Hudson Valley Open Data Hackathon 2025

Learn, Collaborate, and Explore Your Genius Using Open Data, Open Source and AI

Join us for an exciting half-day hackathon focused on leveraging New York State's Open Data resources using cutting-edge AI technologies and open-source tools. This event brings together developers, data scientists, civic tech enthusiasts, and public sector innovators to create impactful solutions for our communities.

When: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 11:00am - 4:00pm

Where: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Darrin Communications Center (DCC), 51 College Avenue, Troy, 12180 

Registration: Space is limited to 200 participants. Teams will be formed on-site, though participants are welcome to register as pre-formed teams of up to 4 people.

• Participants Sign Up (it's free!)
• Mentors and Volunteers Sign Up  (judges, mentors,, photographers, reception assistance)
• Sponsors Sign Up  (and Sponsorship Deck: https://bit.ly/OpenDataHackathon25 )

2025 Theme: "Unlocking Public Data Insights with Open Source and AI"

Using GDG support we will explore "Build with AI" resources and apply these to NY State Open Data (list to be provided).

What to Expect:

• Hands-on Workshop Sessions: Learn to integrate NY State Open Data APIs with popular AI frameworks
• Project Development: Work in teams to build innovative solutions using public datasets
• Expert Mentorship: Receive guidance from experienced data scientists and civic tech leaders
• Demo Showcase: Present your solutions to fellow participants and judges

Challenge Focus Areas:

• Transportation and mobility analysis
• Environmental data visualization
• Public health trends
• Education metrics
• Urban planning and development
• Government transparency tools
• Any topic you are passionate about that Open Data can assist with

Prize Categories:

• Most Innovative Use of AI
• Best Public Impact
• Technical Excellence
• People's Choice

Who Should Attend:

• Civic tech enthusiasts
• Students and researchers
• Software developers
• Data scientists
• UI/UX designers
• Public sector professionals
• Curious, innovative minds

Resources Provided

• Access to NY State Open Data Portal
• Cloud computing credits
• AI model templates
• Technical documentation
• Development environments
• Mentorship and support

Required Skills

• Basic programming knowledge
• Familiarity with data analysis
• Interest in civic technology
• Collaborative mindset

What to Bring

• Laptop with relevant development tools
• Ideas for civic innovation
• Enthusiasm for public data

Partners

• NY State Technology Office
• Local Tech Companies
• Civic Tech Organizations
• Open Source Communities

Join us in transforming public data into actionable insights and innovative solutions for New York State residents!