadar's deals directory and filter by the Event access type to see hackathons with credits or perks listed.
2. Open the event's official page and read the prizes, perks or resources section. Look for wording like 'for every participant' versus 'for winners' or 'for selected participants'.
3. Check the eligibility rules: age, country, student status and whether teams are required.
4. Note the key dates: registration deadline, kickoff and submission deadline.

A smaller, sponsor-heavy event often gives more usable credits than a famous event with a big cash prize that only a few teams win.

Sign up on Devpost, lablab.ai or MLH

Devpost hosts many online and company-run hackathons. Each event has its own page with a button to join, plus pages for rules, updates and resources. Submissions are made through the same event page before the deadline.

On lablab.ai, participation is free. Its official guide says you enroll from the event page, then use 'Create or join a team'. Every member registers separately, even solo builders, and a finished submission includes a working online prototype, a video presentation and a pitch deck.

MLH lists its season's events, both in-person and online, on its events page. You register for each event through the link on its listing, following that organizer's sign-up steps.

1. Create your account on the platform and complete your profile.
2. Register for the specific event from its official page, not just the platform's homepage.
3. Join or create a team if required, and make sure each teammate has registered individually.
4. Join the event's Discord or communication channel if one is linked.
5. Turn on email notifications for the event so you see updates and credit announcements.

Find where sponsor credits are posted

There is no single standard. Credits are distributed in a few common ways, and one event may use several at once.

• The event's resources or perks page, with a sponsor link and a code.
• Updates or announcements sent by email from the platform.
• A dedicated Discord channel for each sponsor, often with a form to request credits.
• A kickoff livestream where sponsors share links. lablab.ai runs kickoff streams on Twitch and shares recordings afterwards.
• A form you fill in after submitting, when credits are tied to a valid submission.

In the first hour after kickoff, go through every sponsor channel and resources page and make a list of each credit, its link and its deadline.

Redeem credits before they expire

1. Create the sponsor account with the same email you registered with, unless the instructions say otherwise.
2. Redeem each code or submit each credit form on day one. Forms are often first come, first served or close after kickoff week.
3. Check the sponsor's billing page to confirm the credits arrived, and note the expiry date.
4. Set usage limits or budgets on cloud and API accounts so a forgotten resource does not drain the credits.
5. Add calendar reminders a week before each expiry date.
6. After the event, shut down servers and databases you no longer need, so you are not charged once credits run out.

Submit, even if your project is small

Some sponsor perks and all prizes require a valid submission. Lablab.ai notes that prize distribution can take up to 90 days after results. A simple working demo, a short video and a clear description are often enough to qualify for participation perks, so submit before the deadline even if the project is not finished.